Earlier quoted context omitted.
We can't all love what we do that makes us a living though. The HN audience probably skew very heavily toward loving tech and thus enjoying their work in that industry, but for those without the innate interest it's still better to have a job with good benefits, salary, working conditions etc than one without those things.
+1, I say this all the time. Are plumbers "passionate" about their jobs? Did the garbage man end up in his role because of his childhood love of moving garbage? No. So in a world where you'll likely have to drudge through some form of employment, you might as well learn a well paid, _actually valuable_ trade that you get to do from an air conditioned office.
no teacher required to tell you if your prog is working. you get your reward from the computer: joy of creating something.
psychologically seen, to learn that what you are doing creates impact is the very basis of learning.
if you give your child Mastery, Autonomy and Purpose * some tools and an environment to start with * freedom to try and fail without waiting for a teacher to answer questions and * a good reason to learn, after a very short time you will see someone who does not need "extrinsic motivation" and explanations. be prepared for more questions than you can answer.
maybe, the garbage man will still be the garbage man in the end. but possibly see ways to improve his work or at least look forward to his side projects after work.