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Hacker School User's Manual

hackerschool.com

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Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#2
A lot of programmers I know could really learn from the "social rules" on this page. There's no need to try to prove oneself to be the smartest in the room on every topic. It takes a lot more balls to say "wow, I really can't even remember whether the syntax was X->Y() or X.Y()!"

The "well-actually" problem is particularly rampant on HN.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#3
post #2

A lot of programmers I know could really learn from the "social rules" on this page. There's no need to try to prove oneself to be the smartest in the room on every topic. It takes a lot more balls to say "wow, I really can't even remember whether the syntax was X->Y() or X.Y()!" The "well-actually" problem is particularly rampant on HN.

I don't think that "well-actually" comments online have a fraction of the negative social effects that they do in a really life situation.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#4
post #2

A lot of programmers I know could really learn from the "social rules" on this page. There's no need to try to prove oneself to be the smartest in the room on every topic. It takes a lot more balls to say "wow, I really can't even remember whether the syntax was X->Y() or X.Y()!" The "well-actually" problem is particularly rampant on HN.

I don't think that "well-actually" comments online have a fraction of the negative social effects that they do in a really life situation.

For both, it creates an annoying, pedantic atmosphere.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#6
After reading, I really want to experience Hacker School sometime in the near future.

I checked out the application, though, and noticed something that's pretty odd, if not downright disrespectful. At the bottom of the application there's a lone checkbox labeled "I'm a Woman". Given the behavior of the following checkbox, it's clear that the point of this box is to indicate that financial aid is available for female applicants. Regardless, the presence of a field labeled as such, given that it seems to suggest that the default gender of a hacker is male, is pretty jarring.

I get it, but surely a couple of radio buttons labeled "Boy" and "Girl" could do the job just as well as the checkbox.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#7
post #2

A lot of programmers I know could really learn from the "social rules" on this page. There's no need to try to prove oneself to be the smartest in the room on every topic. It takes a lot more balls to say "wow, I really can't even remember whether the syntax was X->Y() or X.Y()!" The "well-actually" problem is particularly rampant on HN.

Agreed. Likewise, the feigning surprise one is a common problem in real-world conversations. I am guilty of it too, and have been trying to break the habit for the past few months. I always feel bad whenever I slip up, so it's nice to see it codified as poor etiquette here.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#8

After reading, I really want to experience Hacker School sometime in the near future. I checked out the application, though, and noticed something that's pretty odd, if not downright disrespectful. At the bottom of the application there's a lone checkbox labeled "I'm a Woman". Given the behavior of the following checkbox, it's clear that the point of this box is to indicate that financial aid is available for female…

Regardless of whether that is a good point, this sure seems to be an instance where everybody being less pedantic about such things would be more of a win.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#9

After reading, I really want to experience Hacker School sometime in the near future. I checked out the application, though, and noticed something that's pretty odd, if not downright disrespectful. At the bottom of the application there's a lone checkbox labeled "I'm a Woman". Given the behavior of the following checkbox, it's clear that the point of this box is to indicate that financial aid is available for female…

I hear you, and you make a good point. "Boy" and "Girl" are maybe not the solution, but perhaps, "I qualify for a Hacker School Grant" or some similar option would be. I think that intent is important here, and I don't believe their intent was to suggest the default gender of a hacker is male.

Re: Hacker School User's Manual

#10
post #2

A lot of programmers I know could really learn from the "social rules" on this page. There's no need to try to prove oneself to be the smartest in the room on every topic. It takes a lot more balls to say "wow, I really can't even remember whether the syntax was X->Y() or X.Y()!" The "well-actually" problem is particularly rampant on HN.

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