We overvalue people who have been "hacking since middle school" because we can't systematically articulate the skills a good programmer should have and how we c

We overvalue people who have been "hacking since middle school" because we can't systematically articulate the skills a good programmer should have and how we can train people in those skills. You did a great job of explaining the unease I'm starting to feel around the whole "hacking since middle school" ideal. Besides the gender and class bias that result, it's just lazy thinking. I say this, of course, as a straight white male who has been hacking since elementary school.