8th graders don't think you're cool
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesI'd be curious to know: what did they express interest in? Besides winning American Idol or being the new flavor-of-the-week-reality-TV-star :)
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesDoes this mean I won't be able to retire since no whipper snapper wants to take my job. Guess I'll have to turn on Wally mode in another year or two. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Dunno. I was mucking around with basic on my trash 80 color in 2nd grade. I wouldn't even pretend to consider myself a template for normal though. :laugh:
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
But was it cool to be a software developer that time. My guess is, it was never cool compared to say: being a pilot, being Jack Bauer, being a rocket scientist.
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesBring to the class a paper bag with bread, a jar of jelly, a jar of peanut butter, and a pre-approved plastic knife then ask the class to instruct you in making the sandwich. Follow instructions literally. If that fails to gain their attention, try this: "You know that game Call of Duty? Yeah, I made that" (Change name of the game for the times) Realistically, I think if I ever do a career day I will just lie. I will say I am an overpaid consultant that travels the country telling other people how to do their jobs. I spend my free-time on boats, flying airplanes, and playing video games. I will then show photographs of super models and claim to be their friends. I will then emphatically state that their teacher is a moron whose only goal is for them to pass the State mandated testing with a high enough score to ensure tenure. I will then point outside to the parking lot at the rented Ferrari claiming it as my own and ask if there are any questions.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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Bring to the class a paper bag with bread, a jar of jelly, a jar of peanut butter, and a pre-approved plastic knife then ask the class to instruct you in making the sandwich. Follow instructions literally. If that fails to gain their attention, try this: "You know that game Call of Duty? Yeah, I made that" (Change name of the game for the times) Realistically, I think if I ever do a career day I will just lie. I will say I am an overpaid consultant that travels the country telling other people how to do their jobs. I spend my free-time on boats, flying airplanes, and playing video games. I will then show photographs of super models and claim to be their friends. I will then emphatically state that their teacher is a moron whose only goal is for them to pass the State mandated testing with a high enough score to ensure tenure. I will then point outside to the parking lot at the rented Ferrari claiming it as my own and ask if there are any questions.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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Isn't it too soon for them to find out whether they are really interested in programming. What was the hot career? When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to be an Air Force Pilot.
I knew I wanted to program since I was in 5th or 6th grade.
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I knew I wanted to program since I was in 5th or 6th grade.
Sure! But how many more wolfbinaries where there in your class or in the entire school?
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesTo quote Shoggoth: Meh. Todays kids mantra seems to be "don't care about anyhting" - at least, noone should notice.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one
Uhuh. Yes, please continue....
Agh! Reality! My Archnemesis![^]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server. -
You will have to lie for that?? what happened??? ;P :laugh:
I want to die like my grandfather- asleep, not like the passengers in his car, screaming!
Well, I don't actually own a Ferrari. Not enough trunk space :p
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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To quote Shoggoth: Meh. Todays kids mantra seems to be "don't care about anyhting" - at least, noone should notice.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one
Uhuh. Yes, please continue....
Agh! Reality! My Archnemesis![^]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server. -
I knew I wanted to program since I was in 5th or 6th grade.
Be sure to let us know, if you ever succeed. :-D
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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peterchen wrote:
Todays kids mantra seems to be "don't care about anyhting" - at least, noone should notice.
I got a feeling that our folks said the exact same thing. And so did their folks.......
Oh no I didn't!!
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
Oh no I didn't!!
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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Bring to the class a paper bag with bread, a jar of jelly, a jar of peanut butter, and a pre-approved plastic knife then ask the class to instruct you in making the sandwich. Follow instructions literally. If that fails to gain their attention, try this: "You know that game Call of Duty? Yeah, I made that" (Change name of the game for the times) Realistically, I think if I ever do a career day I will just lie. I will say I am an overpaid consultant that travels the country telling other people how to do their jobs. I spend my free-time on boats, flying airplanes, and playing video games. I will then show photographs of super models and claim to be their friends. I will then emphatically state that their teacher is a moron whose only goal is for them to pass the State mandated testing with a high enough score to ensure tenure. I will then point outside to the parking lot at the rented Ferrari claiming it as my own and ask if there are any questions.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
You know, if you really do that can you please record it for posterity? I'd love to watch the video of that :)
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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Isn't it too soon for them to find out whether they are really interested in programming. What was the hot career? When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to be an Air Force Pilot.
Well, I had to fail out at accounting before I decided to go into CS. I had the idea in my head that I didn't want to actually go into something I saw as a hobby because then it wouldn't be any fun for me once it was my job. To a point that's happened but not like I thought it would. Interestingly enough all the people who couldn't cut it in the CS department ended up as business majors which lead them to project management/business analyst positions... :-D
------------------------------------- Do not do what has already been done. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.. but it ROCKS absolutely, too.
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesChristopher Duncan wrote:
The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one
Since when? I've never met anyone who wanted to be a geek - met plenty who wanted to punch one though :)
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You know, if you really do that can you please record it for posterity? I'd love to watch the video of that :)
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
Which one, the PBJ? Or the funnier one?
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one
Since when? I've never met anyone who wanted to be a geek - met plenty who wanted to punch one though :)
5! That's the best reply so far!
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I participated in a Career Day today for 8th graders. A group of businesspeople rotate through classrooms, talk about what they do and field questions. While I focused on my copywriting & speaking business, I touched on my previous lifetimes, including programming. In each of half a dozen classrooms, I asked how many people were interested in getting into programming / software development as a career. The grand total for all classes? Zero. The wild and wooly geek was once an object of fear, awe and admiration, a creature so bold and exciting that large masses of people wanted to become one. However, as best I can determine from limited empirical evidence, you are no longer cool. Certainly not in the eyes of the up and coming generation. Just thought you'd want to know. :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting ServicesI assume you had a control in place to verify your results? Did you ask them if they were interested in law enforcement, for example? You'd have to phrase it "law enforcement", not "fire fighting" or "CSI"... because those are obviously cool. ;P