I get you are taking the piss but ~= is just as logical as != being the symbols for: "not equals", if you've been exposed to some math(s) as well as ... well, ! means factorial, doesn't it?
Syntax is syntax and so is vocabulary! In the end you copy and paste off of Stack Exchange and all is golden 8)
For a language apparently inspired from Wirth, one would have expected <> (greater-or-lesser-than). But the real horror, to me, is Windows not letting one disable the so~called "dead keys" easily.
The real gripes should be globals by default and ... nothing. Lua is wonderful.