4 ms·

The author describes how he feels that hacker/ninja/wizard descriptions are arrogant, then says that he prefers more “humble” terms for himself, like scientist

The author describes how he feels that hacker/ninja/wizard descriptions are arrogant, then says that he prefers more “humble” terms for himself, like scientist and artist. Sorry, but ninja and wizard probably advertise that you watched too much tv when younger, or played RPG. A scientist on the other hand is someone who worked hard to get a degree and tries to advance his/her science. An artist is someone who puts his/her art before anything. They aren't humble roles at all.

sotojuan 11y ago
It's interesting how programmers want to be called anything but "programmer". Whether it's "ninja", "scientist", "artisan", or "craftsman" IMO all are BS—what's wrong with just being a programmer? You don't see a scientist say he's a "science artisan" or an artist saying he's a "canvas ninja".
- andmarios 11y ago
  It is a complex issue and there are a few different reasons for this. In the old days, there were analysts (the people who wrote programs) and programmers (the people who translated these programs to punchcards). We kept only the programmer title. Our field is vast, yet everyone is a programmer as far as people outside our field are concerned. Scientists could be physicists or astronomers, artists could be painters or actors, doctors may be pathologists or heart surgeons for example. A programmer can be self-tought, thus the title programmer doesn't imply any kind of official degree or a discipline. You could have a MIT diploma or just be a high schooler. I think the field developed (and keeps at it) too quickly and the social adjustments that should take place can't catch up. A job not only provides for you, but gives you a place in society. The title “programmer” is as generic as it gets.
  - Raphmedia 11y ago
    To me, programmer is equivalent to writer.

4 ms·

The author describes how he feels that hacker/ninja/wizard descriptions are arrogant, then says that he prefers more “humble” terms for himself, like scientist

by andmarios 11y ago

sotojuan 11y ago
It's interesting how programmers want to be called anything but "programmer". Whether it's "ninja", "scientist", "artisan", or "craftsman" IMO all are BS—what's wrong with just being a programmer? You don't see a scientist say he's a "science artisan" or an artist saying he's a "canvas ninja".
- andmarios 11y ago
  It is a complex issue and there are a few different reasons for this. In the old days, there were analysts (the people who wrote programs) and programmers (the people who translated these programs to punchcards). We kept only the programmer title. Our field is vast, yet everyone is a programmer as far as people outside our field are concerned. Scientists could be physicists or astronomers, artists could be painters or actors, doctors may be pathologists or heart surgeons for example. A programmer can be self-tought, thus the title programmer doesn't imply any kind of official degree or a discipline. You could have a MIT diploma or just be a high schooler. I think the field developed (and keeps at it) too quickly and the social adjustments that should take place can't catch up. A job not only provides for you, but gives you a place in society. The title “programmer” is as generic as it gets.
  - Raphmedia 11y ago
    To me, programmer is equivalent to writer.