Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
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Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
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Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#2There were some excellent criticisms posted earlier, but this is the one that pretty much overshadows the original post. Thank you, Zed.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#3I learned to code from your book Zed. I was disappointed by Jeff's article (Who is usually a nice man).
You wrote this post at a right time with right points. My appreciation is triple-folded. Take a bow, Zed.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#4I really don't know why people worry so much about this. I don't think dissuading people from entering any field is surprising. Generally, experts in a field want passionate, talented people, because that's how the field will likely advance, which is what any good expert hopes for. If we scare off the dispassionate before they have a chance to burden the field, great. This is exactly the purpose of "weeder" courses in college.
Edit: Well, pardon me for having an unpopular opinion. I have no intention of apologizing. Perhaps your opinions will change when you see the damage that incompetence can cause.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#5I learned to code from your book Zed. I was disappointed by Jeff's article (Who is usually a nice man). You wrote this post at a right time with right points. My appreciation is triple-folded. Take a bow, Zed.
Thanks, it's actually something I've been meaning to write about for a while, so Jeff just gave me a good reason. :-)
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#6Great post. You should never identify yourself with what you do.
You could do anything you want if are passionate about something, ignore everyone claims you can't.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#7out of all the posts on HN right now about this, this one is by far the most insightful.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#8I really don't know why people worry so much about this. I don't think dissuading people from entering any field is surprising. Generally, experts in a field want passionate, talented people, because that's how the field will likely advance, which is what any good expert hopes for. If we scare off the dispassionate before they have a chance to burden the field, great. This is exactly the purpose of "weeder" courses i…
Well, these "weeder" courses actually make for intellectually lazy education. Rather than study how best to teach a subject so everyone has a chance regardless of initial ability, you design curriculum that only works for naturals.
But, ultimately, it's not the teacher's right to decide who's "passionate" enough or not. Trust me, if my teachers had any say in my success I'd be digging ditches.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#9I really don't know why people worry so much about this. I don't think dissuading people from entering any field is surprising. Generally, experts in a field want passionate, talented people, because that's how the field will likely advance, which is what any good expert hopes for. If we scare off the dispassionate before they have a chance to burden the field, great. This is exactly the purpose of "weeder" courses i…
I feel that programming is complex enough that it's not necessary to "scare off" the dispassionate by pleading with them to stay out of our special sandbox, and not play with our toys.
Re: Please Don't Become Anything, Especially Not A Programmer
#10I really don't know why people worry so much about this. I don't think dissuading people from entering any field is surprising. Generally, experts in a field want passionate, talented people, because that's how the field will likely advance, which is what any good expert hopes for. If we scare off the dispassionate before they have a chance to burden the field, great. This is exactly the purpose of "weeder" courses i…
Some people develop passions because someone somewhere showed them the wonder and excitement in a field or subject that was otherwise closed off to them. That's the point. I'm betting that there are out there right now a million ninja coders who don't know they're ninja coders yet. They don't know that there's this whole field that appeals to their meticulous nature and love of building things because they've never been shown it.