Most people cannot genetically learn how to code
Posted by Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit | programming | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Thoughts?
Posted by Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit | programming | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Thoughts?
evaned@reddit
The cited blog post, https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/, was a big part of why I stopped reading Jeff Atwood's blog.
The cited study wasn't great, and basically doesn't support Atwood's statements at all. TFA makes statements not supported by its own evidence, and then Atwood takes it even further. It's elitist, irresponsible, insulting, non-journalism.
That's going almost two decades back and I still am getting worked up about it.
Blecki@reddit
He's absolutely correct.
Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit (OP)
Holy ragebait
hyrumwhite@reddit
A talent takes time and attention.
bustercaseysghost@reddit
I remember when I got into programming, I had a degree in Communication. My manager at the time said something like “Good luck. Rich is good at it. Some people are just built for it.”
Ouch.
Then I made my way into Big Tech after getting into for six years. I’m disillusioned, but also vindicated.
Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit (OP)
I hope ypu message the op of that post of which that guu discoiraged. o OP was trying to transition from nursing to a codong career. Although it seems like a far shot, i feel like this guy just discouraged OP super badly from learning a valuable skill.
AbletonUser333@reddit
To be frank? The guy is an idiot and his replies scream “I have an extremely immature worldview”. What can I say? The ‘tism runs deep in technical circles.
Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit (OP)
He claims to be VP of an eng team @ Google too...
theScottyJam@reddit
Some people can learn faster and have more natural talent in the field. It would be silly to claim otherwise.
But it's also silly to say that some people are fundamentally incapable of learning how to program. Given enough time and motivation, anyone can learn.
DumbCSBoy@reddit
This is the dumbest fucking shit I’ve ever read. If by coding you mean “3000 Codeforces Stanford 4.0 MTS at Anthropic” then sure most people don’t have the natural cognitive ability to ever get there regardless of work ethic. If you mean becoming an average, solid, and reliable software engineer then most people absolutely can with time and work.
tangojuliettcharlie@reddit
No, this is absurd. People might agree with this because it makes them feel more special about knowing how to code, or because it gives them an excuse for failing to learn. Either way they're wrong.
Skills can be learned with practice. This "genetic ability" framing is damaging to education in general and STEM education in particular.
Norse_By_North_West@reddit
I definitely know people who are hopeless when it comes to coding logic. Like, fucking totally hopeless. Not sure if it's most people, but it's not a small amount.
Shit, theres a ton of people who can't even figure out excel formulas.
RageQuitRedux@reddit
Forrest Gump can learn how to code
a_decent_hooman@reddit
If I would really try doing something for years and can’t do it, I would take an IQ test to claim disability. It’s mostly about you are interested in or not. Otherwise it indicates that it’s the time you need to take the test.