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Where have you seen Media outlets talking about Programmers are "geeks" or "nerds"? I recall The Register calling scientists "boffins" but not using the other t

Where have you seen Media outlets talking about Programmers are "geeks" or "nerds"? I recall The Register calling scientists "boffins" but not using the other two words for Coders. I have absolutely no problem with "Coder". At the risk of sounding grand and dandy, I think people realize the impact Code has on their lives, and being called a coder makes me very happy. I agree with your apprehension over Geek & Nerd, though, it's a badge of honor for you and me but maybe not within wider society. But still, which media outlets? Oh BTW: Interesting point about "prestige" affecting womens' choices in profession. I did not give that angle much thought, I'll talk to some of my female colleagues to verify.

jdavis703 11y ago
Perhaps it's not prestige so much as risk-aversion. Programming is a very cyclical industry (akin to oil or construction), whereas there's always a need for doctors and to a lesser extent lawyers. Edit: Certainty this isn't the only reason to choose another career besides software, I just thought I'd respond to prestige as a particular reason.
vezzy-fnord 11y ago
Being called a "coder" implies you're performing mechanistic grunt work of manipulating symbols with little thought to architecture, or really without any implied discipline. It's akin to identifying a writer or journalist as a "typist". Though I suppose that's what many "coders" do, go figure. The media by and large does not care about programmers, only insofar as there is overlap with Internet entrepreneurs.
- argonaut 11y ago
  I agree with you. It's all highly subjective, of course, but my own perception is there's a slightly negative connotation to calling someone a "coder." If you don't think so, you can at least agree that it's less positive relative to "doctor"/"lawyer"/"manager." Heck, even "designer" has a slightly fashionable connotation to it.
- ZeroGravitas 11y ago
  "It's akin to identifying a writer or journalist as a "typist"." Or it's like referring to a writer as a "writer".

jdavis703 11y ago

Perhaps it's not prestige so much as risk-aversion. Programming is a very cyclical industry (akin to oil or construction), whereas there's always a need for doctors and to a lesser extent lawyers. Edit: Certainty this isn't the only reason to choose another career besides software, I just thought I'd respond to prestige as a particular reason.

vezzy-fnord 11y ago

Being called a "coder" implies you're performing mechanistic grunt work of manipulating symbols with little thought to architecture, or really without any implied discipline. It's akin to identifying a writer or journalist as a "typist". Though I suppose that's what many "coders" do, go figure. The media by and large does not care about programmers, only insofar as there is overlap with Internet entrepreneurs.

argonaut 11y ago
I agree with you. It's all highly subjective, of course, but my own perception is there's a slightly negative connotation to calling someone a "coder." If you don't think so, you can at least agree that it's less positive relative to "doctor"/"lawyer"/"manager." Heck, even "designer" has a slightly fashionable connotation to it.
ZeroGravitas 11y ago
"It's akin to identifying a writer or journalist as a "typist"." Or it's like referring to a writer as a "writer".