Subj : Re: do serious programmers have a life?
To   : comp.programming
From : gds
Date : Sun Sep 25 2005 11:08 pm

"John" <john@nospam.com> wrote:
>someone else wrote:
>>do serious programmers have a life?
>A life? ... as in ... 'get a life'?
>
>I hate that phrase
>
>IMO; if you have a passion and pursue your passion ... how could you
>possibly have more of a life than that?
>
>When ever I hear somebody utter it, it's usually in regards to not being
>aware of some irrelevant pop-culture trend.
>
>Bottom line - If a person is passionate about activity X and pursue it as an
>occupation, they will; a) have a very fulfilling life.  And b) become a
>serious player in their field.
>
>If programming is not your activity X, you should either get out of
>programming and into your activity X as an occupation, or resign yourself to
>the fact that you will have an up hill climb as an "also ran".

IMO, this is a very naive and dangerous attitude.  Too many people
think that just because they work hard, they'll be rewarded.  They MAY
be rewarded if other factors are at play, such as luck, and favorable
market conditions.  There are certainly plenty of people who have
worked very hard in the computer industry, but have struggled and
sometimes failed, not because of a lack of ability, but because the
obstacles they faced were too difficult to surmount.

--gregbo
gds at best dot com

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