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  3. Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

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  • N NeverHeardOfMe

    No

    N Offline
    N Offline
    NeverHeardOfMe
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    Maybe....

    N 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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      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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        blackjack2150
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        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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        • 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
          #12

          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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            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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                    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.

                        P 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • 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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                          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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                          • E eyeseetee

                            hmm Friends episode?

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

                            P Offline
                            P Offline
                            phannon86
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            I couldn't remember for the life of me where I'd heard it before, I knew I had, but I wanted to say it regardless. :)

                            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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                              Ruan_B
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #22

                              Paul Brower wrote:

                              I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed.

                              I always check my car door after locking it(even though I know it is locked).

                              Paul Brower wrote:

                              - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed.

                              yes I do that too. I have this checklist that I repeat in my head whenever I go or leave a place. The checklist: "Cellphone, sigarettes, lighter, wallet, keys". And everytime in that exact order. And a whole list of other stuff that most people find wierd :-D It might be OCD or just me being over cautious, but it doesn't bother me at all, is kind of a lifestyle :laugh:

                              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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                                Duncan Edwards Jones
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #23

                                Paul Brower wrote:

                                - I have to lock my vehicle (with remote) three times. - I check my alarm clock a few times before going to bed.

                                These aren't OCD - just familiarity with the fallibility of technology. All programmers have that.

                                '--8<------------------------ Ex Datis: Duncan Jones Merrion Computing Ltd

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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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                                  Chris Losinger
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #24

                                  no and no

                                  image processing toolkits | batch image processing

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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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                                    leppie
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #25

                                    - cant sleep without a TV on - wear a cap before I even get dressed till I go sleep

                                    xacc.ide - now with TabsToSpaces support
                                    IronScheme - 1.0 alpha 4a out now (29 May 2008)
                                    ((lambda (x) `((lambda (x) ,x) ',x)) '`((lambda (x) ,x) ',x))

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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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                                      John M Drescher
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #26

                                      I would say I do not have OCD but probably a few other of these popular diagnosis would apply.

                                      John

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                                      • S Single Step Debugger

                                        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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                                        Pete OHanlon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #27

                                        Switch the radio off then.

                                        Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

                                        My blog | My articles

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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
                                          #28

                                          Everybody who answered "NO" is not a real programmer. ;P :laugh:

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