I do remember how I started programming. I had no computer and no access to it when I got intereseted in it, so I just read every article I came across. Later,

I do remember how I started programming. I had no computer and no access to it when I got intereseted in it, so I just read every article I came across. Later, I started to buy the books I came across—that was before the www. So yes, I firmly believe, that you need to try yourself, and try hard. There was a quote, I cannot find the source any more, but it was going something like this: like in mountaineering you should not help begginers to avoid them being killed higher up. Btw, do you realize that your remark about diversity is sexist by itself? It assumes that females are not able to cope with the same conditions males do.