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The video is clearly meant to be inspiring. A lot of people think programming is too hard for them or not accessible at all, but that's simply not true. It's w

The video is clearly meant to be inspiring. A lot of people think programming is too hard for them or not accessible at all, but that's simply not true. It's worth inspiring them to give themselves a shot. Of course, not everyone will be good at it, like all things, but it's better to try it out and find out. It's horrible to say to someone, "Hey there, coding is actually pretty hard, and while there are some really great perks to knowing it, you'll probably fail at getting there, and even if you don't fail, you might not end up at the place that has all of the awesome perks, just some of them, so you basically shouldn't even try." That's clearly an exaggeration of what he's saying in the article, but I'm sick of professional programmers trying to discourage non-programmers from trying out coding. It can only be a good thing for them to learn a little, so let them have dreams even if they aren't totally realistic. Who knows, many of them may reach them.

ruswick 14y ago
Why? It is generally preferable to occupy one's time with productive action. Learning to program is going to be a futile exercise for 90% of people, and will not result in any change in income or overall happiness for 99% of them. We should not be encouraging people to attempt things from which the won't derive any benefits. It doesn't make sense to abandon pragmatism in the name of "dreams." People should be encouraged to improve talents that they do have, not coerced into attempting inordinately arcane ones for which they have no affinity. This is true not just of programming, but of all skilled practices. Programming is too difficult and the opportunity cost is high to assert that everyone can and ought to learn to program. It's best to be forthright with this fact towards those who ostensibly want to learn, but may just be infatuated with the idea that they can make Facebook.
- shubhamjain 14y ago
  I guess 90% people don't know what they are good at. They can't spend time polishing their talent when they don't know what it even is. I accept people should not be coerced into it but ir may not be as futile as you assume.
- Anonymous09 14y ago
  Keep in mind, although we might view it as a career, other people might be fine with programming simply as a hobby. I mean, say I want to get into basketball. I ask someone in the NBA how I can get started, and what kind of routine they recommend for getting better at the game. They're thinking, 'I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old, I've practiced nearly every day my entire life, I workout every other day, I stick to a strict diet, I'm 7'4", and the game has consumed my entire life.' From their viewpoint, I have zero chance at becoming a star, I'm getting into the game too late in your life, I don't have the characteristics of a basketball player, and I simply don't possess the same drive they once had. However, this misses the entire point, I'm perfectly cool with playing basketball for a couple of hours on the weekend, and never going any further. The same applies to programming. There are people out there that have no interest in become the next zuckerberg, they just want to code a few hours when they have spare time and make a little tool or game for fun.
47uF 14y ago
"Hey there, coding is actually pretty hard, and while there are some really great perks to knowing it, you'll probably fail at getting there, and even if you don't fail, you might not end up at the place that has all of the awesome perks, just some of them, so you basically shouldn't even try." "You basically shouldn't even try" doesn't necessarily follow because we don't know if the person we're talking to is one of the people that will fail. Otherwise, I'd say that quote is exactly what most people should hear.

ruswick 14y ago

Why? It is generally preferable to occupy one's time with productive action. Learning to program is going to be a futile exercise for 90% of people, and will not result in any change in income or overall happiness for 99% of them. We should not be encouraging people to attempt things from which the won't derive any benefits. It doesn't make sense to abandon pragmatism in the name of "dreams." People should be encouraged to improve talents that they do have, not coerced into attempting inordinately arcane ones for which they have no affinity. This is true not just of programming, but of all skilled practices. Programming is too difficult and the opportunity cost is high to assert that everyone can and ought to learn to program. It's best to be forthright with this fact towards those who ostensibly want to learn, but may just be infatuated with the idea that they can make Facebook.

shubhamjain 14y ago
I guess 90% people don't know what they are good at. They can't spend time polishing their talent when they don't know what it even is. I accept people should not be coerced into it but ir may not be as futile as you assume.
Anonymous09 14y ago
Keep in mind, although we might view it as a career, other people might be fine with programming simply as a hobby. I mean, say I want to get into basketball. I ask someone in the NBA how I can get started, and what kind of routine they recommend for getting better at the game. They're thinking, 'I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old, I've practiced nearly every day my entire life, I workout every other day, I stick to a strict diet, I'm 7'4", and the game has consumed my entire life.' From their viewpoint, I have zero chance at becoming a star, I'm getting into the game too late in your life, I don't have the characteristics of a basketball player, and I simply don't possess the same drive they once had. However, this misses the entire point, I'm perfectly cool with playing basketball for a couple of hours on the weekend, and never going any further. The same applies to programming. There are people out there that have no interest in become the next zuckerberg, they just want to code a few hours when they have spare time and make a little tool or game for fun.

47uF 14y ago

"Hey there, coding is actually pretty hard, and while there are some really great perks to knowing it, you'll probably fail at getting there, and even if you don't fail, you might not end up at the place that has all of the awesome perks, just some of them, so you basically shouldn't even try." "You basically shouldn't even try" doesn't necessarily follow because we don't know if the person we're talking to is one of the people that will fail. Otherwise, I'd say that quote is exactly what most people should hear.