Ask HN: How to respond to someone who puts down a programmers passion

2 points by ryanshaun 12 years ago | 2 comments

Today at work, theres a new guy joined in the MI team. So being an MI analyst, I thought he might share a tiny bit of passion for programming.

We were making small talk, I asked what his main hobby was. He responded: 'Golf'. which is awesome. Most like a round of golf every now and then.

When he asked me mine, I responded: 'My main hobby is programming.'. Fair enough right?

But no, he laughed in my face and said: 'How can programming be a hobby?'.

I was stunned. I had never been confronted with such an honest and demoralising response before. I felt humiliated, and for some reason ashamed. I dont know why but I did.

How do I come back to someone if they say that to me again without sounding like a complete geek? Or do i just ignore it and rise above it?

has anyone else been in a situation like this before?

informatimago 12 years ago |

He sees programming as a professional and paid for activity. Consider if you would have to get into golf professionally, working 8 hours a day on it, and having to ensure steady revenue from it.

Now golf is a physical work reminiscent of the skills needed to hunt and kill mamouths and similar game. Instead programming is a purely intellectual activity akin to mathematics or philosophy, something you can do only when you have the leisure and time for a hobby.

checker659 12 years ago |

Q: How can programming be a hobby?

A: Same way playing with a ball and club all day can be a hobby.