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If you're trying to compete with Norvig right now, for god's sake don't waste time learning more languages. You have a business to build. If you're willing to

If you're trying to compete with Norvig right now, for god's sake don't waste time learning more languages. You have a business to build. If you're willing to bide your time and you hope to develop jedi-level expertise eventually, then I think it's still good advice. But again, it will pay off only in the long term. Likewise, if someone is beating you up after school every day, don't start studying a martial art that will take you 5 years to learn properly. Learn something quick and dirty. But if you want to learn to be a true master of martial arts, it will be a lifelong study and you will likely need to learn at least several styles.

apathy 19y ago
Learn something quick and dirty. But, as noted, brass knuckles (or a gun) will not cause you to grow up as a person. The martial arts teach patience and poise, which is almost exactly the opposite of a quick fix. More concretely, Sig Kufferath (who basically carried the Danzan-Ryu torch to mainland USA) apparently beat the hell out of a couple guys who tried to mug him, then got them medical help and sent them flowers in the hospital. (The story may be apocryphal, but I would not have put it past him) Norvig's motives appear similar -- he is an acknowledged Jedi and has little to fear, in general, from helping others to raise their game. Having crossed paths with both guys, I feel reasonably justified in my perception.