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"I like video games" often translates to "I want to work in the video game industry" often translates to "I'll learn how to program." More generally, however,
by dieterrams 16y ago
"I like video games" often translates to "I want to work in the video game industry" often translates to "I'll learn how to program."
More generally, however, enthusiasm for video games makes kids keenly aware of the hardware that makes it possible. (Even at the age of ten, kids will get into console wars citing which has the faster processor, etc.) Having that technical background from an early age, however rudimentary, makes gamers more likely to feel comfortable with programming.
- tkahn6 16y agoI don't know about that. Since we're going on anecdotal evidence, out of my 25 or so friends who play videogames, I'm the only one who programs. An analog to your statement would be: "I like movies" often translates into "I want to work in the film industry"
- dieterrams 16y agoNote that I'm using "often" to mean "happens with statistically significant frequency," as opposed to something like "happens most of the time." > An analog to your statement would be: "I like movies" often translates into "I want to work in the film industry" But that's actually true, with the most desired movie-inspired career being actor/actress. The difference is that people give up this idea a lot more easily, because they realize that the odds of being a movie star are incredibly low. Analogous to liking rock music and wanting to be a rock star.
- andrew1 16y agoNote then that you were probably looking for a word like 'occasionally' or 'sometimes' rather than 'often'. The phenomenon you were outlining would only happen with a tiny fraction of video game enthusiasts, so regardless of its statictical significance it wouldn't be described as happening 'often'.
- derefr 16y agoI remember an article on HN a while ago, that partitioned people into "people that are interested in One Thing, Everything, or Nothing." For the people interested in One Thing or Nothing, your comment sounds perfectly rational; but for the people interested in Everything, that's exactly how it is. "I like movies, books, games, music, math, tall buildings, rockets, genetically-engineered plants, [...] and so I want to learn how to make all of those things."
- tkahn6 16y agoI too am interested in a lot of things. But it would be a trivial exercise for me to name something you're not interested in.
- derefr 16y agoWell, only relatively. I think the test is "given immortality, would you get bored?" After exhausting all the stuff I like, I'd learn to like more stuff.
- tkahn6 16y agoI think becoming interested in more stuff would be a necessity for anyone with immortality. Otherwise you'd be miserable.
- derefr 16y agoRight; but the people who are interested in One Thing or Nothing just say "I don't think I'd want to be immortal; it would get too boring."
- tkahn6 16y agoI would challenge that you can group people into those three categories. I'm interested in everything from quantum physics to category theory to python, but I have zero interest in basket-weaving techniques of the 18th century.
- heatdeath 16y agoHow many programmers you know like video games?
- stonemetal 16y agoAt my old job the entire department, at my current place of employment 50% or better. so out of 30 professional programmers that I have worked with about 20.
- fmora 16y agoWhen I got into college I had no idea what a computer program was nor had I ever been exposed to anything related to programming. Despite that one of my first classes was C programming. Not by choice, but because the curriculum was chosen by my advisor. It didn't really hit me that I was learning how to program until about a week into it. Now I'm a professional software developer. My point is that you do not have to go into college knowing anything about programming to study it.
- astartup1 16y agoIt can be put as an dis-advantage. What girls are doing when men are wasting 100s of hours playing video games. Doesn't that count as positive for girls.
- stonemetal 16y agoNot if it is equally inane. Gossiping and chasing fashion trends aren't much better.
- jacquesm 16y agoFunny you should say that, the only people I know that spend 100's of hours gaming are women.