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Everybody does not need to learn to code.

slate.com

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Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#71

Post by walid »

jmilloy wrote: post #67

The logical fallacy here is arguing a general statement using a specific/narrow instances of it: "learn to code" is a very broad statement, and the differing opinions seem to stem from choosing (different) specific meanings. When someone says "everyone needs to learn to code", they probably don't mean that everyone needs to become an expert. It's the same when we say "everyone needs to learn math" or "everyone needs…

Totally agree. Programming should be in the school curriculum just like any other subject. Not everyone is going to be a coder, doctor, engineer or lawyer but we all need to know some (not extensively though) basics of each profession.

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#72

Post by lazyant »

samatman wrote: post #13

Disagree. Everyone needs to learn to code. I was taught long division as a child. Didn't like it; who does? Nor do I use it. But... When I was 15, I finally got a chance to study programming. One of the first things our professor showed us, was how to do string-based long division, with a computer. The enlightenment was profound. Why was I doing this, when everyone else was learning to symbolically find quadratic roo…

'Al' in Arabic means 'the'

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#73

Post by kamjam »

samatman wrote: post #64
kamjam wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A calculator. Or more likely, the calculator app on his iPhone. Personally, I like the ability to at least be able to get a rough approximation of an answer without having to resort to tech... but hey, call me old fashioned.

I had a very old-fashioned mathematics education. If I was good at doing math in my head, I'd be a professor. Instead, I had to learn to pick problems apart, or I couldn't do them. I'm also bad at remembering the precise steps involved, so when I found out you could write a problem once and then stop thinking about it, well, I never looked back.

I had to learn to pick problems apart

Well, that's what all good programmers do, so it doesn't look like not being good at math as been a disadvantage - quite the opposite I'd say. Sometimes you need to tackle things from a slightly different angle.

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#74

Post by bobbbinsIII »

bobbbinsIII wrote: post #11
mathattack wrote: post #9

Of course not. And everyone doesn't need to learn how to drive. Or speak Spanish. Or cook for themselves. Or balance credits and debits. But people who can do any of the above proficiently have many doors and options open to them that others don't. And those who can do it at least a little bit can at least have some awareness for when they hire someone to do it for them.

most people can learn to drive, learn another language and learn to cook. a much smaller number of people can learn to code competently.

somewhat strange that this was downvoted. some people are obviously incapable of facing up to reality.

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#75

Post by walid »

Dogamondo wrote: post #32

"Everyone should learn how to change a tire". That was what was lamented when I was a kid, so we learned it in boy scouts. Let's take it a step further... "Everyone should learn how to change a cam-belt", "Everyone should learn how to perform a basic car service"..."Everyone should know how to rebuild an engine". How far do you want to take it? I agree with the OP, moreso nowadays that we move more to consumption bas…

The thing is you are taking the learning metaphor a step further every sentence. You do need to learn the basics of maintaining a car if you own one. You might need to know about changing tires and also making sure the radiator has enough water in it. These are basic things and equally apply to computers. Not because you need to build a car or compile a computer program but because without basic education you don't know how to properly manage the computer like you do your car. Can you also imagine how much less bad computer laws will exist if lawmakers knew a little bit more about computers rather than rely on trial and error to get things right?

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#76

Post by samatman »

lazyant wrote: post #72
samatman wrote: post #13

Disagree. Everyone needs to learn to code. I was taught long division as a child. Didn't like it; who does? Nor do I use it. But... When I was 15, I finally got a chance to study programming. One of the first things our professor showed us, was how to do string-based long division, with a computer. The enlightenment was profound. Why was I doing this, when everyone else was learning to symbolically find quadratic roo…

'Al' in Arabic means 'the'

yeah and 'gorithm' in English means "Khawarizmi"

Re: Everybody does not need to learn to code.

#77

Post by qu4z-2 »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #62

The title is crap English, but common: ignorance of De Morgan's laws means the universal quantifier "everybody", in its position relative to "not", means no one should learn to code. (Engineer with a Germanic Linguistics minor pet peeve.) The proper wording for what the retarded author intended (it's Slate, after all) is "Perhaps not everybody needs to learn to code" or similar, but the not needs to negate the univer…

Technically it doesn't mean "No-one should learn to code", it means "No-one needs to learn to code."
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