Re: OT: The Geek defense



"Charles Hottel" <chottel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Pete Dashwood" <dashwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Charles Hottel" <chottel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Pete Dashwood" <dashwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Howard Brazee" <howard@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:48:52 +1300, "Pete Dashwood"
<dashwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Nope. You are woefully out of touch. The tools we have now can be used
to
build better tools. The days of telling computers what to do, line by
line,
are definitely numbered. We don't need to and it is far too expensive
to do
so. Who codes in assembler any more? No need to. Why don't we? It's
the same
argument.

But My Way is right. Those young whippersnappers who don't see
things my way will suffer for their heresy.

Not sure if you're aiming that at me or at Judson, Howard :-)

If at me, all I can say is, while I firmly believe what I wrote, I
don't see it as Holy Writ and I certainly wouldn't want to punish
anyone who disagrees.

(Except maybe that Gunshannon guy who doesn't believe in positronic
brains... yeah... we'll put him on the list...Linux lover... he needs
to be cast into the Lake of Fire... Come the Day.... mumble... rant...)

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."


Said the guy who believes only web applications are chic and desktop
apps are so yesterday ;-)
Charlie, that is so unfair.

I said I find desktop (and any kind of non-networked, so that would
include most legacy mainframe apps.) to be quaint.

That doesn't mean I won't write them, or develop them. Neither does it
mean I would punish anyone who disagreed with me...:-)

As for things being "yesterday", that is a fashion statement and I never
made it.

Web applications are simply more useful in a world where the Web is
becoming more ubiquitous and bringing computer power to everybody.

I really don't care what is chic and what is yesterday; I definitely care
about what is useful.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."


I have nothing against web apps but they are not best for "everything".

Agreed. :-)

Sorry I did not mean to mischaracterize your remarks. My comments
probably reflect more my internal reaction. I guess it just hit a nerve
as I am unlikely to ever get a chance to develop web applications.

You mean no-one may pay you to develop Web Applications. But, with the right
applications, you can generate enough to cover the cost of running them,
even if you don't cover the cost of development hours. And it can be real
fun. There is a camaraderie and helpfulness amongst Web developers that is
quite commendable. I've taken to attending a .NET user group here where I
find I can learn much, contribute a little, and the people who attend are
generally positive and interested. MicroSoft sponsor it and provide pizza
and coffee, but the speakers are mainly from a local software house who
house it on their premises. If you have an interest in doing Web
development, seek out other like minded individuals who are local to you and
you may find it amusing and rewarding.

It's really about what you want and can make time for. We're all entitled to
a hobby. Web Programming can be a good one...:-)

For several years my job has been frustrating for reasons I best not get
into here and I feel my career nearing its end with no relief forthcoming.
After retirement I would imagine most things I am interested in programming
would be just on my desktop machine assuming I don't just give up
programming for some other interests..

You raise a very good point.

Many of us are approaching retirement and not sure what we want to do.

For some it is the garden or reading, or more time for hobbies, but for me,
I can't imagine not writing code :-). I think as long as I can see and type,
I'll be doing some kind of writing, whether it's software or prose, or
poetry.

For just over 30 years now I have worked exclusively as a free lance.
Retirement doesn't mean changing one Boss for another, it just means time to
do the things I enjoy most.

That includes programming computers... :-)

Fortunately, with the advent of powerful home computers, there's no reason
why we can't indulge ourselves.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."





.

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