3 ms·

Yes, I am a nerd. Yes, I am socially awkward, and I did start programming around 10. And here is yet another article pointing out that all the fun I'm having in

Yes, I am a nerd. Yes, I am socially awkward, and I did start programming around 10. And here is yet another article pointing out that all the fun I'm having in my career now is something that should make me feel ashamed or guilty. "People like you are the reason why women won't program! Why can't you go to a bar like everyone else?" I know it's my own bias, but no one was writing articles for me when I was "sticking out like a 'sore thumb'" in HS for being smart and nerdy instead of cool. I totally agree that there's a problem of disrespect towards those who are new (apparently more if they are women), and I'm cool with focusing on fixing that. But describing the abundance of nerds in the field as "what can we do about it?", as if that was a problem? Give me a break. </rant>

fsloth 10y ago
"And here is yet another article pointing out that all the fun I'm having in my career now is something that should make me feel ashamed or guilty" The article does not state anything like that. Unless you have kids and are actively stopping your daughter from using a computer. 'But describing the abundance of nerds in the field as "what can we do about it?", as if that was a problem? Give me a break.' If there is a societal bias from stopping people trying things they might be actually good at based on their sex organs I see that as a problem. It's not about categorizing being a nerd as 'good' or 'bad'. It's being aware and negating filters based on obsolete stereotypes.
Infinitesimus 10y ago
I don't think the author intends for anyone to feel guilty at all. The article's conclusion is more along the lines of: "We're a self-selected group in the programming world now and we often unconsciously project messages that make others who have the potential to diversify the group feel cut out based on metrics that actually have no relevance to their ability to execute programming tasks well" Highlighted by the often off-hand comments like "oh you don't know that?", "this is so easy!" etc. I think it's more about messaging to let people know "Hey you don't have to be like me and love video games, have made your own arduino project, be active on github, and all that noise to be a good programmer"
CrashFaster 10y ago
I think you missed the point completely. No one is out to make you feel guilty; one of the questions the article brings up is questioning how you, as a seasoned / skilled developer are handling less-seasoned / less-skilled developers. No one was writing articles for you when you were sticking out like a sore thumb for ... so that's kinda like an angry toddler screaming 'it's not fair mom'. About that sticking out like a sore thumb in HS. How about being smart and not nerdy in HS? Then you get shunned by 2 groups of people: the nerdy smart ones and the not-nerdy 'dumb' ones. I'm glad we're seeing people writing about this.

fsloth 10y ago

"And here is yet another article pointing out that all the fun I'm having in my career now is something that should make me feel ashamed or guilty" The article does not state anything like that. Unless you have kids and are actively stopping your daughter from using a computer. 'But describing the abundance of nerds in the field as "what can we do about it?", as if that was a problem? Give me a break.' If there is a societal bias from stopping people trying things they might be actually good at based on their sex organs I see that as a problem. It's not about categorizing being a nerd as 'good' or 'bad'. It's being aware and negating filters based on obsolete stereotypes.

Infinitesimus 10y ago

I don't think the author intends for anyone to feel guilty at all. The article's conclusion is more along the lines of: "We're a self-selected group in the programming world now and we often unconsciously project messages that make others who have the potential to diversify the group feel cut out based on metrics that actually have no relevance to their ability to execute programming tasks well" Highlighted by the often off-hand comments like "oh you don't know that?", "this is so easy!" etc. I think it's more about messaging to let people know "Hey you don't have to be like me and love video games, have made your own arduino project, be active on github, and all that noise to be a good programmer"

CrashFaster 10y ago

I think you missed the point completely. No one is out to make you feel guilty; one of the questions the article brings up is questioning how you, as a seasoned / skilled developer are handling less-seasoned / less-skilled developers. No one was writing articles for you when you were sticking out like a sore thumb for ... so that's kinda like an angry toddler screaming 'it's not fair mom'. About that sticking out like a sore thumb in HS. How about being smart and not nerdy in HS? Then you get shunned by 2 groups of people: the nerdy smart ones and the not-nerdy 'dumb' ones. I'm glad we're seeing people writing about this.