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Do a lot of guys approach coding with a conquest mentality? I found this sentiment particularly interesting. I've always had a more creative / constructive mind

by morpher 14y ago

Do a lot of guys approach coding with a conquest mentality? I found this sentiment particularly interesting. I've always had a more creative / constructive mindset while coding and curious / scientific mindset while debugging. As a male programmer, I'm curious if I live out in the tails of the distribution, or if Uncle Bob is less average than he assumes.

rdtsc 14y ago
Guys today are the not too distant descendants of guys who where fighting in wars, hunting, fishing. The feeling of conquest, discovery, risk taking, competition was there for a long time whatever the causal relationship testosterone, genes, environment, evolution, not sure but it was there. Well now we sit in cubicles, typing on keyboards, sometimes drawing on whiteboards. However our brains and bodies, hormones, basic desires are still not too different those who hunted and fought in wars. So now instead of a bringing down a huge bison, we re factor a shit-ton of code. Or implement some killer features. It provides some of the similar sensation of accomplishment, bragging, feeling good and important.
smrtinsert 14y ago
As a guy, I treat coding with the same energy I used to get from oil painting. paint, revise, paint, revise. it's very zen for me.
jauer 14y ago
I'd say it depends on the problem. For myself, bug fixing, sorting out a bad performance problem, those are issues of conquest. Developing a new product, adding a feature, that's like tending a garden. In one project I can be proud of slaying dragons and nurturing a flower. I like the balance.
azakai 14y ago
> Do a lot of guys approach coding with a conquest mentality? I don't. I am guessing most don't either, but all I know are people I've worked with.
Glyptodon 14y ago
I think my mindset is similar yours, but I relate to what the author is saying because it reminds me of some of my coworkers who I find a little tiring.
fusiongyro 14y ago
I came here to talk about this, because I also really don't feel that way. I feel more like I'm struggling to say something, and bugs are manifestations of my inability to be terse and precise. When everything comes together, it feels like I've communicated perfectly and eloquently. I get exactly the same feeling from programming as from debate, but my goal in both cases is simply to acquire the right understanding and be properly understood.
10098 14y ago
Not really. It feels more like building a house, or putting together some kind of machine.

by morpher 14y ago

rdtsc 14y ago

Guys today are the not too distant descendants of guys who where fighting in wars, hunting, fishing. The feeling of conquest, discovery, risk taking, competition was there for a long time whatever the causal relationship testosterone, genes, environment, evolution, not sure but it was there. Well now we sit in cubicles, typing on keyboards, sometimes drawing on whiteboards. However our brains and bodies, hormones, basic desires are still not too different those who hunted and fought in wars. So now instead of a bringing down a huge bison, we re factor a shit-ton of code. Or implement some killer features. It provides some of the similar sensation of accomplishment, bragging, feeling good and important.

smrtinsert 14y ago

As a guy, I treat coding with the same energy I used to get from oil painting. paint, revise, paint, revise. it's very zen for me.

jauer 14y ago

I'd say it depends on the problem. For myself, bug fixing, sorting out a bad performance problem, those are issues of conquest. Developing a new product, adding a feature, that's like tending a garden. In one project I can be proud of slaying dragons and nurturing a flower. I like the balance.

azakai 14y ago

> Do a lot of guys approach coding with a conquest mentality? I don't. I am guessing most don't either, but all I know are people I've worked with.

Glyptodon 14y ago

I think my mindset is similar yours, but I relate to what the author is saying because it reminds me of some of my coworkers who I find a little tiring.

fusiongyro 14y ago

I came here to talk about this, because I also really don't feel that way. I feel more like I'm struggling to say something, and bugs are manifestations of my inability to be terse and precise. When everything comes together, it feels like I've communicated perfectly and eloquently. I get exactly the same feeling from programming as from debate, but my goal in both cases is simply to acquire the right understanding and be properly understood.

10098 14y ago

Not really. It feels more like building a house, or putting together some kind of machine.