"I prefer Python". Why did you say that? To me it feels like you said it do people would take you seriously as a "real" developer. Because surely a "real" developer wouldn't actually enjoy using PHP or use it unless they were forced, right?
I agree with your point and I just wanted to add that the fact that we have to add in little details like "I prefer Python" just to be taken seriously says more about hacker elitism than it does about PHP.
"I walk to work because there are no bike paths, but I prefer biking."
Why did you say that? To me it feels like you said it so people would take you seriously as a "real" biker. Because surely a "real" biker wouldn't actually enjoy walking unless they were forced, right?
I get what you are saying, I didn't add this to be taken seriously. I am not bothered if I am taken seriously or not. I had an opinion which I couldn't keep to myself. Upvote / downvote / flag and ban the account. I am not massively bothered.
I do genuinely prefer Python. I picked it up when Django first started making noise and I really enjoyed working with Python (not so much Django). Now I mainly use Python to mess around with PyGame.
Its not a difficult to thing to say. For all of PHP's ease there are little niggles which get you down. Really simple things. Is a function called functionname or function_name. Is it ($needle, $haystack) or ($haystack, $needle).
I agree with your point and I just wanted to add that the fact that we have to add in little details like "I prefer Python" just to be taken seriously says more about hacker elitism than it does about PHP.