| czep, even though I don't agree with much of what you wrote (in the article), I do appreciate you taking the time to so thoroughly expound on the ideas. Paul Graham most likely fell victim to projection of a Libertarian ideal when he viewed "best programmers" from his perspective. > I'm also frustrated to see a powerful man perpetuate self-serving ideologies without acknowledging the influences of power and luck. I agree with this above statement maybe or maybe not for the reasons you do. The "Power Game", or even the lack of willingness or know-how to play it is the reason a lot of programmers think themselves superior to the sales guys who peddle the product of their labor. The "Power Game" is also the same reason the good sales guys feel that despite being so technically smart, programmers can be damned idiotic fools. As an introverted "programmer-type" myself, life would be way easier for me if there was no Power Game. But the Power Game is as human as eating, drinking and pissing. Hell, I get irritated daily that I even have to eat, drink or piss. It feels like a waste of time when I am in the zone with something. Same thing with the Power Game. Luck... hugely important. Heck, we've all played RPG's and know to fill up that skill bucket ASAP. Maybe what would really be helpful to programmers is something that can stir inspiration like Paul Graham, but that covers something akin to "The 48 Laws of Power" for the introverted modern day employees. |