Subj : Re: do serious programmers have a life?
To   : comp.programming
From : John
Date : Mon Sep 26 2005 10:24 am

<gds@best.cut.here.com> wrote in message 
news:DdFZe.36329$Tf5.19022@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
> "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.

Hi gregbo,

I think you may have misunderstood what I was trying to say.

I believe your reply is with regards to my "serious player in their field" 
comment.  If that is the case, I didn't not mean to imply that being one of 
the best in the field necessarily means you will be the most rewarded.

IMHO, your reward is not equal to your competency level.  You can be the 
best programmer in the world, and work in conditions where your efforts are 
never recognized or others take the credit for your work or you may not be 
able to sell yourself or you have a modesty complex etc.....  Also its 
possible for a programmer to whip up a technological piece of garbage but 
they've captured an unmet need.

Sincerely,
John

.