3 ms·

Well, I'm dissatisfied for a number of reasons, some that I am still working on figuring out, but the gist of it seems to be that I chose this career path becau

by Crito 13y ago

Well, I'm dissatisfied for a number of reasons, some that I am still working on figuring out, but the gist of it seems to be that I chose this career path because I knew I was good at it, knew I could get through school as a CS major, and knew I could get a job in it. Pretty much every reason besides "I thought I would enjoy doing it". Seeing other people push for people to enter the industry for the money and/or jobs, instead of satisfying a passion for the work, has me slightly... annoyed. Annoyed is a good word for it. (I don't want anybody to worry about me; I am currently working on re-adjusting my work/life balance to rein in on this dissatisfaction.) As for cynical... I don't buy into a lot of the more "mystic" ideas of coding that many programmers seem to have. Sure, there is a lot of insight to be had when you study computer science. For example, learning about computability and the Church–Turing–Deutsch principle literally changed my outlook on life; I would not be the same person that I am today if I had not studied computer science... ...but I do not think that computer science is in any way special in this regard. My non-CS peers in university grew in their own personal ways as well. They didn't miss out on anything that I had any more than I missed out on things that they had. That I think, is what many programmers don't understand. They lack exposure to other perspectives, and therefore mistake their own path through life as the obviously correct or superior path.

kbenson 13y ago
Pretty much every reason besides "I thought I would enjoy doing it". That's a shame. I think I've been lucky enough to move between different focuses (between sysadmin and programming multiple times) enough that I never got too bored or dissatisfied with any one. Seeing other people push for people to enter the industry for the money and/or jobs, instead of satisfying a passion for the work, has me slightly... annoyed. Annoyed is a good word for it. I can relate. I remember while in college circa 2002 thinking that the number of CS students was artificially inflated by people who made decisions during the dot-com boom. People that had no real aptitude for the subject, had no passion for the subject, or both. I understand that's going to happen in any major, but when it felt like upwards of 60% of my peers weren't interested, and I couldn't help feeling they would have been better served by studying something they actually cared for. ...but I do not think that computer science is in any way special in this regard. My non-CS peers in university grew in their own personal ways as well. They didn't miss out on anything that I had any more than I missed out on things that they had. I'm routinely disappointed I haven't found more time to apply towards other disciplines or areas of study (this isn't new, I used to want to go back for a second major someday. I no longer necessarily view that as the best route for further advancement though), especially in reading comments here from some people that truly have some deep experience in different areas. That I think, is what many programmers don't understand. They lack exposure to other perspectives, and therefore mistake their own path through life as the obviously correct or superior path. I think that's correct, but I also think it's a matter of people incorrectly attributing value to programming based on positive outcomes they've experienced after learning to program. Learning to read doesn't make me smarter, per se, but it is a very useful tool in allowing me to learn and explore certain ideas. I think programming is similar (although on a lesser scale). It's a good tool for examining certain types of ideas which may provide great benefit, but it's not a causal relationship.

by Crito 13y ago

kbenson 13y ago

Pretty much every reason besides "I thought I would enjoy doing it". That's a shame. I think I've been lucky enough to move between different focuses (between sysadmin and programming multiple times) enough that I never got too bored or dissatisfied with any one. Seeing other people push for people to enter the industry for the money and/or jobs, instead of satisfying a passion for the work, has me slightly... annoyed. Annoyed is a good word for it. I can relate. I remember while in college circa 2002 thinking that the number of CS students was artificially inflated by people who made decisions during the dot-com boom. People that had no real aptitude for the subject, had no passion for the subject, or both. I understand that's going to happen in any major, but when it felt like upwards of 60% of my peers weren't interested, and I couldn't help feeling they would have been better served by studying something they actually cared for. ...but I do not think that computer science is in any way special in this regard. My non-CS peers in university grew in their own personal ways as well. They didn't miss out on anything that I had any more than I missed out on things that they had. I'm routinely disappointed I haven't found more time to apply towards other disciplines or areas of study (this isn't new, I used to want to go back for a second major someday. I no longer necessarily view that as the best route for further advancement though), especially in reading comments here from some people that truly have some deep experience in different areas. That I think, is what many programmers don't understand. They lack exposure to other perspectives, and therefore mistake their own path through life as the obviously correct or superior path. I think that's correct, but I also think it's a matter of people incorrectly attributing value to programming based on positive outcomes they've experienced after learning to program. Learning to read doesn't make me smarter, per se, but it is a very useful tool in allowing me to learn and explore certain ideas. I think programming is similar (although on a lesser scale). It's a good tool for examining certain types of ideas which may provide great benefit, but it's not a causal relationship.