[rexpop]

> Moving away from programming had an incredibly positive effect on my life. Almost everything that used to be awkward for me is easy now because of that one choice. Especially socialization, communication, speaking in public and with confidence, interpersonal skills in general.

I realize that you are possibly rationalizing and grieving a loss, ie employing a "sour grapes" perspective, but programming is not an inexorable obstacle to interpersonal skills. On the contrary, it can be—and has been for the gross bulk of my career—a highly social activity not unlike relating anecdotes at cocktail party while playing the piano. It's a true shame, and pet peeve, that coders are painted all with the brush of introversion, seclusion, isolation and singular, misanthropic focus.

[matheusmoreira]

I'm not saying developers are all like this. I'm saying I used to be like this. I was definitely one of those stereotypical introverts. I just didn't want to socialize at all. Computers were so much more interesting than people to me. As a kid I felt more comfortable just immersing myself in computing for 14 hours straight.

Only after I moved away from programming to a people-oriented profession did that change. I'm sure others will have different experiences and they're just as valid.

I don't think I have a sour grapes perspective at all. I'm proud of my choices. When I was writing that post it just became clear to me the consequences of those choices: what I gained and what I gave up. Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like had I made different choices but overall I'm happy with the path my life took. I still consider myself a failed programmer but that's okay.