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From Prison to Programming

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Re: From Prison to Programming

#91

Post by WesternWind »

satysin wrote: post #40
lostboomerang wrote: post #15

Rick Wolter seems to be quite balanced. Read the last paragraph "Life’s Not Fair". Problem is that some people read his story and thinks. "Oh, so teaching felons programming is a great way to reduce recidivism". This kind of be-all-end-all solution always fails. Some years ago journalists in the US loved to tell coal miners that they should "learn to code" when the mines shut down due to Washington politics. How hard…

God I fucking hate the response "learn to code!" to everything. People seem to think everyone being a programmer is needed otherwise humanity will fall. Honestly it is one of the stupidest things I have heard. Could more [good] programmers be a good thing? Sure, we can always do with more good programmers. However the truth is we need more of many, many types of people. Teachers, personal care workers, doctors, nurse…

Programming is a pathway to a middle class life for a lot of folks, but not everyone.

But really the issue is that every job should be a pathway to a middle class life.

Re: From Prison to Programming

#92

Post by golemiprague »

einpoklum wrote: post #51

For me it was the other way around: I went to prison to stop programming. Well, sort of. When I was drafted (involuntarily) into the Israeli Military, I worked as a programmer. It's much cheaper, you see, to have a programmer who doesn't get paid - assuming you can filter our those teens who are good enough to be able to do the job. Now, I was only 18 years old. During my military service, my political consciousness…

No post body was provided.

Re: From Prison to Programming

#93

Post by _8j50 »

Question: Without a CS degree background can you still work as a programmer with just knowing the languages? Do companies require something else like a bootcamp leetcode?

Re: From Prison to Programming

#94

Post by rufus_foreman »

lostboomerang wrote: post #15

Rick Wolter seems to be quite balanced. Read the last paragraph "Life’s Not Fair". Problem is that some people read his story and thinks. "Oh, so teaching felons programming is a great way to reduce recidivism". This kind of be-all-end-all solution always fails. Some years ago journalists in the US loved to tell coal miners that they should "learn to code" when the mines shut down due to Washington politics. How hard…

>> Educate felons when they're in prison

That's dangerous. I know people who went to prison.

We want educated ex-felons, what you might get is educated felons.

>> We know how to reduce recidivism

Do we? Again, I know criminals. They're hard core. A guy says he's gonna shoot up meth every day until he dies, he's going to finance that any way he needs to, what is the known way to reduce that recidivism?

Re: From Prison to Programming

#95

Post by throwaway675309 »

rufus_foreman wrote: post #94
lostboomerang wrote: post #15

Rick Wolter seems to be quite balanced. Read the last paragraph "Life’s Not Fair". Problem is that some people read his story and thinks. "Oh, so teaching felons programming is a great way to reduce recidivism". This kind of be-all-end-all solution always fails. Some years ago journalists in the US loved to tell coal miners that they should "learn to code" when the mines shut down due to Washington politics. How hard…

>> Educate felons when they're in prison That's dangerous. I know people who went to prison. We want educated ex-felons, what you might get is educated felons. >> We know how to reduce recidivism Do we? Again, I know criminals. They're hard core. A guy says he's gonna shoot up meth every day until he dies, he's going to finance that any way he needs to, what is the known way to reduce that recidivism?

I legitimately can't tell if this post was written facetiously, what's your alternative? because the alternative of giving them no education is almost a sure fire guarantee that they'll be ill-equipped to be able to get a job with the potential to become a productive member of society.

He's not advocating that we teach lock picking 101 for chr##-sake.

But it's OK because you "know criminals" so naturally that extrapolates to all criminals in perpetuity throughout the universe.

Re: From Prison to Programming

#96

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

_8j50 wrote: post #93

Question: Without a CS degree background can you still work as a programmer with just knowing the languages? Do companies require something else like a bootcamp leetcode?

I have a G.E.D. A bit of redneck tech school. The rest is OJT, seminars, nights and weekends, and side work. Lots of volunteer work.

Worked for me.

I can also relate to the topic. I work daily with many folks that have had to rebuild their lives; as both victim and victimizer.

Tough room. Many of the folks you try to help aren't gonna make it. Some will try to take you down with them (not always the criminals, either. Some of the victims get fairly primal, as well). Learning to balance and hold your boundaries is key. Don't get punked, but also, don't let the punks stop you.

Long story. Get your hanky. Things have turned out OK, in the long run.

I salute and support Mr. Wolter, and wish him all the luck in the world.

Re: From Prison to Programming

#97

Post by agumonkey »

RickWolter wrote: post #54

Hey everyone. My names Rick. Im the person Adam is interviewing. If any of you are interested in learning more about Underdog Devs, please reach out to us on Twitter @RwoltX and @UnderdogDevs or directly to underdogdevs.org We are always looking for people who would like to get involved the most common involvement is mentoring and pair programming we also could use help in other areas...someone to help develop partne…

I found you so optimistic in tone about your path, the randomness, the unfairness.. it was very strange to me, I'm so quickly angry.

Good luck for the rest

Re: From Prison to Programming

#98

Post by Joel_Mckay »

While some may think life is unfair, the fact remains that recidivism rates are high. No one wants to be a cautionary tale for being complicit with a sensitive area of a business. The reason prisons don’t like people freely using computers/phones, is many prisoners feel justified in blackmailing other inmates families and scamming the public.

Some may get away with breaking rules even while serving a sentence, but that same lack of impulse control is what keeps people poor. The world does not change, and people must adapt to the reality of their situation.

Re: From Prison to Programming

#99

Post by [deleted] »

throwaway675309 wrote: post #95
rufus_foreman wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Educate felons when they're in prison That's dangerous. I know people who went to prison. We want educated ex-felons, what you might get is educated felons. >> We know how to reduce recidivism Do we? Again, I know criminals. They're hard core. A guy says he's gonna shoot up meth every day until he dies, he's going to finance that any way he needs to, what is the known way to reduce that recidivism?

I legitimately can't tell if this post was written facetiously, what's your alternative? because the alternative of giving them no education is almost a sure fire guarantee that they'll be ill-equipped to be able to get a job with the potential to become a productive member of society. He's not advocating that we teach lock picking 101 for chr##-sake. But it's OK because you "know criminals" so naturally that extrapo…

[deleted]
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