You don't sound even minimally stupid. :) I wouldn't necessarily advocate any of those specific frameworks, but I do think there is life outside of JavaScript.

You don't sound even minimally stupid. :) I wouldn't necessarily advocate any of those specific frameworks, but I do think there is life outside of JavaScript. I actually don't think JavaScript (particularly on the server) is a very good language at all. Blasphemy, I know. As someone who has spent time with JS frameworks like Ember, Meteor, and the rest, as well as libraries and component systems like Rendr, React, and Backbone, it's certainly not the case that JavaScript is free of frustration. In fact, I've found the opposite to be true: despite the enthusiasm, some of these solved a bunch of problems only to create others. The truth is, if you focus on being a great engineer then picking up another language and framework isn't very difficult. It will make you a better programmer to see how other systems solve problems. Not to speak out of both sides of my mouth, but I do advocate being a master at one or two languages and learning how to write idiomatic code. I just think there's room for more than literally one. If someone tells you that Node is here to save us all from certain disaster and JavaScript is the One True Answer, I would simply nod your head, smile, say thank you, and then run as fast as you can.