11 ms·
I applaud the author's decision not to invest effort in learning that doesn't fit her goals. Perhaps one day in our future coding ability will become a requirem
by nvader 11y ago
I applaud the author's decision not to invest effort in learning that doesn't fit her goals. Perhaps one day in our future coding ability will become a requirement in society, in the same way that literacy did over the course of history. Or perhaps the ability to code will forever remain a niche professional skill, like the ability to solve partial differential equations, or read music. It may even go the way of carving stone tablets. In today's world coding is not a requirement, and the author should definitely focus on things she finds fulfilling.
I take particular exception, however, to the reasoning within the article which says, essentially, "If I were the kind of person who does X, I'd already be doing X". Substitute for X any skill you yourself picked up later in your life, and personal experience should show how false this is. Running, Singing, Public Speaking, dancing the tango at your wedding. We humans are not born fully formed is all facets of our personality, but we have to earn the shape of our lives through effort and experience.
- juliendorra 11y agoYes! And having as many people that can program that people that can read music (millions of people learn that as children), or that people that are graphic designers in some capacity (thanks to the digital publishing boom, it feels like it's really everybody nowadays) would be enough to be a major change. I think that's the first quantitative level to discuss, then as you said, the next one is the literacy level (98% or so)
- bdcravens 11y agoI was drawn to computer programming before I turned it into a career, as opposed to those who learn it because they want to make good money or think that's how they'll get their startup launched. I assume that was the distinction the author was making.
- brudgers 11y ago"I am not the kind of person who does X" is perfectly valid even though as we get older it tends to become "I am not the kind of person who does X now." Sometimes the "now" is "anymore". Sometimes it is "yet". Other times it is "right now". Our concepts of wisdom overlap a lot with γνῶθι σεαυτόν [know thyself]. At fifty, though, probably it's a bit of common sense rather than any sort of wisdom.