A Veritable Piece of Rudeness...
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
You shoulda punched him in the face.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"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 -
You shoulda punched him in the face.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"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:laugh: I would have, but during the very next class he took MS PowerPointTM hung and he broke the interactive whiteboard. Destiny took care of it for me.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
Ouch. I guess some teachers don't like to be students (or, in his case, a good teacher).
Martin Fowler wrote:
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
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:laugh: I would have, but during the very next class he took MS PowerPointTM hung and he broke the interactive whiteboard. Destiny took care of it for me.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
I hope you laughed as loud and annoyingly as possible. :-D
Martin Fowler wrote:
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
SixOfTheClock wrote:
This man is a professor.
You seem to imply this conveys some sort qualification. Academia has often been completely out of step with reality and professors are the embodiment of academia. CP on the other had is driven by reality and the majority of the people here are intimately involved in the coal face of reality (trying to make a living from this industry). Take heart, making his life difficult is probably the best thing you can do for any academic!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I hope you laughed as loud and annoyingly as possible. :-D
Martin Fowler wrote:
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
Call me hypocrite, but I'd wait on a more subtle opportunity for revenge. It's still early in the semester and PHP (pointy haired professor) howhever dumb he/she is will still grade the work. As long as it's not the last semester, patience is a virtue!
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Call me hypocrite, but I'd wait on a more subtle opportunity for revenge. It's still early in the semester and PHP (pointy haired professor) howhever dumb he/she is will still grade the work. As long as it's not the last semester, patience is a virtue!
Yes, probably best to grow a successful company over a number of decades, make millions, pay a few hundred $K for a night with the professor's wife and a well trained donkey, then pay to have the video played at Time Square. Sweet revenge! All ruined when he admits he and his wife are exhibitionists.
Martin Fowler wrote:
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
-
Yes, probably best to grow a successful company over a number of decades, make millions, pay a few hundred $K for a night with the professor's wife and a well trained donkey, then pay to have the video played at Time Square. Sweet revenge! All ruined when he admits he and his wife are exhibitionists.
Martin Fowler wrote:
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
Don't want to know where the donkey came from, but something between embarassing questions in class later when it's not obvious retaliation and what you said. And based on the next class, there should be plenty of opportunities.
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
Well, since I went back to grad school after working for 37 years, I initially got a similar reaction from some of the profs. One went as far as tell me he would not accept me in any of his classes. Basically I told them I wasn't there to cause problems or make their job harder, but I could probably offer some practical experience to support the theories they were teaching - and I sincerely meant that. It has all worked out OK. Just remember that the profs are the ones who can make your courses go easy or hard and directly affect your grades and therefore, indirectly, your life and career. In the long run, making someone uncomfortable won't help you very much.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Well, since I went back to grad school after working for 37 years, I initially got a similar reaction from some of the profs. One went as far as tell me he would not accept me in any of his classes. Basically I told them I wasn't there to cause problems or make their job harder, but I could probably offer some practical experience to support the theories they were teaching - and I sincerely meant that. It has all worked out OK. Just remember that the profs are the ones who can make your courses go easy or hard and directly affect your grades and therefore, indirectly, your life and career. In the long run, making someone uncomfortable won't help you very much.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
I suspect I'm going to be in trouble soon... I'm starting my Masters in two weeks, and recently emailed my advisor to inform her that I've decided to take her recommendation and start with the required classes, "Engineering Management" and "Engineering Communications." I phrased it in my usual, blunt style, though, "I think you're right that I should get the 'fluffy' subjects out of the way early, so I can better focus on relevant material for the rest of my time at the University." She hasn't replied, so I suspect that she doesn't share my view that these are undergrad classes that have absolutely no value to someone who has been communicating with and managing engineers for 25 years. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the APA and MLA writing styles have no valid use, and don't exist outside of the academic proctoliverse.
Will Rogers never met me.
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SixOfTheClock wrote:
This man is a professor.
You seem to imply this conveys some sort qualification. Academia has often been completely out of step with reality and professors are the embodiment of academia. CP on the other had is driven by reality and the majority of the people here are intimately involved in the coal face of reality (trying to make a living from this industry). Take heart, making his life difficult is probably the best thing you can do for any academic!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Five Too many academics are far-removed from the real world. They've no idea what it's like to have to actually produce results to make a living.
XAlan Burkhart
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I suspect I'm going to be in trouble soon... I'm starting my Masters in two weeks, and recently emailed my advisor to inform her that I've decided to take her recommendation and start with the required classes, "Engineering Management" and "Engineering Communications." I phrased it in my usual, blunt style, though, "I think you're right that I should get the 'fluffy' subjects out of the way early, so I can better focus on relevant material for the rest of my time at the University." She hasn't replied, so I suspect that she doesn't share my view that these are undergrad classes that have absolutely no value to someone who has been communicating with and managing engineers for 25 years. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the APA and MLA writing styles have no valid use, and don't exist outside of the academic proctoliverse.
Will Rogers never met me.
Well, Roger, I sympathize. Fortunately for me I didn't have to take those "fluffy" courses - I went the research route for my MS. Fortunately I also have a good relationship with my supervisor and advisor. The graduate advisor was a classmate of mine when I was an undergrad and working on my MS and I helped him out on some projects way back then. However, there are some times when one just has to suck it up and do what they want, even if you know better. I figure being as non-confrontational as possible is the best course. Glad to hear you're getting started! Classes just started this week here. I'm taking "Advanced Petrophysics" and "Transport Phenomena," which are the last classes I need. After that I get to tackle the qualifying exams in January, and I'm not looking forward to those.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Well, Roger, I sympathize. Fortunately for me I didn't have to take those "fluffy" courses - I went the research route for my MS. Fortunately I also have a good relationship with my supervisor and advisor. The graduate advisor was a classmate of mine when I was an undergrad and working on my MS and I helped him out on some projects way back then. However, there are some times when one just has to suck it up and do what they want, even if you know better. I figure being as non-confrontational as possible is the best course. Glad to hear you're getting started! Classes just started this week here. I'm taking "Advanced Petrophysics" and "Transport Phenomena," which are the last classes I need. After that I get to tackle the qualifying exams in January, and I'm not looking forward to those.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
Well, I'm luckier than some. My lady has been working on an Associates degree in Computer Science. They just revamped the curriculum, and she's now required to take two terms of extreme fluffiness - "History of World Art I & II." I think the school must have a tenured professor they can't get rid of, and who can only teach one subject, so to make him earn his keep, everyone has to take his stupid class. Go figure... Congrats on making it through the labyrinth so far; don't sweat the tests! I can even help you a bit... To summarize, Rock physics: dx/dt = 0; Rock Transport: dx/dt > 0. Extra credit: Use a truck; it's easier than walking with them. :-D I'll be watching for the celebration in February!
Will Rogers never met me.
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Well, I'm luckier than some. My lady has been working on an Associates degree in Computer Science. They just revamped the curriculum, and she's now required to take two terms of extreme fluffiness - "History of World Art I & II." I think the school must have a tenured professor they can't get rid of, and who can only teach one subject, so to make him earn his keep, everyone has to take his stupid class. Go figure... Congrats on making it through the labyrinth so far; don't sweat the tests! I can even help you a bit... To summarize, Rock physics: dx/dt = 0; Rock Transport: dx/dt > 0. Extra credit: Use a truck; it's easier than walking with them. :-D I'll be watching for the celebration in February!
Will Rogers never met me.
Around here when they change the curriculum, continuing students have the option of graduating under either the new or old one for a period of several years. History of World Art is required for a Computer Science degree? And we wonder why some of the questions in the Q & A section are the way they are!! Thanks for the help, but unfortunately I remember that I used to know this stuff, but now I often feel as smart as a rock. If there's a celebration towards the end of January, I'll certainly let you know, but right now I'm not too confident. At any rate, I know that my Christmas and New Years will consist of lots of books and long hours getting ready.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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I suspect I'm going to be in trouble soon... I'm starting my Masters in two weeks, and recently emailed my advisor to inform her that I've decided to take her recommendation and start with the required classes, "Engineering Management" and "Engineering Communications." I phrased it in my usual, blunt style, though, "I think you're right that I should get the 'fluffy' subjects out of the way early, so I can better focus on relevant material for the rest of my time at the University." She hasn't replied, so I suspect that she doesn't share my view that these are undergrad classes that have absolutely no value to someone who has been communicating with and managing engineers for 25 years. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the APA and MLA writing styles have no valid use, and don't exist outside of the academic proctoliverse.
Will Rogers never met me.
Roger Wright wrote:
I didn't have the heart to tell her that the APA and MLA writing styles have no valid use, and don't exist outside of the academic proctoliverse.
HAHAHA... You mean I can't use those as a guideline for writing a Technical Manual, Requirements Document, Troubleshooting Guide, Documenting Code, or or or... anything?
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
-
Around here when they change the curriculum, continuing students have the option of graduating under either the new or old one for a period of several years. History of World Art is required for a Computer Science degree? And we wonder why some of the questions in the Q & A section are the way they are!! Thanks for the help, but unfortunately I remember that I used to know this stuff, but now I often feel as smart as a rock. If there's a celebration towards the end of January, I'll certainly let you know, but right now I'm not too confident. At any rate, I know that my Christmas and New Years will consist of lots of books and long hours getting ready.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
Walt Fair, Jr. wrote:
continuing students have the option of graduating under either the new or old one for a period of several years.
When I was a lad they did the same. My school decided in my Junior year to water down the curriculum and eliminate the hard classes, changing the degree from Electrical and Electronics Engineering to Electrical and Computer Engineering. I and a few compatriots really enjoyed the analog classes, and slept through the trivial digital ones, so we threw a collective fit. It worked, and I got one of the last BSEEE degrees ever granted by Cal State Polytechnic University. :-D I've got my books, and already read them both, so I expect the next 16 weeks to be filled with writing scholarly tomes about subjects that don't interest me a bit. I'll survive, as I'm sure you will. :laugh:
Will Rogers never met me.
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I was talking to a non-parental authority figure that I know recently and the conversation drifted towards programming. I briefly mentioned that I have some articles here on CP. I didn't give him my résumé or anything, merely brushed the topic of article-writing. His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was... Being a naïve soul, I stood there with my chest puffed out and drawn up to full height, sure in the knowledge that I would receive an ego-boosting congratulations on my contribution (however meagre) to the programming community. Here's the essence of the first thing he said after this, to my face: "I can't stand students who think they know everything and go on about IT topics that the rest of the class can't understand like Visual Basic and stuff. It just makes my job harder." I was paraphrasing there, but not much. My head deflated like a hot air balloon coming into land and yes, my eyes smarted slightly. This man is a professor.
A programming language is to a programmer what a fine hat is to one who is fond of fancy garden parties. Just don't try wearing any .NET language on your head. Some of them are sharp.
SixOfTheClock wrote:
His eyes showed what I thought was a spark of interest. How wrong I was...
IMO, you read it correctly. What you read was excitement at the opportunity to take you down a peg or two. The profs I know personally enjoy abusing people. And as a group they are expert at pretending they know everything when outside of their realm of knowledge they are about as knowledgeable as the next guy over in a bar. Their opinions are as badly formed as any layman's. Sorry, any of you academe's who read this and are unhappy with my opinion. It is definitely your brethren who persuaded me to this viewpoint.
_____________________________ Give a man a mug, he drinks for a day. Teach a man to mug...
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Around here when they change the curriculum, continuing students have the option of graduating under either the new or old one for a period of several years. History of World Art is required for a Computer Science degree? And we wonder why some of the questions in the Q & A section are the way they are!! Thanks for the help, but unfortunately I remember that I used to know this stuff, but now I often feel as smart as a rock. If there's a celebration towards the end of January, I'll certainly let you know, but right now I'm not too confident. At any rate, I know that my Christmas and New Years will consist of lots of books and long hours getting ready.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
Walt Fair, Jr. wrote:
History of World Art is required for a Computer Science degree? And we wonder why some of the questions in the Q & A section are the way they are!!
I took three art classes to fill gen ed requirements for my BS in CS and Physics/Astron. Intro to Western Art (history) -- any art/music book learning class. Intro to Asian Art -- Asian studies. Drawing 1 -- Any art or music (or theater???) performance class, or any upper level art/music history class.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
