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"I don't think computing is a real field, it acts like a pop culture, it deals in fads and it doesn't know its own roots." Harshly put, but there's some truth
by talles 11y ago
"I don't think computing is a real field, it acts like a pop culture, it deals in fads and it doesn't know its own roots."
Harshly put, but there's some truth there.
- fit2rule 11y agoI too think its very cynical, but extremely accurate.
- coldtea 11y agoHow is it cynical? Devs go for fads (just watch HN homepage over time), and there are tons of snakeoil salesmen pushing their wares (e.g. Mongo) and millions of programmers without the basic scientific and engineering rigor. It would only be cynical if it wasn't an extremely accurate description (which you agree it is).
- fit2rule 11y agoIts possible to address the subject without cynicism.
- coldtea 11y agoIf something is an accurate description it's no cynicism. Cynicism implies that something is in a condition X, and the cynic describes it as a much worse condition Y.
- fit2rule 11y agoActually, that's not quite right. "Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others' motives." Perhaps you are conflating the word cynic with critic.
- coldtea 11y agoThat's just part of the full definition. And even in this case: it's only "distrust" if other's motives aren't bad in the first place. If people in general have bad motives in IT (lazyness, profit, unprofessionalism etc) it's not "cynicism" to say so. It's merely calling a spade a spade. I'm more reffering to the "bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic" meaning of the lemma though. Where again, if contempt is waranteed and if the situation is dire, it's not cynical to be "contemptuous" or "pessimistic" is just realistical description.