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The author hits on something really important. Many people who entered the field 10+ years ago are people who had computers as children. If you’re 30+ right now
by ed25519FUUU 6y ago
The author hits on something really important. Many people who entered the field 10+ years ago are people who had computers as children. If you’re 30+ right now, that means your family had some means, because computers were very expensive up until pretty recently.
Hopefully we’ll see the pipe really getting wide now, and many more people from many different backgrounds entering this excellent field.
- doopy-loopy2 6y agoNope. My parents were refugees and arrived in this country with just the clothes on their backs. They worked factory jobs their entire life and never made much more than minimum wage. I scraped and saved to buy my first computer and teach myself about the internet. We were never given anything from anyone.
- ed25519FUUU 6y agoYou sound exceptional in more than a few ways.
- anonytrary 6y agoWhile I don't necessarily agree with parent comment, I don't think this is a refutation. I can tell you right now that the majority of poor families in the US provide less STEM encouragement compared to well-off families. While your anecdote is warming, I don't think it is very representative.
- jpindar 6y agoNope. I bought all my own computers with my paper route & Dunkin Donuts job money. I don't remember how much it cost, but I don't recall it being a big deal financially.
- unishark 6y agoI remember when the vic-20 price was cut to $99, and the commodore 64 wasn't much more.