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  3. Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

Do all programmers suffer from OCD?

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  • S StevenWalsh

    In my opinion Autism is the new popular diagnosis, much like ADD was in the 90's (Its almost impossible to know for sure, but there were countless kids who were prescribed riddlin that most likely did not need it)

    Einstein argued that there must be simplified explanations of nature, because God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software engineer. -Fred Brooks

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    MidwestLimey
    wrote on last edited by
    #55

    That's what my wife said, she calls it "childhood disease", parent's would come in saying their kid is hyperactive and must be ADHD when all they were being was a rambunctious child. Now not only are kids not allowed to do anything, must be afraid of everyone and must partake of 15,000 extra-curricular activities at age 5 to enable them to get into a university and amass debt they can never repay. They also aren't allowed to behave like kids.

    Bar fomos edo pariyart gedeem, agreo eo dranem abal edyero eyrem kalm kareore

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    • C Colin Angus Mackay

      Paul Brower wrote:

      Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

      I know a few programmers that could do with a dose of OCD because their shoddy lack of thoroughness leaves a lot to be desired.

      Recent blog posts: *SQL Server / Visual Studio install order *Installing SQL Server 2005 on Vista *Crazy Extension Methods Redux * Mixins My Blog

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      MidwestLimey
      wrote on last edited by
      #56

      Or are you just obsessing over your colleages?

      Bar fomos edo pariyart gedeem, agreo eo dranem abal edyero eyrem kalm kareore

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      • L leppie

        You forgot the try/catch around checking for equality :doh: ;P

        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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        PIEBALDconsult
        wrote on last edited by
        #57

        Throw in some locking too.

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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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          Paul Conrad
          wrote on last edited by
          #58

          Paul Brower wrote:

          Do you have OCD?

          Nope.

          "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

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          • L Lost User

            Excel!

            Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.

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            Paul Conrad
            wrote on last edited by
            #59

            Powerpoint :rolleyes:

            "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

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            • S SilimSayo

              Me too. I have a hard time listening to other people because they seem to be saying unintelligent things. I need constant stimulation else I get bored quickly. I say things that other don't immediately understand; some people will understand what I said after a week or so. I am a control freak too. I have to check everything. Many times I'm not sure that I did something, so I do again, and again.... just to really be sure.... Not good for relationships but very good for picking up errors in code and typos in resumes.

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              Paul Conrad
              wrote on last edited by
              #60

              SilimSayo wrote:

              have a hard time listening to other people because they seem to be saying unintelligent things

              Yeah, when that happens to me, it just seems like the other people are saying blah-blah-blah like the grownups on the old Charlie Brown cartoons :rolleyes:

              "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

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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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                Le centriste
                wrote on last edited by
                #61

                Paul Brower wrote:

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

                Is that it? I run NUnit on my alarm clock before going to bed. :~

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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
                  #62

                  Does that count?

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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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                    Joe Woodbury
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #63

                    Don't know about OCD, but several studies have found that engineers suffer from dyslexia at higher rates that society in general. This creates a real problem in our over tested high formalized education system which pushes anyone who thinks differently than education bureaucrats out of the system. (It doesn't help that education bureaucrats are amongst the dumbest people I've ever met or listened to and have a striking lack of imagination. And people wonder why schools are screwed up.)

                    Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke

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                    • L Le centriste

                      Paul Brower wrote:

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

                      Is that it? I run NUnit on my alarm clock before going to bed. :~

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                      Paul Brower
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #64

                      :laugh:

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                      • P Paul Conrad

                        Powerpoint :rolleyes:

                        "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

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                        El Corazon
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #65

                        Open office. ;P ;P

                        _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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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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                          El Corazon
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #66

                          Paul Brower wrote:

                          Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

                          I think it has something to do with the different types of programmers. There is not one stereotype for a programmer, but several. You do have the OCD programmer, and the artistic programmer. The artistic programmer forgets everything except for his own code -- sometimes his own name. That is me, the absent minded programmer. I am working on flubber code. I even put tennis shoes on my computer to help. :)

                          _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                          • E El Corazon

                            Open office. ;P ;P

                            _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                            Paul Conrad
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #67

                            Star Office :-\

                            "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

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                            • E El Corazon

                              Paul Brower wrote:

                              Do you have OCD? Do you think it could have anything to do with writing code for so many years?

                              I think it has something to do with the different types of programmers. There is not one stereotype for a programmer, but several. You do have the OCD programmer, and the artistic programmer. The artistic programmer forgets everything except for his own code -- sometimes his own name. That is me, the absent minded programmer. I am working on flubber code. I even put tennis shoes on my computer to help. :)

                              _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                              MidwestLimey
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #68

                              But do you remember your name, or is that why you named yourself after a body part? ;)

                              Bar fomos edo pariyart gedeem, agreo eo dranem abal edyero eyrem kalm kareore

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                              • M MidwestLimey

                                But do you remember your name, or is that why you named yourself after a body part? ;)

                                Bar fomos edo pariyart gedeem, agreo eo dranem abal edyero eyrem kalm kareore

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                                El Corazon
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #69

                                MidwestLimey wrote:

                                But do you remember your name

                                I only worked 10 hours last night, went home early... so today I remember... ask me tomorrow. :)

                                _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                                • E El Corazon

                                  MidwestLimey wrote:

                                  But do you remember your name

                                  I only worked 10 hours last night, went home early... so today I remember... ask me tomorrow. :)

                                  _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                                  Dan Neely
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #70

                                  OK. Tomorrow? PS What exactly does that question mean to you? I'm stumped. :laugh:

                                  Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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                                  • D Dan Neely

                                    OK. Tomorrow? PS What exactly does that question mean to you? I'm stumped. :laugh:

                                    Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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                                    El Corazon
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #71

                                    It means.... The sun will come out tomorrow...

                                    _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                                    • E El Corazon

                                      It means.... The sun will come out tomorrow...

                                      _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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                                      Dan Neely
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #72

                                      X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X|

                                      Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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                                      • D Dan Neely

                                        X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X| X|

                                        Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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                                        El Corazon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #73

                                        always be careful what you ask for. I understand the true nature of the mountains of madness. :-D

                                        _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

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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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                                          BillWoodruff
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #74

                                          Hi Paul, I would proceed cautiously before applying a "label" like "OCD" to myself or anyone else. The presence of a few behavior patterns at the low-level of frequency of repetition you describe doesn't mean "pathology." I would encourage you to consider the "big picture" : are you feeling connected to other people vs. isolated; are you able to have nourishing friendships and relaionships vs. are you lonely or you feel your social skills have "atrophied." If you feel/think these behaviors you describe are occurring because of personal feelings of loss or depression, that's one thing; if they seem to you to be related to period of intense stress in work or social life, that's another. Diet, health, exercise, satisfaction in love and sex, satisfaction in emotional relationships, meaningful work : all, imho, factors in the "big picture." For myself I have noticed that since I became a programmer (in my late thirties [1980] after a career in socal science and psychotherapy)I have become ever more slovenly and dis-organized in my personal space :) best, Bill the Antique

                                          "The greater the social and cultural distances between people, the more magical the light that can spring from their contact." Milan Kundera in Testaments Trahis

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