6 ms·

I don't have much of value to add, but I have met a number of these guys, and I always wonder/wish there was some way we could apply their enthusiasm without gi

I don't have much of value to add, but I have met a number of these guys, and I always wonder/wish there was some way we could apply their enthusiasm without giving them the authority to cause real harm.

Animats 9y ago
Many police departments are hiring. It's surprisingly hard to recruit cops, even though the job pays well and offers very early retirement. If someone wants to be a cop, and can't get hired, they probably shouldn't be a cop. The LAPD even has a "reserve program". "Not ready for full-time yet? But you still want to make a difference... Find out more about our exciting reserves program." This guy probably wouldn't have qualified.
- Lewton 9y ago
  > If someone wants to be a cop, and can't get hired, they probably shouldn't be a cop. http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/story?id=95836 http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/sto... (This is a very old article, and I have no idea if that's still a thing, but that sentence made me think of it)
  - wyldfire 9y ago
    Gee, what's the rationale? Article mentions that the court considered it but doesn't say what it was.
kevin_thibedeau 9y ago
These guys are known as whackers [1]. They aren't suited for public service. [1] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Whacker http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Whacker
- sogen 9y ago
  Clicking that link is like clicking to TVTropes...
- MrBuddyCasino 9y ago
  A big parts of software development is like this. Cargo-culting the latest "scalability" and "big-data" practises even though there is zero need, just to feel like a superhero and add stickers to his MBP.
  - wutbrodo 9y ago
    > A big parts of software development is like this. I believe you, but all I can say is thank god I've never had exposure to someone like that. If anything, for me it's a bit of a red flag when someone is interested in the stack more than the problems to be solved. That just doesn't seem to align well with being adaptable and solving each problem in the best way.
    - MrBuddyCasino 9y ago
      Can I please come and live in your world? It sounds saner.
      - wutbrodo 9y ago
        Haha yea, it's always nice to find out that you've been fortunate in some way that you didn't even really realize existed.

Animats 9y ago

Many police departments are hiring. It's surprisingly hard to recruit cops, even though the job pays well and offers very early retirement. If someone wants to be a cop, and can't get hired, they probably shouldn't be a cop. The LAPD even has a "reserve program". "Not ready for full-time yet? But you still want to make a difference... Find out more about our exciting reserves program." This guy probably wouldn't have qualified.

Lewton 9y ago
> If someone wants to be a cop, and can't get hired, they probably shouldn't be a cop. http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/story?id=95836 http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/sto... (This is a very old article, and I have no idea if that's still a thing, but that sentence made me think of it)
- wyldfire 9y ago
  Gee, what's the rationale? Article mentions that the court considered it but doesn't say what it was.

kevin_thibedeau 9y ago

These guys are known as whackers [1]. They aren't suited for public service. [1] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Whacker http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Whacker

sogen 9y ago
Clicking that link is like clicking to TVTropes...
MrBuddyCasino 9y ago
A big parts of software development is like this. Cargo-culting the latest "scalability" and "big-data" practises even though there is zero need, just to feel like a superhero and add stickers to his MBP.
- wutbrodo 9y ago
  > A big parts of software development is like this. I believe you, but all I can say is thank god I've never had exposure to someone like that. If anything, for me it's a bit of a red flag when someone is interested in the stack more than the problems to be solved. That just doesn't seem to align well with being adaptable and solving each problem in the best way.
  - MrBuddyCasino 9y ago
    Can I please come and live in your world? It sounds saner.
    - wutbrodo 9y ago
      Haha yea, it's always nice to find out that you've been fortunate in some way that you didn't even really realize existed.