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The Positive Programmer

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Re: The Positive Programmer

#51

Post by Swizec »

michaelrhansen wrote: post #37
Swizec wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What can I do to have a real impact on the well being of society? From my own experience, it is infinitely easier to make me better than to discover what I can do for society. I'd love to make products that help society, but damn it that's hard. Maybe if I just focus on myself I can make me happy. So far it's worked. I'm still looking for something I can do to help society. Until then, I'm working on things that he…

Just curious - why not jump on the grand ideas now? (I would assume the usual reasons.. financial, time, etc.)

Reach. And to an extent money.

Money is easy-ish to get, but reach takes time to build.

MOst importantly though, I don't have any ideas I would consider good. Or possibly ideas I would consider myself able to carry out. Probably both.

Re: The Positive Programmer

#54

Post by xsuvea »

Despite not getting into programming until I was 26, having come from an arts background of study, I've been programming applications that are used by hundreds of people since then. I don't code through the night, am not good enough to be hired by a start up or use rails or the latest tool the bullies of the tech world are going on about. No one I write for gives a flying fuck about anything except an application that is easy to use and does everything they asked for. Any of the incredible languages out there are capable of giving users what they want right now so no need to keep banging on about the latest version or giving out about the other camps.

Re: The Positive Programmer

#55

Post by groby_b »

cema wrote: post #50
groby_b wrote: post #28

Or maybe we complain, to take the example of sexism, because there is a real problem. That needs to be addressed. And given that the first two items you address are code of conduct & sexism, I can't help but think "Of course a white male programmer wouldn't see an issue with that". To be very clear, not because I think all white males are mean-spirited misogynists. Most of them are pretty nice people, in my experienc…

I can't help but think "Of course a white male programmer wouldn't see an issue with that" That would be stereotyping. You would not want to stereotype, would you?

I've used this particular statement as a rhetorical device.

But yes, yes I do. All the time. I try to catch myself doing it, and not let myself be influenced by it. Having biases/stereotyping is not the issue - we're predisposed to snap judgments. Recognizing it, and deciding how we act upon it is the issue.

As such, I'm still OK with my statement. (Except that I'd re-edit to "majority often blinds people). I call out a condition that actually exists, and ask to take it into consideration - I don't accuse, or segregate, or treat the other party as lesser.

And had I followed this up with "and so you can't possibly get it, and you're a $INSULT, and you're intentionally suppressing women", then yes, you should call me out on this and tell me that I'm wrong. (And that my manners need fixing)

Being part of a minority does not excuse bad behavior.

Re: The Positive Programmer

#58

Post by altera »

groby_b wrote: post #28

Or maybe we complain, to take the example of sexism, because there is a real problem. That needs to be addressed. And given that the first two items you address are code of conduct & sexism, I can't help but think "Of course a white male programmer wouldn't see an issue with that". To be very clear, not because I think all white males are mean-spirited misogynists. Most of them are pretty nice people, in my experienc…

Amazing, first paragraph defines sexism as problem, second paragraphs defines very gently male-whites as pigs (but not all of them of course).

Reminds me a job ad I had seen recently. In first paragraph: "we support equal opportunities for minorities, if you are X,Y,Z or W please apply". Just under it was age limit 45 years. This was desk-based administrator position for major government agency.

Re: The Positive Programmer

#60

Post by scanr »

russelluresti wrote: post #4

There's a reason developers complain and fixate on things that are bad or broken. It's because, for the most part, developers (and designers and UX people and many others) are natural problem solvers. If something isn't broken, okay, great, no need to focus on it. But if something is broken, to a problem solver, this is inexcusable. Things that are wrong need to be fixed. So when you see people complaining about thin…

I've worked with programmers who are both positive and care deeply about solving problems. It was very pleasant working with them. I aspire to be as positive as they are.

Also, nothing makes me happier than improving or fixing broken things.

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