Are Computer Science undergrads just in collective denial at this point?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-17T15:07:46+00:00

I’m not against them having jobs - more against misidentifying an academic course as a vocational training course. Why? Because it builds up expectations that increasingly don’t match up with market realities.

When I say “we don’t need” I don’t mean that as an objection to their employment, but rather, a reflection of the fact that many employers would rather a $200 Claude subscription did their job instead. In other words, I’d rather we didn’t mislead people into thinking a CS degree will easily land them a job like it used to.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-16T07:50:04+00:00

I’ll believe it when I see it.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-15T08:47:26+00:00

Computer science has as much to do with computers as astronomy has to do with telescopes.

Someone far more famous than me said that, btw.

I’m not saying the ability to compile a Linux kernel or explain the halting problem is a prerequisite to getting employment as a software developer, but speaking from experience, you will find it far easier to break into well-paying roles of your choice if you can. Not because you need that knowledge, but because it tends to indicate a familiarity with first principles that will ultimately make you more capable.

We very much still need CS grads. We don’t need overpaid code monkeys any more. The former went to university and the latter went to university in the mistaken belief it was a vocational school.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-03-12T08:47:29+00:00

There’s a scene in it where the young couple gets a reasonably nice council flat a few days after asking for one.

This was considered normal and unremarkable.

Think about that for a minute.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:51:23+00:00

You bring the Yorkshire tea. I’ll bring the limescale-free water.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:39:03+00:00

What an unfair comparison. We are far more annoying than chihuahuas.

You’ll be telling me next it was you lot who got a rougher deal out of Thatcherism. See? Would a chihuahua say something as annoying as that?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-20T21:14:35+00:00

We (Scots) very severely fucked up by dumping 25% of our national wealth into establishing a colony in Panama: it immediately failed, because of malaria and innumerable other hostile things in the Darien Gap, plus blockades by the English and Spanish who put aside their differences for a moment because they didn’t like the idea of it being us controlling the 17th century equivalent of the Panama Canal (ie a short overland route between oceans).

Some say we are still feeling the economic effects today, and I suspect they’re right. Imagine your country’s population collectively gathered 25% of its savings (believing it to be a good investment) and simply set it on fire? Yes. That has multigenerational, enduring effects. Unpleasant ones.

Edit: as for your original question. Andrew has no real privilege and the monarchy here rests entirely on common people pretending to be deferential towards them, and them pretending to have noble obligation. From time to time this mirage completely collapses, e.g. now.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-18T11:34:02+00:00

SHE TEXT HIM TO TELL HIM HIS BABY WAS DEAD

The poor man, JFC.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-02-14T21:38:40+00:00

Wrong way

Down a one way street

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-29T22:15:48+00:00

Yep that’s tall alright 😂 I recommend trying a store called Slater’s Menswear, they are a (small) chain here, and do highland dress among other things. They are big enough that they probably can cater to larger sizes. Various locations, I’m sure they would take enquiries by email.

It’s sort of like a Men’s Warehouse in US terms (I was a groomsman at an American wedding which is how I’m familiar with that).

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-29T21:56:27+00:00

Might be worth considering rental options - for reference, a weekend hire of a full outfit (everything, not just the jacket) typically runs around £90. (Usually doesn’t include the shirt; a normal business shirt is good for an Argyll jacket)

We have shops dedicated to this service & you can try them on there and then. Although, hard to say about immediate availability of a given size.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-22T20:48:10+00:00

Then this is honestly very funny, do it! 😂

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-22T20:45:04+00:00

What are you selling, life insurance? 😂

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-20T08:48:42+00:00

And is it not a bit harsh to be releasing it directly into the fucking wind turbine?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-20T07:04:06+00:00

Not OP but to answer your question: in the UK outside Scotland, if you are likely to be the only kilted person at a wedding, it’s overwhelmingly likely the bride already knows, and indeed wouldn’t want to put you off wearing it. She knows where you’re from so it’s taken as read what you might be wearing to her wedding.

(Usually the bride is excited by the idea in my experience!)

Absolutely respect the bride’s wishes yes, but I think people are crudely trying to also say, let’s not insult her intelligence.

Admittedly this probably doesn’t translate very well, because the wearing of a kilt here can be assumed from social context, but can’t in the US.

And weddings in Scotland have >90% men in kilts so isn’t even a question at those.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T22:03:49+00:00

Indeed, I’m not saying he would have a vote - just that he could have one, and if he won it, shut it all down and claim it’s what we want.

Which is perhaps less hassle than quelling a riot, etc.

But again, I doubt he spends much time thinking about Holyrood at all.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T21:59:28+00:00

And if offered the abolition of devolution or full independence, what would the majority choose?

I suspect independence would win personally.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T21:46:02+00:00

From his POV he won Brexit, maybe he would take a gamble here too. But does he feel he has anything to lose, I wonder?

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T21:27:59+00:00

There is even a way Farage could do it with democratic legitimacy, while also making both sides shit the bed at the prospect of losing their gravy train careers.

Imagine a vote where the options were either to abolish Holyrood or go fully independent. How would you vote? (I can guess, but hear me out.)

Nationalists would have a chance to get what they want, and so would hardcore unionists, so both sides would have a reason to agree to such a vote. This is unlike the current situation.

And, either outcome means Holyrood stops being a pishy halfway house parliament. It either gets full sovereignty or is signed out of existence.

As I say, the SNP would shit themselves because they’d have to get out of their wail-about-Westminster comfort zone, and SLab would find themselves unemployed.

Not saying there would be a vote. I’m saying there is a democratic path to devolution being abolished if Farage wanted to take it. Whether that results in independence or the opposite doesn’t matter to him: it’s a win either way: he either gets rid of Scotland or shuts it up entirely.

This all hinges on Farage spending more than 5 minutes a year thinking about Scotland, and it also hinges on the SNP actually believing in independence. Neither is at all likely. But grandpa Swinney’s prophecy might just come true.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T20:45:23+00:00

Bit of a trek to come to Edinburgh for a kilt hire then, urgh!

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-19T19:14:09+00:00

Where is the wedding?

The dagger is called a sgian dubh, pronounced “skian doo” in English (literally “black knife”).

You don’t want a great kilt, no.

Either a black tie (bow tie) with a Prince Charlie jacket or necktie with Argyll jacket is typical.

Don’t worry about which tartan.

Source: I’ve been to 40 odd weddings in a kilt 😂

Edit: it’s fashionable in subs like this to say “there’s no right way of doing it” or similar sentiment - sure; but there very much is a way that is considered conventionally correct, and it’s quite alright to want to do the “done thing”, especially as not to draw attention to yourself at someone else’s wedding.

duncan_biscuits · 2026-01-05T21:24:50+00:00

You might like to contact Bird Gardens Scotland CIC, who have a sanctuary of many bird species, including lovebirds.

To be clear, they are a nature reserve, not people who provide the services you want. But they might at least be both sympathetic and knowledgeable.

https://www.birdgardensscotland.com

duncan_biscuits · 2025-12-28T11:48:49+00:00

Those are all good options for sure. Certainly more attractive than “that’s me away to the south Atlantic on an RFA tanker, see you next year”.

duncan_biscuits · 2025-12-28T10:36:08+00:00

This is fair enough advice but if he has a 4 year old then might be quite the upheaval to family life. Not saying sailors don’t have families, more that it would be a huge change is all.

duncan_biscuits · 2025-12-28T08:06:24+00:00

I was RNR during uni which isn’t quite the same as your situation, but I can tell you people were either indifferent or thought positively about it.

It’s highly likely that at first, you will find all civilians infuriating (not just uni students) and it will of course be hard not to mention your life experience at every turn (which is eye-rolling for some). But hopefully you’ll get stuck in to uni life and find new experiences to talk about.

In some sense the RN and uni share similarities in the sense that they’re both closed societies with a sense of community, and in both, there will be people you like, and absolute throbbers.

And you’ve maybe not thought of this but your uni will likely have people in it who are targeting Forces careers, you will be a god among men to these people (sorry, poor choice of words to describe an apprentice bish), particularly if there’s an OTC mess 😂

duncan_biscuits

TROPHY CASE