[dragonwriter]

> Lately, researchers have found that certain pedagogical techniques (especially pair programming) are pretty effective at overcoming these deficiencies.

That's interesting. Its interesting to me, because -- while I may or may have developed the aptitude independently later without this -- I actually spent a lot of time when I was first learning programming, in elementary/middle school in the 1980s, pair programming (though, you know, the name wouldn't be coined for quite a while) with my dad.

> I wish I could understand why so many programmers are eager to assume their skills are due to something 'innate'.

One reason might be because if anyone could learn it, programmers wouldn't be able to view themselves as special.

Another might be because if people realized everyone could learn it, programmer salaries would fall from increased competition, so programmers have financial self-interest in people not believing that most people can learn to code if they try, especially if its true.

[JoeAltmaier]

Everybody can learn plumbing too. Doesn't mean the prices are going to fall. Programming can be very fiddly, and most people hate that. I think our jobs are safe.

[dragonwriter]

> Everybody can learn plumbing too. Doesn't mean the prices are going to fall.

Well, no, because "everyone can learning plumbing" is pretty widely accepted (and has been for quite some time), so the effect of that belief being accepted is already reflected in the current market price. (OTOH, the price is lower than it would be if it were widespread belief that becoming even modestly competent at plumbing required unusual innate gifts that most people lacked, and that attempting to learn plumbing was a complete waste of time for people lacking those gifts.)