[comp.lang.scheme] member returns #f ?

mcdougal@cs.uchicago.edu (03/19/91)

In general, memq, memv, member return a list.  Can someone tell me the thinking
behind having them return #f instead of the empty list if the obj. is not in
the list?  Does this mean that the standard paradigm for using these functions
is

   (let ((result (memq x L)))
     (if result ....))

as opposed to

   (let ((result (memq x L)))
     (if (not (null? result)) ...)) ?

I was under the impression that the former was frowned upon by Scheme pros.

-Tom