programming and human factors
by Jeff Atwood
We may kid ourselves into thinking we're writing out of some sense of public good, or to create connections, or contribute some small bit of knowledge to the world. But let's face it. Most of us blog because we're raving egomaniacs. We not only love to hear ourselves talk, we're incredibly eager to hear other people talk about us, and the more the better. I think Dale Carnegie put it best.
Nothing is sweeter to someone's ears than their own name.
So it should come as no surprise that I have an automatic Google ego search set up for my name. Nothing special about that. It is considered neighborly to have your ear to the ground (within reason), and to politely comment on relevant articles mentioning you and your "stuff". All very standard, banal, ego-fluffing stuff.
But of all the mentions I've gotten, nobody has utterly nailed it in the way that Brian Gianforcaro has.
Right on. That's one thing you and I have in common, burny.
As a software developer, you are your own worst enemy. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be. In fact, that's the tipping point between amateurs and professionals in our industry: the professionals realize everything they write sucks.
So, to the extent that I can become a conduit for other programmers to have that same epiphany in their own programming careers, that means it's working.
"The S/N ratio is tuned too far to noise, and you risk losing supporters for the sake of attempting to be edgy."
The highest signal-to-noise ratio is right here in the comments: people complaining because they don't like what Jeff wrote in his blog. That's why I'm swearing off this blog - or at least it's worthless, useless comments. Really, people, get over yourself.
rndmnmbr on August 27, 2009 12:09 PMBee Bop Daddy Love King...damn it
whocares on August 28, 2009 4:22 AMPeople start college thinking they know everything and leave thinking they only know about the subject they are taught and realise they know very little about anything else
The start work thinking they know everything about the subject they learned at college and soon realise they actually know very little
Universities are places where knowledge is stored. Students arrive knowing everything, and depart realizing how little they know: evidently the difference has been transferred to the college - Terry Pratchett
Jaster on August 28, 2009 6:30 AMhttp://www.edhardysale.co.uk ed hardy on sale
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We all know what happens to women who wear the famed red lacquered sole shoes. They are instantly filled with a wicked sense of sexy self and fall hopelessly in love with its creator: the great shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Christian Louboutin’s fascination for women’s footwear began as a child growing up in Paris, where he discovered the world of high fashion and glamour in the city’s nightlife. His early passion for dancing and showgirls inspired him to incorporate elements of costume into everyday designs. This whimsical and seductive union makes for utterly unmistakable and irreplaceable designs. He passed through the iconic fashion houses of Charles Jourdan and Roger Vivier before opening his flagship boutique in Paris in 1992, marking the birth of the Christian Louboutin brand. His be-jewelled heels have become the most coveted accessory on high-profile glamour girls all over the world. "Shoes are more than just an accessory; they are an extension of a woman.
http://www.christianlouboutins.de
http://www.christianlouboutins.de/christian-louboutin-pumps-c-12.html
http://www.christianlouboutins.de/christian-louboutin-sandals-c-13.html
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Commenters, could you please buy a vowel...
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Aidan de Graaf on September 1, 2009 5:23 AM@bert
Why did u use C++, it sucks!!...
>As a software developer, you are your own worst enemy. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be. In fact, that's the tipping point between amateurs and professionals in our industry: the professionals realize everything they write sucks.
yup, that one went into the quote book ... thanks Jeff
Paul Shoemaker on September 4, 2009 9:30 AMAre you kidding?
Charles on September 4, 2009 10:36 AMGosh, some of you seem to be brainwashed. All this talk about "all software sucks" blah blah is just mental masturbation. If all software sucks then what does "suck" even mean with respect to software? I swear it seems like every other post is the same thing. As far as trying to interpret Jeff... It's pretty easy. Again, every other post is basically the same. Every once in awhile he tries some technical post where he says computer science is totally bogus while contradictorily fawning over whatever the preferred "Turing award winner of the day" is and then tries to say something about NP-Completeness or whatever and then gets roundly abused and follows up by saying we are all idiots and everyone sucks so just go shopping.
Does anyone else get tired of beating the dead horse of "The more you know, the more you don't know" or ridiculous masturbation session of "Software development sucks because it is not exactly like civil engineering" blah blah blah? @Jeff R., I'm pointing at you but you're not the only one. Stop talking about bridges. You're not the only one to come up with that example. Probably, if you look at the comments for every blog post on this site for the past couple years someone talks about those damn bridges. As long as we're bandying about cliches, I seem to recall something about apples and oranges ...
As far as those saying everyone isn't getting it because of the masterful use of sarcasm, I think you all are missing the point in the criticisms.
Charles on September 4, 2009 11:12 AMYou’ve probably heard,shop the christian louboutin shoes at christianlouboutins.de up to 75% off.Nobody can ignore the existence of Christian Louboutin shoes in the fashion world. And what makes Christian Louboutin shoes so remarkable? Its exquisite quality, fine craftsmanship, sexy high heels, quirky designs and of course the red outsole known as the symbol of Christian Louboutin shoes.
christian louboutin on September 8, 2009 10:40 AMSo in that logic most people comment here just to leave (even if its a nofollow) link to their site?
Ben on September 10, 2009 4:57 AMNobody can ignore the existence of Christian Louboutin shoes in the fashion world. And what makes Christian Louboutin shoes so remarkable? Its exquisite quality, fine craftsmanship, sexy high heels, quirky designs and of course the red outsole known as the symbol of Christian Louboutin shoes.
louboutin on September 13, 2009 8:15 AMWell in my opinion it "depends" truly on one's outlook what one wants from oneself.If you want to be accepted then accept others friend or else just carry on your "ego crusade" and don't listen to reason,meaning and content,just be on your "when I did so on and so forth" mad horse.
I would commend Jeff for being frank to know what we people are upto most of the times.Most of us are like this,isn't it?
The knowledge about self is the most reliable one as you can trust only yourself,it is what you call "believable".
At last we have one of us who has chosen to be frank about himself.I wonder how many of such people are out there !
I can vouch for the quote "nothing sweeter".. lol
Guru on October 2, 2009 3:33 AM@Aaron: "Well, I think this was just the "tipping point" for me. I don't even care enough to criticize anymore."
Except you just did criticize, so apparently you haven't hit the tipping point yet.
Jay on October 8, 2009 11:02 AMgood post. http://www.christianlouboutins.de
louboutin on October 28, 2009 1:22 PMGreat. Meta-blogging, ego-stroking, barely-relevant links to past articles, and even a few buzz words ("tipping point") thrown in for good measure. Why even bother writing?
Well, I think this was just the "tipping point" for me. I don't even care enough to criticize anymore.
Aaron G on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMYou sure do write a lot of articles about blogging for someone who hates blogging about blogging.
anon on February 6, 2010 11:22 PM@dbg you jest. Of a low-level indeed. I wouldn't even dare mention literary devices and this blog in the same sentence, because that would imply it has literary merit.
Oh, and Jeff's not British, so there's no possible way he can accomplish sarcasm and self-deprecation. Typical American - thinking he can. About as subtle as a 747 crashing into a building. But too much sarcasm is lame, and when overused, is fatiguing.
Hey don't feel bad though Jeff, most of the internet is navel-gazing opinion - you're just keeping down the status quo, bro.
PS - we're not all egotistical.
Langdon Pressman on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMA better statement would be.
Everyone makes mistakes. Competent professionals realize this in advance and make planned decisions to mitigate risk.
For people who don't understand logic, you read it the other way as:
If you don't plan on mistakes and don't try to mitigate risk, you're not a competent professional.
I've met a lot on incompetent people in my day, and the one thing they all have in common is an elevated sense of accomplishment.
Langdon Pressman on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMWhat is very funny is the sheer amount of ego in all the people replying here thinking anybody anywhere cares about how a) they don't understand what this blog is about or b) they're going to flounce out because it isn't that good any more and actually it wasn't ever that good in the first place and come to think of it they didn't even read this.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Da 'tron on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMThe ratio of new readers to regular readers of Coding Horror must still be pretty high; too many people taking Jeff Atwood's statements literally.
Either that or "Reading between the lines" is a dying skill.
;-)
Aaron Seet on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMJeff, just ditch the smack down and meta-blogging.
A blog and it's comments should be a conversation. Lately CH is more proclamation and a bunch of yay/nay voting squabbling. The S/N ratio is tuned too far to noise, and you risk losing supporters for the sake of attempting to be edgy. You're not that edgy guy, and while traffic is up, support is waning. Views are probably up because people just wonder what all the fuss is about.
When I first tuned in to this blog it was the more serious side to real world experiences of coding. It was a serious alternative to TDWTF. Sadly, you get more seriousness from TDWTF lately.
My 2c
Langdon Pressman on February 6, 2010 11:22 PMThe comments to this entry are closed.
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