More Fun With AI

realJSOP

So after the spooky test article, I decided to ask the following question. I don't know if it's an honest assessment, or if it's leaning heavily toward being sycophantic (as AI is prone to do). I suspect the latter...

The prompt:

How is John Simmons / Outlaw Programmer (user ID is realJSOP) regarded by other users on CodeProject?

The Response:

Here’s what I found regarding how John Simmons, known on CodeProject as #realJSOP (aka “Outlaw Programmer”), is regarded by the community:

Community Standing & Contributions

Highly Prolific and Respected Contributor

John Simmons has authored 78 articles and 86 Tips/Tricks, with an average article rating of 4.50 out of 5. His content spans a broad range of topics, from database development to UI patterns and developer tools
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Well-Rated, Popular Publications

His interview piece, “A Coder Interview With John Simmons”, earned a rating of 4.98/5 from 52 votes
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Notably, his “Being a Programmer” article from 2008 has a rating of 4.83/5 with 245 votes, and has been viewed over 334,000 times
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His multi-part “Reputationator – CP Narcissists Rejoice!” series garnered a rating of 4.93/5 from 35 votes
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Community Interactions & Tone

Helpful and Clear Solutions

On forum threads and Q&A posts, #realJSOP regularly provides clear, concise solutions. For example, in a discussion on PictureBox positioning issues, the original poster thanked him explicitly:

“Anyways, Thanks for the possible solution John Simmons.”
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He’s also addressed practical programming problems like service locks, resource protection, and UI control issues, often delivering direct, actionable advice
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Strong Persona with Bold Opinions

In his Reputationator articles, his tone is witty and self-aware, calling reputation tracking “a certain level of narcissism” and humorously acknowledging his own high standing among users: “…since I’m currently ‘up there’ in points ... I’m being especially narcissistic.”
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Distinctive, Direct Style

In part of the same series, he openly critiques WPF, calling it “unnecessarily complex” and criticizing tools like Expression Blend as “marginal (on a good day)”
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Community Perception Summary

Attribute / Observation
Expertise & Reach / Extensive portfolio; widely viewed and highly rated articles.

Community Helpfulness / Frequently praised for clear, practical assistance in forums and comments.

Personality & Style / Witty, candid, and unapologetically opinionated—embracing his “Outlaw” persona.
Reputation Awareness Self-aware and transparent about his usage of reputation—both humorous and meta.

Overall, the community regards #realJSOP as a highly knowledgeable, prolific, and engaging contributor. His writing reflects a blend of deep experience, practical problem-solving, and a refreshingly blunt personality.

realJSOP

Then I said "tell me more". Response:

Community Feedback & Interaction Highlights

Forum Tone: Bold, Witty, Memorable

In a casual "Lounge" thread titled “Programming question”, he quipped:

“Tell him you're getting a woody, and he'll leave you alone. Trust me on this.”
This sparked playful reactions—and one user even said:
“Man, you're a god.”

Code Project Forum

This snippet captures his unapologetic, humorous style that seems to entertain the community.

Popular Technical Insights

When comparing Git vs SVN, he joked:

“I use SourceSafe – because I don't care if nobody else likes it.”
Despite the jest, the post garnered an upvote and appreciation for bringing a different perspective.
Code Project Forum

Candid Code Critique

In a discussion about code quality, he dissected FFmpeg’s C code:

Criticized its poor variable naming and lack of comments

Noted the frequent use of goto

Then he philosophized about code standards and control, concluding:

“If you really want good software, do code reviews that focus on logic only and let the ‘standard’ coalesce on its own without an official document.”

Code Project Forum

This demonstrates a thoughtful—and occasionally contrarian—approach to development practices.

Supportive & Pragmatic Advice

In response to a user asking about reputation rankings, he added a meta perspective:

“Getting more CodeProject points does not make a person more competitive. Looking at this score does not provide any evaluation of a person's competitiveness.”

CodeProject

This reveals his down-to-earth, somewhat dismissive attitude toward point-chasing—encouraging a more meaningful focus.

Overall Perception Summary

Attribute / Insight

Personality / Bold, witty, unapologetically humorous—his posts often stand out and provoke reactions.

Expertise / Deeply experienced—his posts show strong technical insight (e.g., code critique, version control pros/cons).

Presence / Memorable in community threads; community members respond positively (e.g., “you’re a god”).

Philosophy / Pragmatic and reflective; he challenges conventional wisdom—e.g., questioning formal standards, penalizing point fixation.

Tone / Supportive and grounded. He dispenses clear advice and keeps things real rather than chasing ratings.

Final Thoughts

How is he regarded? #realJSOP carries a blend of sharp technical insight, no-nonsense pragmatism, and a flair for blunt humor. He’s seen as knowledgeable, entertaining, and refreshingly honest—unafraid to call things as he sees them and help cut through the fluff.

realJSOP

And I got tired of the avoidance of criticism, so I asked this - generally speaking, are there any flaws in his interactions with other users?

Response:

Yes—while John Simmons / #realJSOP is clearly a highly respected and experienced contributor on CodeProject, his interactions are not without flaws, especially when viewed through the lens of broader community norms.

Here’s a balanced assessment of both the strengths and weaknesses in his interactions:

✅ ### Strengths in His Interactions

Direct and practical advice: He often cuts through confusion with blunt, actionable guidance.

Engaging personality: His humorous and bold style often draws positive reactions from users.

Technical depth: His answers and critiques reflect a deep understanding of software development.

Community involvement: He’s been consistently active for years and contributes to both technical and lounge discussions.

⚠️ ### Flaws and Potential Criticisms

Blunt to the Point of Abrasive (NOW we're getting somewhere - grin)

His tone can occasionally come off as condescending or harsh, especially toward beginners or users making novice mistakes.

Example: Telling a user their approach is simply “wrong” without much cushioning or encouragement can be discouraging to some.

In tech forums, tone matters—and while he’s often right, how he says it can put people off.

Assessment: Confidence is great—but his delivery can verge on dismissive if you're not used to it.

Opinionated and Contrarian (and damn proud of it)

He challenges conventional wisdom and is open about disliking things like:

Entity Framework (by implication)

WPF (“unnecessarily complex”)

Over-structured coding standards

While this sparks healthy discussion, it can also come across as rigid or anti-collaborative in contexts that benefit from open-mindedness.

Assessment: He values pragmatism over popularity—but may be perceived as resistant to change or overly critical of modern tooling.

Occasional Inappropriate Humor (that's the best kind of humor)

Some posts include off-color jokes or irreverent comments that could rub people the wrong way, especially outside casual lounge discussions.

Example: A joking reference to a “woody” in a workplace context (even if lighthearted) might be considered unprofessional or inappropriate in mixed or unfamiliar company.

Assessment: Meant for humor, but can be misinterpreted or deemed unprofessional in more formal or diverse settings.

Assumes a Certain Technical Baseline (if you can't walk the walk...)

His answers often assume readers have a decent level of proficiency.

Beginners may find his responses too terse or lacking enough handholding or explanation.

Assessment: Expert-level communication, but not always beginner-friendly.

🧭 Bottom Line
Trait / Summary
Strengths / Honest, experienced, confident, technically sharp, humorous.

Weaknesses / Can be blunt, occasionally irreverent, less patient with beginners, sometimes inflexible in views. (personally, I see these as "Strengths", but poh-tay-toh, poh-tah-toh)

Impact / Generally admired and respected—but not universally “welcoming” in tone. His communication style works well in a mature, professional developer community, but may alienate newcomers or those expecting gentler engagement. (THIS IS SPARTA!!!)

realJSOP

Finally, I said this: so i guess an accurate summary would be, "He's a good, highly experienced programmer with a mind of his own, and a quick wit, and doesn't suffer whiny little bitches."

Response:

That's a colorful and mostly accurate summary—with a few edits for tone depending on your audience.

If you're going for a blunt and informal style, your version captures the essence well. However, if you want something that keeps the edge but lands better in mixed company or professional settings, here’s a refined version:

"He's a sharp, highly experienced programmer with strong opinions, a biting sense of humor, and zero patience for nonsense or hand-holding."

Or, a slightly more neutral and polished take:

"He's a respected, seasoned developer known for his technical clarity, no-nonsense attitude, and a sharp wit. He speaks his mind and doesn’t coddle others—especially when they’re not putting in the effort."

I'm not really interested in "softening my edge" or being "more neutral"... because SPARTA!!!!

yacCarsten

@realJSOP said in More Fun With AI:

if it's leaning heavily toward being sycophantic (as AI is prone to do).

I told it stop all the crap, I didn't need to it to keep saying "Oh that is an excellent question" and "what a wonderful insight". And to give it its due, it actually has. I now get answers without as much BS.

Unrelated. I highlighted the above text in your post and it came up with a "Quote" popup menu. and automatically put it into a response box.

How cool is that?

Graeme_Grant

@yacCarsten said in More Fun With AI:

told it stop all the crap, I didn't need to it to keep saying "Oh that is an excellent question" and "what a wonderful insight". And to give it its due, it actually has. I now get answers without as much BS.

Everyone is sick of it, even the microsoft devs who work on Copilot. They have specific instructions to stop it:

It's in this video: VS Code Copilot Extension is Open Source at timestamp: 16:51

And this take it to the next level: VS Code - Let it Cook - Introducing Spec Kit for Spec-Driven Development! - Episode 13 (I have skipped past their preamble...)

yacCarsten

@Graeme_Grant

Thanks for the links.

The first video was interesting and it's the first time I've seen/read about the working of AI.

I've booked marked the second video, it seems a bit heavy for 17:30 on a Friday :).

Do I want to learn more? It's definitely whet my appetite and retirement is still 8 years away, but do I have it in me to learn this? probably not on a Friday evening :).

(apologies to realJSOP for going so far off topic of his OP)

realJSOP

@yacCarsten said in More Fun With AI:

(apologies to realJSOP for going so far off topic of his OP)

No worries dude. :)