How Programmers == Wizards?

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RobertStout
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How Programmers == Wizards?

Post by RobertStout »

Ok, this may seem stupid to some in which case I appologise ahead of time :oops: .

I have been playing around with this idea for a few days and "need to get it out there" :twisted: so it can be digested and returned to me with comments.

Here it is..

In my humble opinion programmers are alot like the wizards of this reality.

We both spend alot of time in dark rooms reading thick cryptic books on arcaic subjects.

We are also are able to perform marvels that entertain our common lesser peasants ..oops I mean co-workers.

Sadly though, programmers don't get to wear pointy hats and long robes with stars on them.. (not that I'd want to *forced smile*)

Alright Im sorry, this was a strange post. I blame it on the fact that I read alot of fantasy and programming books and my battered little mind has confused the two.

The idea initially struck me as I was sitting in a park with my back to a tree. In my lap was a battered old book on php, as I was reading this image came into my head of a picture I had once seen - of a wizard sitting beneath a tree on a sunlite hill reading a dusty book of magic.
Maybe the sun was getting to me, or maybe ..

Here is your homework, what are other ways in which programmers resemble wizards?

G'day

*puts on his pointy hat then walks off to his white tower with a thick php/mysql books under his arm*
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daven
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Post by daven »

Sadly though, programmers don't get to wear pointy hats and long robes with stars on them...
Speak for yourself. *grin* I have actually gotten my boss to let me wear cloaks, robes, and kilts to the office. It has gotten to the point that if I wear anything other than the above-mentioned items or ratty black jeans and a black t-shirt my co-workers wonder what is wrong with me.

I do agree with the wizard idea, although the only time I get bolts of electricity or balls of fire I am very irate. It usually means some peon made their magic box (read: computer) go 'boom'.


Long live the man-skirt! http://www.utilikilts.com (shameless plug for my favorite company)
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Post by Stoneguard »

Sounds like you need to read Terry Pratchett's Disworld novels. His book series very closely ajoins wizards and programmers, especially as the series progresses. It is also very good fantasy humor reading.

Wizards in the high energy magic building are exactly what we would all be.
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Post by pootergeist »

pretty sad day when a wizard's (oops, a programmer's) familiar is a mouse ;)
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patrikG
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Post by patrikG »

(Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
That's from http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/m/magic.html.

Shame I'm not an advanced technology geek :)
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Post by jason »

I guess it doesn't help matters any that I am an avid Dungeons & Dragons player?

Though, I don't play wizards often.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger."

J.R.R. Tolkien
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Post by McGruff »

Yup - the high priests of the information age.
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RobertStout
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Post by RobertStout »

Thanks for not laughing at me you guys.
Sounds like you need to read Terry Pratchett's Disworld novels. His book series very closely ajoins wizards and programmers, especially as the series progresses. It is also very good fantasy humor reading.
I love the Discworld novels - in fact I am reading "Rincewind the Wizzard" right now. His brand of humour is very close to my own. I haven't read any of his newer books mainly because Im a poor college kid.
I guess it doesn't help matters any that I am an avid Dungeons & Dragons player?
I am a big D&D player myself. I play an elven ranger named Talonthalas.

Wow, I am definetly a geek ...and proud of it.
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evilmonkey
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Post by evilmonkey »

I'm an avid D&D'er too...I just know where to draw the line. :roll: Seriously though, I think that what are doing here cannot be done by an everyday moron, but i don't think it takes a wizard. It takes someoine who is skilled, and logical, no magic is required, except that of technology. And since there is a logical explanasion for technology, it's not longer magic. Therefore, you're not wizards, and niether am I.

Cheers!
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d-m
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Post by d-m »

My nick D-M = Dungeon Master ... It Explains for it Self!

My boss realy think that I'm a Wizard, letting at my back 10 linux, 2 AIX (apache, ssl, php, sendmail, postgress, DB2, WebSphere. mrtg, kernel updates, firewall ...) And I have to develop in Php, C/C++, C Builder, Java... I'd must be magic! :wink:
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RobertStout
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Post by RobertStout »

That is your take on the matter, mine.. *puts on his wizard hart and walks off*.
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trollll
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Post by trollll »

I never really got into the whole D&D thing... Though I did get a huge amount of amusement out of finding out that Vin Deisel (sp?) played D&D up until a couple of years ago.
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RobertStout
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Post by RobertStout »

I saw that on Conan O'Brian too :wink:
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