Re: PROGRAMMING HOMEWORK HELP!

From: Programmer Dude (Chris_at_Sonnack.com)
Date: 03/31/04 

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 09:37:14 -0600

Michael Mendelsohn wrote:

>>> Stress is, in my experience, _not_ an environment that makes
>>> people thoughtful or creative.

("Depends on the person," I was going to reply, but after reading
into the thread, thought I'd jump in downstream here...)

>> I disagree. Panic inhibits thought and creativity. Stress provides
>> the motivation and energy to accomplish things one would never
>> consider accomplishing in the absence of stress.

(Depends on the person.)

> Exactly. Do you want me to derail this thread into a discussion
> about how people get to commit Nazi atrocities?

NO!

> These too are things most people would never consider accomplishing
> in the absence of stress.

So what? Some might consider accomplishing them without stress.
The stress has **nothing** to do with Nazi atrocities, and I hereby
slap your wrist for even bringing it up. :-|

I agree with Jim. Some people perform better under stress. In some
regards, I'm such a person. I'm very prone to leave a task lie,
because I actually work better (in some cases) with the stress of
an impending deadline.

>> Athletes only improve their performance through hard exercise which
>> results in sore muscles and fatigue.

In fact, you MUST stress muscles to grow them. They've found that
plants (at least those that evolved outdoors) do better with a bit
of physical stress, so fondle your houseplants once in a while.

> Similarly, academic improvement only happens when a student works
> to extend his or her capabilities beyond current comfort levels.
>
> This is a very cynical outlook.
> Were it true, self-taught people would not exist.

Again, I don't see any connection between those two statements.
*I'm* hugely "self-taught". I had year of CS in college in 1977,
and zero formal training (minus a few seminars and whatnot) since
then. Yet I'd like to think most would agree I've learned a bit
along the way.

That's happened by my consciously and constantly extending myself
beyond my current levels. 

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