Telegraph Contributor Says Coding Is For Exceptionally Dull Weirdos 453
mikejuk writes "The UK Government is trying to figure out how to teach children to code by changing what is taught in schools. The Telegraph, a leading UK newspaper, has put the other side of the case: Coding is for 'exceptionally dull weirdo(s).' The recent blog post by Willard Foxton is an amazing insight into the world of the non-programming mind. He goes on to say: 'Coding is a niche, mechanical skill, a bit like plumbing or car repair.' So coding is a mechanical skill — I guess he must be thinking of copy typing. 'As a subject, it only appeals to a limited set of people — the aforementioned dull weirdos. There's a reason most startup co-founders are "the charming ideas guy" paired with "the tech genius". It's because if you leave the tech genius on his own he'll start muttering to himself.' Why is it I feel a bout of muttering coming on? 'If a school subject is to be taught to everyone, it needs to have a vital application in everyday life — and that's just not true of coding.' Of course it all depends on what you mean by 'vital application.' The article is reactionary and designed to get people annoyed and posting comments — just over 600 at the moment — but what is worrying is that the viewpoint will ring true with anyone dumb enough not to be able to see the bigger picture. The same attitude extends to all STEM subjects. The next step in the argument is — why teach physics, chemistry, biology, and math (as distinct from arithmetic) to anyone but exceptionally dumb weirdos."
Hey! (Score:4, Funny)
Rich (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hey! (Score:4, Funny)
Woohoo! I've always wanted somebody to notice my exceptional dullness and weirdness, and finally someone has. Now I'm somebody again!
Re:Troll feeding time, I guess. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dull Weirdo Here (Score:4, Funny)
Well, you can be curious about learning, about information, about knowledge...
Or you can read the Telegraph, of course.
Re:Happy to be a dull weirdo (Score:2, Funny)
Ahh, but you'll never master creative writing, which is an essential skill for anyone who wants to succeed in life.
Re:brace yourself (Score:5, Funny)
The computerized equivalent of plumbers and bricklayers.
Plumbing and masonry are skilled trades. An apprenticeship in either of those trades is a few years, easily the equivalent of a college degree. And that's just to get a journeyman ticket. So, yeah. Programmers are about in line with that.
Re:brace yourself (Score:5, Funny)
For this, I had an old brass oil lamp on my desk. Usually when someone came with an idea like that I handed it to him with the suggestion to rub it and hope for the best.