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What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

scottcowley.com

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Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#11

Post by astrocyte »

crimsonalucard wrote: post #7

The inevitable reality of life. Most of us will end up this way. Rather then trying to change the universe, I say it's better to enjoy the experience.

Some strive to understand it and share their understanding of the world with others. It is often a lonely path and those who take on this challenge should be celebrated whether or not great contributions stem from it. After-all, many great technologies you enjoy and use to 'enjoy your experience'derive from it. If everyone partied and enjoyed their experience, it is questionable whether we'd still be around as a human race. And lastly, some people enjoy their pursuits.

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#12

Post by slowernet »

The office holder had a long, accomplished career, but the author, bummed that he can't find any up to date books to steal from the office, is calling him out for phoning it in because he accumulated some junk over the years and went through a tough time when he lost a child.

Pardon me if I'm not dying to hear the insights this experience triggered for you.

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#13

Post by CodingCat »

slowernet wrote: post #12

The office holder had a long, accomplished career, but the author, bummed that he can't find any up to date books to steal from the office, is calling him out for phoning it in because he accumulated some junk over the years and went through a tough time when he lost a child. Pardon me if I'm not dying to hear the insights this experience triggered for you.

insightful....:)

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#14

Post by et2o »

"[...] And you find an empty bottle of anti-depressants.

And you realize this is what happens when you keep coming to work years after you’ve mentally retired. This terrifies me."

I may perhaps be overly sensitive to this, but this juxtaposition makes me a little uncomfortable.

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#17

Post by bsder »

I have a different take about the books.

Worthwhile technical books have not been published since about 2000.

Technical publishing died in the dot-bomb. The number of new technical books I bought prior to about 2005 was staggering. The number of new technical books I bought in the past 5 years borders on zero.

First, the web killed a bunch of technology publishing. Buying "new" technical books rarely makes sense as the target is probably moving too quickly and the web will be more accurate. So, the only "new", worthwhile technical books are covering more timeless fundamentals, and we probably already have good books for those.

Second, the attitudes of modern youngsters are a bit of an issue. "If it isn't on the web, it doesn't exist." Well, there was a whole lot of history prior to 2000, but none of you know how to find it. That's why you all keep making the same mistakes.

Third, technical books got ferociously expensive. Most technical books that are covering something semi-cutting edge are almost $200.

Fourth, there are no outlets for technical books to be browsed. Amazon killed all the technical bookstores because it wasn't paying sales tax. If I can't browse a book, I'm certainly not paying $200 for it.

So, while this might be an office of someone who checked out 15 years ago, the lack of books later than 2000 isn't good evidence.

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#18

Post by breischl »

What people leave behind is the things that don't matter anymore. I've walked out of offices with all my recent/relevant possessions, leaving behind nothing but books about fancy new technology like DHTML and ASP.NET v1.1. Most likely the professor took all the more recent stuff with him, and left behind all the decades-outdated research and technology because he didn't want the hassle of moving all of it just so he could dispose of it.

That said, maybe he was phoning it in for years. That would be sad, because it's a waste of time and life.

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#19

Post by [deleted] »

bsder wrote: post #17

I have a different take about the books. Worthwhile technical books have not been published since about 2000. Technical publishing died in the dot-bomb. The number of new technical books I bought prior to about 2005 was staggering. The number of new technical books I bought in the past 5 years borders on zero. First, the web killed a bunch of technology publishing. Buying "new" technical books rarely makes sense as t…

[deleted]

Re: What You Find While Cleaning Out the Office of a World-Class Researcher

#20

Post by mathattack »

bsder wrote: post #17

I have a different take about the books. Worthwhile technical books have not been published since about 2000. Technical publishing died in the dot-bomb. The number of new technical books I bought prior to about 2005 was staggering. The number of new technical books I bought in the past 5 years borders on zero. First, the web killed a bunch of technology publishing. Buying "new" technical books rarely makes sense as t…

I hear you on technical books, but I think the author (a Phd candidate in Marketing) has a different definition of Marketing.
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