Polymorphism; How to get the specific class?

[nuzzle]

It's another way of saying "Don't try to apply the principals you may have learned in Java directly to C++. There are often better alternatives." But you know that, you're just being pedantic.

Sure, just because both Java and C# use an implicit top class doesn't mean the first thing you should do in C++ is to mimic that and introduce an Object class all your other classes inherit. I fully agree with that.

What I have problems with is when it's suggested that it somehow goes against the very nature of C++ to use a common top class. Nothing could be more wrong. If you think your design would benefit from a top class then C++ doesn't stand in your way. In fact the virtual inheritance mechanism makes it quite straightforward to have one.