tommy's version of hell
or, trying to explain python to your hungover english major girlfriend:
pablohoney: functions look hard
halgernon: The words if then else and while all make sense in english
pablohoney: you say we already know one way to make variables contain mult values but i don't, what is it?
halgernon: Arrays are the way
pablohoney: oh yeah duh
halgernon: You could set different indexes in the array to the values you need to return
halgernon: Then return the array
pablohoney: that sentence makes no sense to me
halgernon: Ok, lemme rephrase
halgernon: If you had three values to return from a function
pablohoney: ok
halgernon: Like, let's say you had a LookUpShoe() function
halgernon: That you pass a model number
halgernon: And you want to return whether it's a mens or womens shoe, and the color
halgernon: You could say
halgernon: ShoeData = ['male','black']
halgernon: return ShoeData
halgernon: Make sense?
pablohoney: yes but i think my problem is that i dont understand programming at all
pablohoney: like where would y ou put that shoedata thing?
halgernon: It'll come back
pablohoney: i'm sure your tutorial is wonderful but i don't know if anyone with zero programming experience can understand it
pablohoney: at least, me
halgernon: That'd come in a function
halgernon: Yeah I was trying to walk a line between the programmers and new people
halgernon: But maybe I should take a step back and explain things more carefully
pablohoney: no, then you'd have to speak like you were talking to a retard
pablohoney: everyone else who is interested gets it fine i think
...
halgernon: Anyway, I think you will get it if you just ask questions
pablohoney: well you're nice to explain it to your girlfriend
halgernon: I appreciate that you want to learn my geeky stuff
halgernon: Seriously
pablohoney: it's HARD though
pablohoney: it's like a different way of thinking
halgernon: You'll get it, you're a brilliant girl
pablohoney: haha ok
halgernon: But that's the thing, once you get used to it it all snaps into place
pablohoney: this is coming from the girl who only got through high school senior computer science by manipulating the nerdy boy who sat next to her
halgernon: Well that option is still available
pablohoney: hehe
pablohoney: i can't have you cheat for me this time
pablohoney: i will learn python, goddammit
pablohoney: even if you constantly have to come up with shopping analogies to get me to understand
halgernon: I didn't do that to tailor it to you, actually
pablohoney: uh huh
halgernon: Shoes were just what came to mind
halgernon: And then I thought "shit, she'll think I'm being patronizing"
pablohoney: yes
pablohoney: but then i was like, ooh shoes
Comments
I tried teaching my last girlfriend how to program in Java. She needed it for one of her biomedical engineering requirements. I think after struggling to learn programming with me, the relationship went downhill from there. Somehow I was "condescending", "difficult", and "rude". Trust me, I'm the sweetest guy ever. It was just hard to explain something so simple in my mind to someone who just didn't get it. I actually went on to help all her other friends and they seemed to get it. And this frustrated her even more.
Girlfriends and programming don't mix well. Tom, you should seriously ponder this before continuing to explain to Catherine. Catherine, you should take it easy on Tom when he tries to explain. Don't let Python (or Java) stand between you two! I find flowers and wine are better for the relationship.
What you want to do is save the current relationship state in a continuation; then, if teaching python leads to bad consequences, you can just return to when all was better, and not do it.
Also, "halgernon"? Like "hags for Algernon"?
Catherine,
I honestly don't remember you in programming class. I know I've asked you this before, but when did you take it? I spent 3 years with Latimer and I can't recall seeing you in his class. I was the TA for his classes my junior or senior year. I actually knew more than Latimer by my second year and had to help him maintain the computers because everybody kept downloading Doom onto the machines and hiding stuff in them. I was the guy who would go in and "fix" everything for him. I even went to the programming competitions (ok, I'm super nerdy... so what) in Maryland. By the time I left JMHS, I knew Pascal, Ada, Fortran, Basic, C, C++, and a little Java (and maybe a little Logo too).
OHMYGOD... I now know why I can't get a date!
no, i'm taking it easy on tommy when he explains it to me...i think he's doing a very good job. it's easier for me when he explains it one on one than when i'm reading the tutorial.
h algernon is some sort of cartoon character, or something? i can't remember myself.
i was in comp sci my senior year... i swear! with mr. latimer. i did love him. can't remember which semester, though.
h algernon is some sort of cartoon character, or something? i can't remember myself.
yup. exo squad. it's pretty dumb.
being a girl and a web programmer, I can attest that it is still not easy so tom can you do shopping analogies for my stuff at work?
Well, this made me laugh: "Trust me, I'm the sweetest guy ever."
I'm with ogged; I'm not sure that sentence can be said without a certain drip of sarcasm.
I tried to help my (then-)girlfriend when she was taking an introductory Java programming class and we nearly came to blows. (That is, she nearly kicked my ass, and I pretty much cowered with my hands over my head and mewed, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!")
I think the attitude of the teachee (or rather, "student," since that's an actual English word) is the most important consideration. So far Catherine seems to have the advantage that she's willing and/or able to admit that she doesn't know something. It'll all make sense sooner than you think! Teaching this kind of stuff without being able to communicate via hand gestures or a whiteboard is also pretty tricky; kudos to Tom.
thanks for the words of encouragement, matt! it also helps that tommy is as patient as a saint...anyway, i'm still determined.
Post A Comment