[brandonmenc]

When computers were invented, a lot of the people involved were already adults - plenty in their 40s and above. Before home computers, you didn't get to use a computer until your 20s.

Therefore, the first few waves of programmers included a lot of "already olds."

This is always overlooked as evidence that older people can learn to program.

[emodendroket]

Of course, but they had a strong theoretical background that made it a natural transition. And besides that, nobody would argue that you don't need a fancy medical degree to do medicine because the barber surgeons didn't have one (different circumstances, but I think OK for illustrating the problem with the argument).

[calc_exe]

The concern I usually hear is not around the learning to program aspect. Instead, it's that fact that almost every other entry-level programmer is a college grad, and that hiring processes will be biased against older candidates.

[ianai]

And the computer science field branched out of mathematics. The age thing, I think, really is just shortsightedness.

[AstralStorm]

Actually cheapness. Young employees don't know their value or how to negotiate.

[nstj]

This is a terrific observation - really should be the top voted comment.