On 12/6/20, Ethan Gardener <[email protected]> wrote: > > I don't know the hypothesis, but very much agree different languages > influence how you think and even feel. > You know, my most memorable and influential mentor was Daniel Friedman. I'm not sure I have the spelling right and he's probably in his seventies, today. His field was anthropology, but he also lectured adults at SUNY, Buffalo (NY) who wanted a formal qualification after having learnt the computer programming ropes on the job. What reminds me of him is that he had written a book on APL programming and I had just started to get comfortable with the language. I can almost feel my own mental transition from "before APL" to "after" all these years ago.
Daniel's repertoire of anecdotes was astounding and extremely instructive. His theme was pretty much "team programming" and I have borne that burden with me through decades of operating more or less alone as a programmer, consultant and analyst. But the most significant anecdote of my own regards "team programming". After a fortnight of practically indoctrination from Daniel, the entire final year CS class was sold on working together exclusively. So when some droid came along looking for sharp programmers to develop some financial software in various distant locations (Switzerland was one such - I bet it was a scam, but that was the last I heard of it), we all stood together and refused to accept an offer that would see us working individually. I don't remember anyone breaking rank, but I can't be certain. The prospective employers would have none of it, they felt that teams of people who already knew each other would be a threat to their organisation - and they were probably right. I believe I know what happened in that situation and I seriously believe that with the mindset of the 1970s, today's hardware and a batch of bright developers who are keen and willing to work tightly together, we'd be living in a very different world. But we couldn't have that, could we? Only those who are no threat to the Establishment are allowed to succeed. And the Establishment, specially the financial organisations, is certainly able and willing to identify them and suppress anything that might threaten their domination. A conspiracy theory? More likely simply "social evolution". I'm hoping the next massive asteroid will hit this planet before we have a chance to sterilise it beyond recovery. Lucio. ------------------------------------------ 9fans: 9fans Permalink: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/T3fd028fcf2eeb24c-Mdbea50e3d7f1d82597fefd6d Delivery options: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription
