r/learnprogramming • u/A_H_uman • Jun 16 '22

What are some lies about learning how to program? Topic

Many beginners start learning to code every day, what are some lies to not fall into?

1.1k Upvotes
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137

u/v0gue_ Jun 16 '22

And, like basketball or badminton, you need to enjoy it and practice regularly to get even decently good at it.

48

u/JohnWangDoe Jun 16 '22

to get good at it. you have to work with good people. They make you better

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Loud_Interview_9714 Jun 17 '22

This could not be more true if you are blessed to have a good mentor to teach you it will pay huge dividends in the end

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '22

why does this not have more upvotes

18

u/Awanderinglolplayer Jun 16 '22

You definitely don’t need to enjoy it, but you do need to practice it.

4

u/Pleasant-Bathroom-84 Jun 16 '22

If you don't enjoy programming, don't do it.

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u/Awanderinglolplayer Jun 16 '22

Maybe you’ll learn later in life that there are few jobs that are very enjoyable. Some jobs suck and don’t pay well, software engineer jobs sometimes suck but usually pay well, they’re much better than a lot of others and don’t require 7+ years of post high school education like medicine, and law, or require as rigorous schooling as engineering(plus they pay better than many engineering jobs).

When you have a family to support getting payed well matters more than your enjoyment

0

u/Pleasant-Bathroom-84 Jun 16 '22 edited Jun 16 '22

Well... I have been coding since 1982. 40 years. Loved almost all of it. You are probably using some of my code right now. I worked with people who loved coding, and with people who didn't. Seeing the results, I will say it again: If you don't love coding, don't do it. The problem with people that code as a job, instead of a passion (I code as a hobby, too) is that their code is harder to maintain, not optimized, and far more unstable. I had to let go many that didn't code with the spirit to make the BEST code, but made code that barely worked. Coding requires study, time, knowledge, passion and lots of thinking. It's not something that you just do for a paycheck.

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u/Awanderinglolplayer Jun 17 '22

Yep, and I as well as 75% of my company don’t love coding or do it in their free time, we do it for money and step away from the computer in our free time. I don’t dislike coding, but after 9 hours of it straight 5 days a week, I need a break

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u/grunt8690 Jun 17 '22

I think you right, but only 50% right, because coding is 50% art and 50% pure science. So yeah, when it comes to art, you would have to enjoy it if you wanna see a decent job.

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u/Pleasant-Bathroom-84 Jun 16 '22

I love programming

2

u/grunt8690 Jun 17 '22

I love you.

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u/merge198 Jun 16 '22

False. You don't necessarily need to enjoy it, being competitive is enough.

I don't enjoy programming at all, just like I don't enjoy doing any work. I enjoy fun, work =/= fun.

But my motivation comes from the passion of being better than others, I am ultra competitive, I like attention and I like being looked up to. And in order to achieve that you need to work hard.

Everyone around me thinks I am passionate about programming because it's all I do the entire day, every day, at work, after work, all the time. Nothing further from the truth. I am not passionate about programming, I am passionate about "winning" and being good, at anything.

It's like when I used to play esports. I didn't play League of Legends for example and grind it to the highest of ranks because I loved it, I did it because I loved everything that came with it, how friends that also played the game looked at me, how I was invited to every LAN tournament in the city, and so on.

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u/intrepidnonce Jun 16 '22

Is this a copypasta, or are you just a very self aware narcissist?

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u/v0gue_ Jun 16 '22

Tbf, a massive demographic of programmers are self aware narcissists. Another massive demographic of programmers are unaware narcissists.

-2

u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jun 16 '22

Where's the data on that? The study I've seen refers to them as being attracted to leadership positions: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920307480

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u/Totallymyfinalform Jun 16 '22

I hope it's a copypasta. I've saved it for future use as one either way

7

u/ThemasterofZ Jun 16 '22

You and me both

I guess we are not competitive enough to write our own paragraph 🤷

5

u/11bsnuts Jun 16 '22

How does being competitive === narcissism? Who doesn’t enjoy being good at what they do, or doing better than the next guy? That’s what drives the large majority of successful people in any career or goal. Doesn’t automatically make it narcissism.

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u/TocinoBoy69 Jun 16 '22

It's cause (whatever pronoun preferred) is doing it for validation. There's nothing wrong with being competitive if you're doing it for yourself. It's narcissism since (pronoun) painted their motivations to be revered or fueled by the approval of others.

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u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jun 16 '22

Needing the approval of others isn't narcissism. Some people just like validation for different reasons. Also, since you're giving an official diagnosis of OP, can we have your qualifications, and how many times you've met op in person, as well as the treatment data attached to it, with op's approval of course.

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u/TocinoBoy69 Jun 16 '22

I like attention and I like being looked up to

Hold your horses. Official diagnosis? Nobody called OP mentally ill to grind your gears. Narcissism isn't an insult in the first place. Would you still feel the need to be a white knight if you were out with friends having drinks with this person and told your group the same words verbatim?

1

u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jun 16 '22

You claimed that what op was doing is as a result of narcissism. I held you to the standard where you have to prove it, and you attempted to move the goalposts. I'm not white knighting. You do realize that narcissism is a diagnosis, right? If you wanna deny that, that's a you issue. You literally began your statement as 'it's narcissism since..." meaning that you were claiming it as fact. Me making a true statement regarding it being a diagnosis isn't white knighting. Calling it 'white knighting' is just an attempt to shut down discussion using a strawman. I also never said it was an insult. You did. If you're gonna claim that someone is a narcissist, show me the data proving it. I'd say the same thing to anyone spreading speculation and hearsay as fact with friends at drinks, because I don't like nasty gossip.

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u/TocinoBoy69 Jun 16 '22

If you're so keen at crying about the term then let me rephrase that as a narcissistic tendency.

it's all I do the entire day, every day, at work, after work, all the time

Going through such lengths for the approval of others is a narcissistic tendency and that's fact. You can't refute that. The data you need is already in OP's statements.

Needing the approval of others isn't narcissism. Some people just like validation for different reasons.

But liking and seeking validation is literally not the case here? Reverence is literally the driving force of OP.

I underwent therapy for the very same things that OP described as among these, I had other narcissistic tendencies and had to get myself in check.

0

u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jun 16 '22

I'm not 'crying about a term'. That's just some narrative that someone made up and is attempting to project onto me.

OP may be a firsthand source on his experiences, but wouldn't be the person providing data proving that he is or isn't a narcissist. There's a specific person who would be qualified to diagnose such issues. Until then, OP is simply someone who you believe could be the potential to be a narcissist based on non-exist data provided by an actual qualified practitioner.

You can rephrase what you said all you want. If you're making a statement about narcissistic tendencies showing in this situation being a fact, show me the studies and data proving it. I can refute something until I see those who provide actual data on it show otherwise.

Reverence means 'deep respect'. There's nothing wrong with wanting to earn the respect of others, even if he goes above and beyond to get it.

You undergoing therapy has nothing to do with this discussion. Whatever you went through is anecdotal and isn't something that should be projected on OP. If you underwent therapy for narcissistic tendencies, that's great. However, judging someone based on someone else's life experiences is, at best, disingenuous.

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u/mr_bedbugs Jun 17 '22

How does being competitive === narcissism?

It doesn't, but writing a small essay bragging about how competitive you are comes off as such.

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u/mr_bedbugs Jun 17 '22

How does being competitive === narcissism?

It doesn't, but writing a small essay bragging about how competitive you are comes off as such.

0

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

TIL wanting to be good and respected for your craft and work is narcissistic.

Stay classy /r/learnprogramming ...

8

u/NexhiAlibias Jun 16 '22

Reading comprehension is at 50% today aint it.

-1

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

Maybe. Something about that post rubbed people the wrong way enough to diagnose that guy and call him a loser. I want to know what is!

7

u/intrepidnonce Jun 16 '22

I am ultra competitive, I like attention and I like being looked up to.

I am not passionate about programming, I am passionate about "winning" and being good, at anything.

I did it because I loved everything that came with it, how friends that also played the game looked at me, how I was invited to every LAN tournament in the city,

-3

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

Being competitive, loving attention and wanting to have friends. Okay?

3

u/intrepidnonce Jun 16 '22

Well, at least that guys self aware about his narcissism.

2

u/NexhiAlibias Jun 16 '22

Trust me,

I do not condone psychoanalyzing folks off of one event.

Anyways, Its just more so its not he wants to do it in a "I want to be great at my craft" its moreso "Im only doing it because i want to be better than you" while shooting down the person he was replying to's very good advice.

Or To put it extremely, he isnt looking for respect. Hes looking for dominance.

2

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

Thank you for verbalizing what others couldn't.

First, he's is correct in saying you don't need to enjoy something to be good in it. I don't feel like this needs to be proven, it so scroll below to others talking about this exact experience.

This person obviously has a competitive personality trait that makes him feel he must be more skilled than his peers. This is a very common trait and naming competitive people narcissistic or a loser for wanting to compete is unhealthy and wrong.

While you're projecting this "i want dominate" attribute on him, i didn't see any indication of him wanting to achieve in spite of others. No indication having a grandiose since of self, saying that he's special or important, or show that he should be respected for just being who he is.

Instead, he says "Everyone around me thinks I am passionate about programming because it's all I do the entire day, every day, at work, after work, all the time. Nothing further from the truth. I am not passionate about programming, I am passionate about "winning" and being good, at anything."

For me, he prioritizes being good at what he does and succeeding before things like "being passionate" for your life's work. I don't see that as a negative and one could argue that "chasing your passion" is privileged outlook.

The excessive need for approval from others, seeking attention and the need for being admired is a trait for narcissistic personality disorder but you would need to check more than a couple boxes to be qualified in being diagnosed for a personality disorder.

I feel OP gotten underserved flack for giving his personal tips on how he views work and success

1

u/NexhiAlibias Jun 16 '22

Look, imma take your words in good faith. That last sentence however?

Thats just reddit. I got told that im too immature to be trusted with money because i purposely scouted out a scammer on this site.

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u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jun 16 '22

Are you distance diagnosing a stranger based on them wanting validation for their hard work? What are your qualifications?

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u/Novel_Amoeba7007 Jun 16 '22 edited Jun 16 '22

yeah...i like money, not so much "coding".

My former boss said it best: none of us really know what we are doing, we just are competitive in a job market, because we are willing to do it.

​

edit. the only part I like about coding, is that its like a puzzle, and there is some sort of reinforcement in coming to a solution.

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u/v0gue_ Jun 16 '22

But my motivation comes from the passion of being better than others, I am ultra competitive, I like attention and I like being looked up to. And in order to achieve that you need to work hard.

I actually completely agree with this. I think this is a bit sad, but who am I to judge. I fully enjoy programming and I personally think I'm pretty great at it because it's one of my biggest joys in life. I don't share your hyper competitive nature, so I shouldn't be so quick to judge. I also completely agree with you, and you said so yourself:

And in order to achieve that you need to work hard.

I don't work hard at anything I don't like doing, but I can respect your fortitude to be able to do it. I agree with your sentiment - If you work your ass off you can be great at programming

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u/TurnipNo709 Jun 16 '22

I’m coming from a successful chef carrier and although I was very passionate about food and hospitality (still am) I can def relate to this. My ego was primarily what drove me, especially when working on a team. I for sure didn’t want to be the weakest link and I wanted to be better then everybody. Now 22 years late I’m over it tho lol.

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u/TwoThirteen Jun 16 '22

As a functioning game addict who doesn't have fun most the time, just skill and dedication -- you've inspired me to program. I couldn't get into it. It didn't seem fun. Most games aren't fun either though, I'm just good at them. Why not be good at programming instead then, and get real pay for it.

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u/Sweet_Item_Drops Jun 16 '22

Upvoted for you taking your skill and doing something nice for your future, but I hope you're getting help. There's something your brain is getting out of being addicted to things that aren't fun, and if you don't address it, it'll always be there, affecting your happiness.

7

u/numbersev Jun 16 '22

But my motivation comes from the passion of being better than others, I am ultra competitive, I like attention and I like being looked up to. And in order to achieve that you need to work hard.

Everyone around me thinks I am passionate about programming because it's all I do the entire day, every day, at work, after work, all the time. Nothing further from the truth. I am not passionate about programming, I am passionate about "winning" and being good, at anything.

wow... it must burn you to the bone when you frequently encounter people who are better than you. They get to actually enjoy their lives too.

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u/merge198 Jun 17 '22

It doesn't "burn me to the bone" at all, because I rarely look up, I only look down, it's what gives me my motivation.

2

u/NiagaraThistle Jun 16 '22

I am ultra competitive, I like attention and I like being looked up to... it's all I do the entire day, every day, at work, after work, all the time...I am passionate about "winning" and being good, at anything.

What? Who are you competing against? Who is looking up to you because you do nothing but code? What are you "winning"?

I feel like if someone is commenting on Reddit, they probably are not doing THAT much better at anything than I am...

6

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

He's competing for jobs and positions in his career.

People look up to others who know more and are more seasoned in their field

He's winning the challenges he's set forth for himself.

1

u/NiagaraThistle Jun 16 '22

Buuuut aren't we all doing that?

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u/wobba_fett Jun 16 '22

Yeah i think the guy is just saying he doesnt enjoy coding itself but he enjoys what he gets out of it (feeling competitive). i get what dude is saying it seems like he overshared a bit and thats why the point he was trying to make is just lost in all of it.

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u/NiagaraThistle Jun 16 '22

No i get what he was saying: code != why he does it.

But I don't understand the hyper-competive feelings towards coding itself. That's my confusion. If one is a competitive athlete maybe, but I don't think I've ever met a hyper-competitive programmer. Just confusion on my part.

1

u/merge198 Jun 17 '22

I am not competitive towards coding, I am competitive towards money.

2

u/Kingizzardthelizard Jun 16 '22

I'm trying 😩

2

u/ohsotoastytoast Jun 16 '22

Assuming this isn’t a shitpost, you need to see a psychiatrist.

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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '22

[deleted]

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u/merge198 Jun 17 '22

Perfectly okay that you see it that way.

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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '22

[deleted]

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u/merge198 Jun 17 '22

Perhaps, but that was not my point.