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  3. Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

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  • P Offline
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    Paul Brower
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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    • P Paul Brower

      Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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      T Offline
      toxcct
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      we don't

      [VisualCalc][Binary Guide][CommDialogs] | [Forums Guidelines]

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      • P Paul Brower

        Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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        Single Step Debugger
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        I am hearing voices!

        The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

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        • P Paul Brower

          Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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          leckey 0
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          It's not really diagnosed as OCD unless if affects normal life, like you miss work because you are spending hours washing your hands. Some people just like structure and normalcy so it gives you OCD traits, but your life is really "normal." For me, I was missing school, calling in sick to my part-time job because I was spending so much time brushing my teeth.

          Blog link to be reinstated at a later date.

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          • P Paul Brower

            Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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            H Offline
            Harald Krause
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            No

            bb |~ bb

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            • T toxcct

              we don't

              [VisualCalc][Binary Guide][CommDialogs] | [Forums Guidelines]

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              Paul Brower
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              I figured I'd get some stark 'NO, I don't have OCD' comments :) What about this ... what odd behaviors to you have?

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              • P Paul Brower

                Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                NeverHeardOfMe
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                No

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                • N NeverHeardOfMe

                  Maybe....

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                  N Offline
                  NeverHeardOfMe
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Yes!

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                  • N NeverHeardOfMe

                    No

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                    N Offline
                    NeverHeardOfMe
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Maybe....

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                    • P Paul Brower

                      Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                      Tom Deketelaere
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      Paul Brower wrote:

                      I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times.

                      I have that to but I blame the fact that the handling is so routine that you imidiatly forget that you actually locked it so you go back and lock it again and again and again and... ;P Otherwise I'm perfectly normal (at least that's what the voice in my head is saying and I believe him)

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                      • P Paul Brower

                        Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                        phannon86
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        I have to turn the lights of and on 17 times when I leave a room else my family will die!

                        He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man

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                        • P Paul Brower

                          Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                          B Offline
                          blackjack2150
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          And what's the relation of OCD with programming? Is it because you check and recheck the code before doing a commit/build?

                          P 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • P Paul Brower

                            Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                            M Offline
                            Michael Schubert
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Paul Brower wrote:

                            I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place.

                            Do you wash your hands before eating in a public place?

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                            • B blackjack2150

                              And what's the relation of OCD with programming? Is it because you check and recheck the code before doing a commit/build?

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                              Paul Brower
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              That makes sense, actually. I don't know very many people with 'odd behaviors' that aren't programmers.

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                              • P Paul Brower

                                Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                                eyeseetee
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Paul Brower wrote:

                                display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD.

                                Like what?

                                The answers posted by me are suggestions only and cannot be used in anyway against me.

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                                • M Michael Schubert

                                  Paul Brower wrote:

                                  I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place.

                                  Do you wash your hands before eating in a public place?

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                                  Paul Brower
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Interestingly enough, I don't feel that need. I don't think it's about germs or anything, it's about having remnants of food on my hands, then accidentally rubbing my eyes or something.

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                                  • P Paul Brower

                                    Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                                    R Offline
                                    realJSOP
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Word!

                                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                    -----
                                    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                                    • P Paul Brower

                                      Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      Not OCD, but ADHD definitely! I forget to do a lot of things and have trouble listening when people are talking to me, because I expect them to say boring things all the time, and they usually do. :-D On the other hand, when I'm playing a computer game or checking out some interesting CP article, all those troubles magically disappear. :) Oh, wait... I do have OCD behavior. When people say boring things or when I have to wait for something I also repeatedly count to 4 in my head. Sometimes I use my fingers for the same purpose.

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                                      • P phannon86

                                        I have to turn the lights of and on 17 times when I leave a room else my family will die!

                                        He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man

                                        E Offline
                                        E Offline
                                        eyeseetee
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        hmm Friends episode?

                                        The answers posted by me are suggestions only and cannot be used in anyway against me.

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                                        • P Paul Brower

                                          Many people I know would say I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - for anyone not familiar with the term). I have never been 'diagnosed', nor have I ever sought any kind of treatment or medication, because I just consider myself to have a few behavioral quirks. An example of some of my quirks are: - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed. - I have to get up at a certain time, be off to work at a certain time, etc, or I have a bad day. - I have to wash my hands immediately after eating at a public place. - ... you get the idea. Looking back at my life, I realized I never had 'OCD issues' before I was a programmer. Looking at other programmers around me I realize many, if not most of them, display characteristics that some would attribute to a form of OCD. Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

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                                          M Offline
                                          Matthew Faithfull
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          I have a good friend with quite serious OCD who isn't a programmer. I have noticed certain similar symptoms among a few colleagues over the years and I do think it might be quite common. I don't, as far as I can tell suffer myself, I certainly don't obsessively tidy my desk :laugh:

                                          "The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)

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