Why. (its not a programming entry per se, but hey, who asked you anyways?)
A legacy? Nah, not really a legacy - more of a philosophy from perhaps the greatest mentor in my life.
"Why?"
As of late, I've had to ask this question more and more. It used to be that someone asked it for me (see above comment on aforesaid mentor), but those times are gone. Now, left to my own meager devices, I must continually bring this question to the forefront.
I used to program relentlessly - eagerly digesting any new language or tool or technology that was placed in front of me, or eluded to in some fashion from a project. I only mention this, because, note the word "used". The environment has changed, and now I am walking down roads I swore I would never walk down. "Why?" was never asked. Not by any fault of me or any of my fellow unpossible programmers, but because of management crap.
Where did this culture of not doing the right thing come from? When did we become less than a bottom line?
Crappy quote time:
"Sometimes, we have to do things. We have no choice, because [blank]". Insert the following into the [blank] - "of the budget", "my feet are held to the fire", "just because we have to do things we don't want to do sometimes since I was told to get it done by blah". Bullshit. Sorry for the swearing, kids.
Good grief, you ALWAYS have a choice. It may not be the popular choice, or the choice your management wants to hear, but you always have the choice to make the decision thats right for your customer - whomever they may be. And if I take one thing away from my mentor - it's that.
Movie quote time:
Calvera: "What I don't understand is why a person like you would take a job like this in the first place."
Vin: "It's like a fella I once knew. One day, he just took off all his clothes and jumped into a mess of cactus. I asked him the same thing - 'why'. He said, 'it seemed to be a good idea at the time.'"
-from the Magnificent Seven, the greatest western ever. Damn straight, Vin.
I'll always ask "why" and not blindly accept things, even if certain people in my life are incapable of doing that for themselves. It was high time I finally stood up for something, and besides, I have no doubt that it will always seem to be a good idea at the time.
"Why?"
As of late, I've had to ask this question more and more. It used to be that someone asked it for me (see above comment on aforesaid mentor), but those times are gone. Now, left to my own meager devices, I must continually bring this question to the forefront.
I used to program relentlessly - eagerly digesting any new language or tool or technology that was placed in front of me, or eluded to in some fashion from a project. I only mention this, because, note the word "used". The environment has changed, and now I am walking down roads I swore I would never walk down. "Why?" was never asked. Not by any fault of me or any of my fellow unpossible programmers, but because of management crap.
Where did this culture of not doing the right thing come from? When did we become less than a bottom line?
Crappy quote time:
"Sometimes, we have to do things. We have no choice, because [blank]". Insert the following into the [blank] - "of the budget", "my feet are held to the fire", "just because we have to do things we don't want to do sometimes since I was told to get it done by blah". Bullshit. Sorry for the swearing, kids.
Good grief, you ALWAYS have a choice. It may not be the popular choice, or the choice your management wants to hear, but you always have the choice to make the decision thats right for your customer - whomever they may be. And if I take one thing away from my mentor - it's that.
Movie quote time:
Calvera: "What I don't understand is why a person like you would take a job like this in the first place."
Vin: "It's like a fella I once knew. One day, he just took off all his clothes and jumped into a mess of cactus. I asked him the same thing - 'why'. He said, 'it seemed to be a good idea at the time.'"
-from the Magnificent Seven, the greatest western ever. Damn straight, Vin.
I'll always ask "why" and not blindly accept things, even if certain people in my life are incapable of doing that for themselves. It was high time I finally stood up for something, and besides, I have no doubt that it will always seem to be a good idea at the time.
posted by James at
10:16 PM
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