I wouldn't describe it as "C++ lets you make mistakes." I'd instead say that "C++ exposes you to the artifacts and edges that are part of the raw computer syste

I wouldn't describe it as "C++ lets you make mistakes." I'd instead say that "C++ exposes you to the artifacts and edges that are part of the raw computer system." I say this because it's a lot less dismissive of the troubles of the programmer to be. I remember being new not so long ago, and being frustrated immensely by the dismissals of experienced C++ programmers who feel that programming is inherently all about knowing and dealing with the hard edges of the machine, and much less about the rather beautiful theoretical side most people would call Computer Science. And I feel that's pretty much wrong; that programming is a balance between wrangling the machine and building elegant, beautiful logical constructions. Covering both sides separately is important, and builds a strong programmer. Teaching only one side, or not acknowledging the differences between these two very separate skills/processes confuses aspiring programmers tremendously, and turns them away from the tremendous power that can be had in languages like C++.