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When I was a teenager (which was not long ago), coding or being technical in general was entirely uncool, but widely acknowledged as powerful. People would come

by tedks 13y ago

When I was a teenager (which was not long ago), coding or being technical in general was entirely uncool, but widely acknowledged as powerful. People would come to me asking if I could "hack" various things ranging from friends Facebook accounts to banks. Teachers would ask you for help if things broke. At one point, the principal called me into his office to ask if I could help him trace a threat posted on the Internet (after notifying proper authorities and presumably trying every other lead to do his job well and protect his students). I'd say the problem is less that being technologically adept is low-status, and more that the problem is that being technologically adept/geeky/mathematical/mechanical is considered unfeminine.

Crito 13y ago
I think that being technologically adept is low-status, and I don't think that being asked for help is much evidence to the contrary. I mean sure, being a lawyer is a high-status career and you will likely have people in your personal life constantly asking for your advice or favours, but car mechanics experience the same thing. Being a car mechanic is respected in a way, and people certainly understand how those skills are valuable (and can think of many ways that you might use those skills for their own advantage), but it's not "high-status". Actually, I think I'd put car mechanic as higher status than programmer. The money is not nearly as good, but on the other hand nobody is going to assume that you are a weirdo, until proven otherwise.
- tedks 13y ago
  That's a very good point, and it makes me reconsider my earlier statement.
Crake 13y ago
>considered unfeminine It's interesting to note, though, that it is only considered unfeminine by other women. Guys just think it's badass when they find a girl into the same stuff they're into.
- tedks 13y ago
  >the same stuff they're into. This is only relevant for the very small fraction of the population that are "into" those things.

by tedks 13y ago

Crito 13y ago

I think that being technologically adept is low-status, and I don't think that being asked for help is much evidence to the contrary. I mean sure, being a lawyer is a high-status career and you will likely have people in your personal life constantly asking for your advice or favours, but car mechanics experience the same thing. Being a car mechanic is respected in a way, and people certainly understand how those skills are valuable (and can think of many ways that you might use those skills for their own advantage), but it's not "high-status". Actually, I think I'd put car mechanic as higher status than programmer. The money is not nearly as good, but on the other hand nobody is going to assume that you are a weirdo, until proven otherwise.

tedks 13y ago
That's a very good point, and it makes me reconsider my earlier statement.

Crake 13y ago

>considered unfeminine It's interesting to note, though, that it is only considered unfeminine by other women. Guys just think it's badass when they find a girl into the same stuff they're into.

tedks 13y ago
>the same stuff they're into. This is only relevant for the very small fraction of the population that are "into" those things.