Programmers, some can scare the s**t out of me....
polycounter lvl 17
Hah, I know this might be weird, but most programmers they live in their dark corners, they don't share their thoughts, they can't hangout with others, they talk about cats all the time, they can't do a good argument about life, they actually don't live their lives in a normal way. Sometimes I'm afraid to go to the programmers corner thinking that I will get stabbed on the back by someone, lol, jk.
Does that scare the shit out of you too?
I know not all of the programmers are like that...
YES, there are some artists like that, but they are not that freaky.
Share your stories...
Does that scare the shit out of you too?
I know not all of the programmers are like that...
YES, there are some artists like that, but they are not that freaky.
Share your stories...
Replies
Which is highly unlikely
But yeah, Aspergers or other mental "problems" can lead to them being very good at certain things.
"A bit like this myself really, watch your back :P"
I mean't discuss about anything, about life, about politics, etc...
Aspies aren't just programmers.
It goes for all really hardcore nerds to be honest, not just programmers. They get pushed around most of their adolescent life, so they grow up bitter and angry. When they finally get into jobs like programming, they can, or feel like they can, lord over people that depend on them, like artists etc. Add to this that they probably don't have a terribly healthy or properly stimulating adult life and it's a recipe for a lot of badness. I feel sorry for them really.
Of course I'm making generalizations, but the same one in the OP.
Definitely learn to have a good relationship with programmers, cause they can make your life hell or super easy depending on how motivated they are to help you
It's not about being socially reclusive and insane nuts, it's just a craft that requires very much brain focus.
Like it or not there are things that are just considered the 'norm'. These traits have developed over hundreds of years of society. Being generally bitchy, unhelpful, condescending and snippy is not considered normal or acceptable; thinking you're superior to others is generally looked down upon in society; eating nothing but ramen noodles while you look at LOLcats and memes all week is not considered a healthy or 'normal' lifestyle.
That's not to say that all the programmers are like this at all; they might not even be the majority, though I think they are. I personally know some hugely intelligent perfectly social and well adjusted programmers; guys that I admire. In fact, most (but certainly not all) of the programmers I have worked with are pleasant; but they still retain the other similarities hah. There's even people like Carmack and Newell out in the world who are completely capable of partaking in it. And lots more where they came from.
You lot are even worse :P
(I wish I could code a bit myself though; might do some light Python work in Blender.)
... that wont stop me from posting though;
a producer i talked to once said that the biggest difference between working with programmers and artists, was that the with artist there is the whole ego thing going on, that you have to be careful not to upset them when discussion problems. the programmers are much more open to suggested solutions without getting offended, where as the artist take it personally when you say that something needs to be fixed.
HUGE generalisation of course but maybe you guys shouldnt be so eager to throw that first rock.
This
They might be looking a lolcats, but I bet their brains are a million miles away trying to figure out whatever problem is currently blocking their progress.
That's what happened to me anyway, no lolcats but dark quiet rooms are rather nice... When I used to do artwork I liked bright sunny rooms with lots of music
In fact I have been pleasantly surprised over the years by the programmers I have met. Don't get me started on designers and animators though:)
Even some fellow artists have had really bad attitudes compared to coders.
If more artists tried to understand the work that the coders have to do and vice versa, we would have less problems in the world.
Artist always want shinier graphics and the latest fanciest shaders. And complain when the coders have to optimise things.
And coders hate artists because we are always asking for features. Or need help setting up simple shit because artist can't read manuals or even open up a txt file.
So try and find some common ground. Go talk to a programmer over a beer. Most of them are high functioning alcoholics.
qft
Could you please explain what you mean? Did the animators you've met have a bad attitude or what experiences did you have with them?
I would say your producer lives in backwards land. Or was so horribly out of touch that he may as well have never worked in the industry.
Where? Their house? That's where they run to at 5:30 every day! That's the issue, I've found. Often they have no interest in interacting with the rest of the team, just the programming team itself.
Of course, again, generalizations. But predominantly this has been the case in my experience.
Are you sure some of them aren't simply introverts?
If you are more extroverted, that may seem 'not normal' to you, but to some, having a lot of 'alone time' with their own thoughts is very normal and preferred.
For me, I like to occasionally socialize with co-workers.
But it drains my energy very quickly.
I prefer a ratio of 1 hr socializing with co-workers and 7 hours to my self, to do work and think.
Have you considered asking them what kind of socializing structure they prefer, or are you simply assuming that anybody who doesn't like your approach to socialization is 'not normal' ?
The software engineer dudes don't drink. But all the code monkeys.. the one who's not a drinker is the scary one
Not all of them are that way lad. Although it is true that one should eat sleep and breathe coding, it doesnt mean they submitted their selves to the darkside. I personally am not that way. =\
@Kwramm:
Do you know that some people write a better code when they are drunk as hell? :poly142:
It's not uncommon for programmers to be introverts. That personality type is attracted to the kind of mental focus that programming requires. And introverts tend to be anti-social. They just don't enjoy "hanging out" as much. And they certainly don't enjoy "hanging out" at noisy bars full of loud people. If you really want to get to know them, invite a few to a quiet restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere, and just get them talking about something they like. In an environment they can enjoy with a small group they're comfortable with, they'll open right up. They would especially be receptive to "hanging out" if it involved an activity they like, such as playing games. The programmer's mind likes to stay active. "Casual" conversation without other stimulus is often considered boring.
As to the whole "dark, silent office" thing, that's just a consequence of their profession. When I'm programming, I can't listen to music with lyrics, and avoid loud music even if it doesn't have lyrics. I regularly listen to music while I'm drawing, or painting, or sculpting. But when I go into coding mode, I have to switch off mental distractions. The level of cerebral focus that programming requires precludes the involvement of distracting stimuli. Programming is problem-solving, and you NEED that dark, silent office to really focus.
riggers/animators in particular can be a bit weird/bossy at times because there is always a conflict between technical requirements and what the artist/modeller thinks that will look good, but anyway its easy to generalise bout groups of people.
I have met people so filled with hate you wonder what the hell happened in their life to make them like that, but also met some top blokes in the games/vfx industry so it balances out.
but yeah programmers I have met seem pretty normal on the whole
pretty much that. Although I'm not a vampire any more. I now enjoy work places where I can see the sky and some sunlight. I also prefer smaller settings over the noisy club. Not really my thing. I agree with the music too. Stuff where I can understand the lyrics distract. Loud music can be okay though.
If they talk smack about your "smrtz" talk smack about their artistic inability and then follow it up with commiseration about how much of a monkey wrench QA or bugs can be, in general terms, don't name names.
Also don't just show up bearing problems.
They like it dark and quite so they can hear problems coming and brace for them. If they all freeze like caught in the gaze of a T-REX when someone walks by they are busy trying to engage their cloaking devices. "If I don't move they'll see an empty desk and take their big bag of illogical, poorly thought out "solutions", somewhere else".
If you want to win them over, don't be one of those people.
Ok show up bearing one problem that you can solve on your own and ask for "advice".
Find a small problem that you can solve all by yourself, or one that you already did, preferably something semi-related to programing, maybe you're trying your hand at writing a mel or max script. Maybe you have a vauge understanding of a weird technical issue and you ask them to further explain why your pipeline is so weird.
The point being you could solve it on your own (maybe you already have) but you're going to ask for advice, not asking for them to write anything for you, but just advice. Then you take their advice and go put it into effect and come back beaming that they saved your ass and removed a major road block from your workflow.
That puts you in the giver category, instead of just the taker category, +1 to you.
They don't lift a finger but get some credit for a solution. You do all the "heavy lifting" on a simple problem, their ego gets stroked, they think you learned something and took a positive step in fixing your own problem instead of just throwing shit on the wall and walking away like it wasn't you, expecting them to clean it up. You all bond a little and have some minor street cred in programerville.
Bottomline, stop thinking of them as soul eating aliens who shit landmines and go make some friends.
I think you mean well, but introverts are not anti-social.
I am an introvert and like to socialize with family, friends and coworkers.
Many introverts do.
The difference with extroverts is that socializing drains my energy.
Where extroverts get re-charged by socializing.
After a while, an introvert needs to retreat and recharge.
If an extrovert understands and respects this (like my friends and family do) then you can have great time socializing.
I think a lot of introverts find it simply easier to avoid extroverts because of the shaming you get when you are 'done' after an hour in that busy bar.
You're all some kind of high-powered mutants, never even considered for mass production. Too strange to live and too rare to die.
:poly142:
Happy Friday bud hope it's a good one in Shanghai!
Thanks! started with dark xinjiang beer at the team dinner, now I continue with paulaner weissbier
My choice of words was probably wrong. "Anti-social" is not the term I was looking for. Most people define "anti-social" as being unusually rude or surly. For me, it just means that you don't actively seek out social engagement. In my mind, that's part of what being an introvert is about.
Thankfully, I grew up with a mother who was an extrovert, and quite accomplished at social interactions. She was able to "coach" her offspring in social interactions, and was always pushing us to get out of our comfort zones. My siblings and I may not be social butterflies, but we're getting along pretty well despite our naturally introverted natures.
Like many other introverts, it upsets me a little when people treat introverts like they are some sort of mutation. While they do tend to be a minority, there is nothing unnatural in being introverted.
At the end of the day, don't turn your nose up at the programmers just because they have a different approach to interaction. Extend a little patience and understanding, and you'll probably be able to discover some common ground.
Well said. I'll repost this cartoon from an earlier discussion on the subject:
http://www.intellectualbubblegum.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/how_to_live_with_introverts_guide_printable_by_sveidt-d5b09fj.jpg
Second rule of programming.... Never rewrite something you`ve already coded, even if it doesnt work properly.
Poor programmers, generally do just that.
The most difficult bit isn't writing code or debugging, but designing it right in the first place. This requires communication, just as much or even more than maintaining performance specs or an art style.
Honestly, if they're doing it right, they're probably SICK of talking to people all day.
That's a bit weird, having been pretty introvert and taken years to become social there's no energy being taken or given, good social encounters makes people happy, makes the endorphin go around!
Simply put: when we cannot relax we become exhausted, and when we relax we become rested.
No one is stealing anyone's energy.
And that maybe when artists aren't looking might be breakdance fighting for something...
+1
There was that blog post where the guy pretty much laid out "how to rip off artists for your project"