Re: why does `variable-at-point' return 0?

[Stefan Monnier]

>>>> All I can think of is that for some reason someone wanted to 
>>>> test using `symbolp' instead of testing using `not' (or `and').
>>>> But I cannot imagine why.
>> That's most likely the reason, so as not to get tripped up by a variable
>> whose name happens to be "nil" (unlikely in Lisp, admittedly).
> AFAIK, in "nil-lisps" like Elisp or Common Lisp that is not unlikely,
> but impossible.

In the context of the discussion, the difference between "unlikely" and
"impossible" is irrelevant.

> Could you explain what you had in mind?

I work in formal methods, and from that point of view, "impossible"
would basically mean you have a proof that it can't happen, yet in
languages like Lisp "can't happen" is pretty much ... "unlikely"?


        Stefan