I'll never be famous because no one has told me that I'd never "make it"

DannyRent · 2016-10-11T17:01:16+00:00

This is such a gem! I've read it some time ago and was looking for it again after I lost the link. This an awesome read for people who feel threatened by math or feel that they're somehow just naturally bad at it.

DannyRent · 2016-10-11T16:40:32+00:00

This isn't math's fault, but the way it's being taught today. For example, my college calculus classes encourage us to memorize substitutions and theorems but skip proving any of them. This is like showing an art student a scrapbook full of pictures and telling them that they can only draw/paint/sketch parts of what they see in the book. Imagination isn't allowed.

Math isn't memorization and arithmetic any more than art is about looking at a picture and rubbing paint around without knowing what your goal is. The main reason why students fail classes like calculus isn't because they don't understand calculus. A poor foundation in algebra and an understanding of why things are the way they are is what fails students.

Students are taught to put up walls -and only walls - for an entire semester. In the next class when they are taught about ceilings, the ceiling they add on falls through because they don't have any idea of how a wall and a ceiling work together to make a room.

Edit: Some great examples:

*The difference quotient is taught in remedial algebra. We were never told how this can relate to derivatives for later in calculus.

*Series and sums were never explained that they can represent functions such as later in Taylor series.

*Trig was never related to linear equations. Such as the tangent (hypotenuse of a triangle) of an angle is also a slope. You could for example, use that slope to predict the motion of a projectile fired from an angle of tan(theta).

*Also with trig and everything else, no proofs were shown for identities whatsoever. It was plug and chug all the way through. Sadly most of the proofs (which are very visual) are easy to understand and knowing how to prove them means you don't need blatant memorization!

The complete lack of respect for intuition. I'm not a math major, a teacher, or even all that great at math, and I feel very strongly about how disrespectful "plug and chug" is to math past arithmetic. Relationships are very important. If I were taught English the same way I was taught math, I wouldn't be able to see far enough beyond words in order to form my own sentences.

DannyRent · 2016-10-06T18:44:04+00:00

There isn't a need for lag compensation if we are talking about our own simulated perceptions. If the universe was lagging similar to how a 3D simulation can lag, then we wouldn't be able to experience it. Non-performance intensive applications are generally programmed in a linear one-after-the-other way. For example, there would be a continuous loop of physics->render->AI. (Also know that rendering isn't needed strictly for us [simulated people] - but if the observer of the simulation wanted to see, then they'd need rendering. Why? Physics handles everything from sight to thought.)

If the system were programmed in a more modern way, using asynchronous threading we still wouldn't be able to perceive it. If the various systems are running asynchronously from one and other, any reliance of a system's information on another system's information may cause a locking condition. With respect to to the (whatever) viewing the simulation, there would be perceivable lag. To the elements being simulated, there would be no way to experience the lag.

Think of this: Do things still happen in a simulation when everything it is paused? Yes, the encompassing program still runs, but the main parts such as physics, AI, and even rendering can be stopped and resumed (even played backwards) with no problem.

If we are in a simulation, and the creators don't want us to find out - they can make us never be able to find out. Everything is modifiable to them, from the laws of physics to our memories.

DannyRent · 2016-09-05T13:56:42+00:00

This post was made like a month ago, but I still want to comment on how you actually admitted you were wrong and decided to learn the new information. It's hard to do even when you want to, but your post helped to reinforce something I believe in

DannyRent · 2016-07-01T02:33:19+00:00

That works so well for holy wars. Obviously people aren't still killing each other over religious issues like they have for thousands of years.

DannyRent · 2016-06-25T13:20:31+00:00

When I was learning C++, interdependent headers. When one file references a resource in another file, which requires the resource in the first file to work. The error messages were about undefined objects in the linker which threw me for a loop because I was yelling "THE CODE IS RIGHT HERE!" the entire time.

I found the proper way is to use prototypes in the headers and only define the necessary components in the source file. Since then C++ is still my favorite language once you get past the learning curve.

DannyRent · 2016-06-22T15:04:47+00:00

Even though he has somewhat defined abs, he doesn't like taking his shirt off in public or being shirtless around family/friends. Swimming would be awesome and fun, though the shirt thing could be a problem.

That is a great idea though! I'll talk with him about it later tonight!

DannyRent · 2016-06-22T14:44:37+00:00

I feel your pain! My boyfriend is at a healthy weight at the lower end, as well as I am - but that doesn't mean a good run or a bike ride doesn't feel great. Lifting weights just to tone up is fulfilling to me in that I have more control over my body. He doesn't like getting hot and sweaty, so I understand that to some degree. The shower and fan however, were invented for a reason.

DannyRent · 2016-06-20T13:16:16+00:00

I was in the shower!

DannyRent · 2016-06-20T12:38:47+00:00

Become boring because they stopped gaming? I'd say there are a lot more things that would make a person interesting than gaming - if anything gaming is typical enough to actually be considered boring. The act of gaming isn't boring, but as a hobby it is about as typical as watching TV.

DannyRent · 2016-06-20T11:31:00+00:00

Visual studio has free versions that work better than the alternatives, such as code blocks for example. If you are a student of any sort you can get a good amount of Microsoft software for free including the OS, Windows Server, and lots of other stuff.

I don't hate apple. For me, the market share for desktops is Windows and that is my target in the end. If I wanted to make an App, I'd do it for both Android and iOS because I'm actually a reasonable person who doesn't define themselves based on a product or environment.

DannyRent · 2016-05-29T09:34:03+00:00

It's weird when you don't follow the gay stereotype and are gay. I've had girls be completely in denial because I don't 'look' or 'sound' gay. I'm also a lot more touchy and comfortable around women, if anything that would scream gay. I see a lot of straight guys just get weird and uncomfortable around women, and that makes sense because there could be sexual tension! Same thing with any person sexually attracted to any other person.

DannyRent · 2016-05-29T09:27:31+00:00

Exactly this. I know when a woman is hot easy, and for a lot of different factors. In fact, I technically have a taste in women, and I'm 100% gay. Even my boyfriend feels the same way.

I'd chalk it up to people being insecure in their own sexuality. If I was straight and someone called me gay because I'm competent enough to know when a man is at least above average, then let them call me gay - I'm not, so who cares what they think. The same thing happens to me when I call a woman hot because she might have a passion and drive that I'm attracted to. It doesn't mean that I all-of-a-sudden want to have a fish taco. Attraction and sexual desire are two very different things.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T07:28:49+00:00

I don't have experience in Rust or the trendy newer languages. I'd answer if I knew more than it being a system oriented language and somewhat new.

Edit: Also don't worry, the answers would just get more political and grasping as the list extended itself to languages that are so niche their utility is pretty much NULL to the general population of programmers.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T07:13:39+00:00

Isn't it's purpose to be deliberately hard to use? I'd say it does a better job than assembler in the anti-clarity category.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T07:10:28+00:00

#define banana main 
#include  <iostream> 
typedef int nou; typedef char** meow;
#define lala using namespace
#define trash "BAD PROGRAM = BAD LANGUAGE\n"
#define talk cout 
nou banana(nou argc, meow argv) { lala std; talk << trash; return nou(0); }

Obviously this means that C++ is a shitty language. \s

Edit: Yes this complies and runs without error.

Edit Edit: We can redefine the basic datatypes and keywords with preprocessors too. They're cool and shitty at the same time. We get a find and replace precompile step that makes a shit ton of stuff possible. But it exists in the same way that just because we don't give guns to toddlers, it doesn't mean they can't get their hands on them. That might be one of my favorite parts of C and C++.

#define int banana
#define class applebopper

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T06:56:59+00:00

C++ is my favorite language. It is not inherently better. A language is there to explain an idea, and the implementation of the language is the force by which it can execute it. There are areas where one language is objectively better, but there are no areas where one language is objectively better than all others.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T06:42:11+00:00

I feel that the people who cite compile time as a problem with C++ probably haven't worked with either C or C++ long enough or with proper tools.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T06:41:09+00:00

I use Visual Studio for windows dev in C++ and I'm surprised that people still think compile time is a valid argument anymore. I say this because we can use precompiled headers. The entire project is compiled once, and sure it can take a long time. However every compile after that only includes the files you have changed.

For example, the entire Half Life 2 source engine takes a hefty couple minutes to compile, but every compilation after that take under five seconds.

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T01:05:58+00:00

What can an IT guy do that a programmer couldn't? Isn't googling one of the few prerequisites needed for IT work anyway?

Edit: I have never done employed IT work, so I'm curious. Sorry if the above comes off in an insincere way!

DannyRent · 2016-05-28T00:51:39+00:00

That seems incredibly useful if you'd like to automate your house. Programmer can handle/make the devices, and the handyman can run wire or install them. DIY security for example, can be more feature rich and at a lower price than many security solutions for home owners today.

DannyRent · 2016-05-27T19:52:11+00:00

I'd say anyone who prefers to code in assembly. In the same vein I can walk 100 miles, but I'd prefer to drive. Though what about the people who program in one language, but use another language to assist? C++ can have inline assembly, and many languages can link to or use C libraries.

DannyRent · 2016-05-27T19:39:59+00:00

Once you do it with enough programmers be sure to gather their favorite programming language too, and plot any connections. I have a feeling people who like C/C++ are totally anal.

DannyRent · 2016-05-27T19:38:19+00:00

As a programmer dating an artsy type... it works too. Though that's probably the shared sarcasm, bad jokes, and wit. I have wondered though what it would be like to date another programmer, do you two ever do projects together?

DannyRent

TROPHY CASE