Tony Morris

It was impossible for me to understands monads through analogies. Only by looking at the definition, laws and direct examples did it become clear. And frankly, they aren't that hard to understand.

Importantly, if you believe monad means "the bit between the pipes", you do not have a sound grasp on the subject. Not even the beginning of a reasonable understanding. The use of broken metaphors perpetuates the myth that it is "hard to understand", and the cycle continues.

"Monads are definitely not hard to understand, and are most certainly not 'just pipes'" I feel like this is a contradiction

Please tell me where these two facts contradict. I have taught what monad means, comprehensively, without compromise, to hundreds of people. Not once did I labour with inappropriate, inaccurate, counter-productive, deflective metaphors such as "just pipes." What contradiction?

I humbly disagree with 'Monads r ! hard 2 undrstnd'. For someone doing FP, it may be the case, but certainly not for someone (like me) who never ventured beyond purely imperative languages (C, in my case). Things often seem simple/obvious *after* we understand them.

I teach programmers like yourself. I assure you it is not hard, except to the extent that these counter-productive metaphors and other distractions, deflect from the actual learning process. Simply stop believing the lies, and you're nearly done.