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 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
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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
Oh the second one definitely :) I'm pretty sure none of these kids can "make" anything related to real food, unless it's processed in a plastic bag or a microwave.
¡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 Servicesi spent most of Jr High trying to hide the fact that i was a geek. i did that by spending a lot of time reading, playing on computers and avoiding jocks. somehow, they saw right through my charade.
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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
Seriously, when was that? In all fairness, where I grew up girls liked smart guys and there was no "geek" stigma, but "an object of fear, awe and admiration"? You must be a writer ;P
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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 ServicesThey aint all that!
Dalek Dave: There are many words that some find offensive, Homosexuality, Alcoholism, Religion, Visual Basic, Manchester United, Butter. Pete o'Hanlon: If it wasn't insulting tools, I'd say you were dumber than a bag of spanners.
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5! That's the best reply so far!
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I'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
Surprisingly, that was only the choice of a very few. Being an entertainer is much like being a programmer - you either are or you aren't. Interests were all over the map, but it wasn't just programming that took a hit. There wasn't much interest in IT related fields at all.
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
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.
Interests were all over the map, there wasn't any hot trend that I could discern.
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
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
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
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.
Well I didn't call the teacher a moron, and it's a Corvette rather than a Ferrari, but yeah, that was pretty much my pitch. :-D
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
I 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
We had real, live firefighters on this gig, too. Clearly, the geeks were just outclassed. :-D
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
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
Seriously, when was that? In all fairness, where I grew up girls liked smart guys and there was no "geek" stigma, but "an object of fear, awe and admiration"? You must be a writer ;P
Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
"an object of fear, awe and admiration"? You must be a writer
Hey, it's all in the presentation. :-D
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
Does 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]
Don't worry, we can still outsource your lazy butt. :-D
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
i spent most of Jr High trying to hide the fact that i was a geek. i did that by spending a lot of time reading, playing on computers and avoiding jocks. somehow, they saw right through my charade.
And now when you drive up they ask, "Would you like fries with that?" :)
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services