[net.lang.c] Professionalism?

jmleonar@crdc (Dr. Joseph M. Leonard) (07/11/85)

>
>C programming is something that should be attempted only by professionals.
>There are other languages (such as BASIC) which the average luser might be
>able to learn if they put their mind to it.
> .
> .
> .
>Some things, like medicine and C programming, are best left to professionals.

     This statement is AMAZING.  Part of the problem that computer science
professionals have is the perception that the means of the problem are the
only important feature.  How the program/work/project is organized, what tools
are used, what style ...  Believe it or not, there is a real interest among
other professional areas in delivering the final result.  Not necessarily
using the "perfect" style, but one that the user (yes, remember him?) can
use to "get the job done"

     Forgive the flame, but bald arrogance has never been a method of
making friends or influencing people that I've thought useful.  Ad
Hominum remarks might be fine, and give the speaker a (petty) feeling of
superiority, but is it really worth the smell?  Computers are still
(and probably always be) a tool for the solution of problems - whether
these problems are trivial ones like paying the grunts doing the work,
or being the pilot on deep-space probes (jumping ahead a bit), etc.

                                           Joe Leonard
                                        <jmleonar@crdc.arpa>