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> these "introversion explanations" are annoying and likely part of the reason the industry has problems with diversity. Excellent point, thank you. The chang

by czep 10y ago

> these "introversion explanations" are annoying and likely part of the reason the industry has problems with diversity. Excellent point, thank you. The changes we've seen in the industry even in the 5 years since I wrote this do suggest a declining relevance of the introverted programmer meme. I admit I'm stuck in a 1980s "we're all social outcasts" mindset which doesn't reflect the present day make-up of this varied industry. However, I think certain aspects of the metaphor remain intact. The work of programmers is introverted. The point was that the mental structures that attract programmers are the same ones that can lead to reductionist views of social, economic, and political matters. I've often marvelled at how easily some of the most brilliant engineers apply their ideas about computer systems to human systems, without the necessary due diligence. I'm not saying they all do this, just that the introversion tendency can explain how it happens.

euwhr132 10y ago
For all I know he might even be right about introversion. What I'm bothered about is that he makes a blanket statement about "the programmer". Would've been better to say, Graham was probably introvert, there's where his ideas come from. Why would "ability to create and inhabit a mental utopia devoid of the complications of external reality is a truly liberating experience" be limited to introvert programmers, like introversion is some kind of super power? Architects, painters, mathematicians, and many others are just as capable of abstract thought. Most mathematical and physical models could be called "mental utopias". As are financial or economic models for that matter. No one would claim that because an architect is able to draw a house made of ice cream cones or a physicist come up with a model where frictions is 0 he must be introverted though right? Why does everything concerned with programming need to be then? It's similar to claiming that programmers are good at programming because they're white, or male, or fat, or bald... And people thinking they know everything are common in every field, mechanical engineers, doctors, architects, you can find them wherever you go, this is not limited to software engineering.

by czep 10y ago

euwhr132 10y ago

For all I know he might even be right about introversion. What I'm bothered about is that he makes a blanket statement about "the programmer". Would've been better to say, Graham was probably introvert, there's where his ideas come from. Why would "ability to create and inhabit a mental utopia devoid of the complications of external reality is a truly liberating experience" be limited to introvert programmers, like introversion is some kind of super power? Architects, painters, mathematicians, and many others are just as capable of abstract thought. Most mathematical and physical models could be called "mental utopias". As are financial or economic models for that matter. No one would claim that because an architect is able to draw a house made of ice cream cones or a physicist come up with a model where frictions is 0 he must be introverted though right? Why does everything concerned with programming need to be then? It's similar to claiming that programmers are good at programming because they're white, or male, or fat, or bald... And people thinking they know everything are common in every field, mechanical engineers, doctors, architects, you can find them wherever you go, this is not limited to software engineering.