pxsant (u/pxsant) - Readit News

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

monadic2 · 6 years ago

How’s the cost compared to a brick-and-mortar place?

pxsant · 6 years ago

From what I have seen, the cost of Internet-based courses is generally pretty high. Seems like you would be paying a high per credit cost minus the on-campus costs like room and board. There are going to be exceptions but that seems to be about the norm. There are a few places where State Universities give free tuition to in-state residents.

I remember paying about $12 a credit a long time ago and that was difficult. These days, I don't know how normal people can afford to go to school. You get yourself deep in debt for student loans you can never pay off. I don't know how that can be workable.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

fyfy18 · 6 years ago

How do you find your brain works and how productive you are compared to say 20 years ago? My father is in his late 70s and gets quite tired during his day - I wonder if you keep working it keeps the brain more active.

Also it must be weird going to a retirement party for someone who is 15 years younger than you :D

pxsant · 6 years ago

My brain works fine. My body - not so much. I tire more easily than I did 20 years ago but so what. I get up at 4:30 AM every day and work at something until about 8 PM and then am in bed by 8:30.

The absolute worst thing you can do is retire. That is the beginning of the end. I will work until they plant me.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

pxsant · 6 years ago

A bit of commentary on age discrimination in IT.

Of course, it exists. If you are over 40 and go on an interview where the interviewer is a 20 something kid you know what I mean.

My approach to age discrimination can be summed up this way.

Screw them. I have more experience and knowledge in the field than 99% of the people working in it, especially the managers. And I project that in an interview. I don't give a crap what they think of my age and I make sure they know that. I have what they need and they would be better off recognizing that.

Does that attitude work every time? Of course not. But I will be dammed if I will be submissive and put up with age discrimination. To hell with them. If they don't give me a job, some with better sense will.

The key is NEVER GIVE UP.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

fyfy18 · 6 years ago

How do you find your brain works and how productive you are compared to say 20 years ago? My father is in his late 70s and gets quite tired during his day - I wonder if you keep working it keeps the brain more active.

Also it must be weird going to a retirement party for someone who is 15 years younger than you :D

pxsant · 6 years ago

That's for sure. I just went to my granddaughter's 18th birthday party. She knew I was still working full time and she couldn't figure out how old I was so she asked me. When I told her I was born before the 2nd World War she wouldn't believe me. My daughter corrected her.

Actually, now this is hard to take - but when I was a kid in my home town, there were still a couple of civil war vets alive in the local hospital. How is that for something crazy.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

jkingsbery · 6 years ago

How did you go about getting your phd? Did you take a break from paid work to go to school? Did you work on your thesis nights/ weekends?

Do you feel like you learned from your advisors, some if whom I'd imagine were younger than you?

Did you study an area related to your work at the time? Or did you use it to learn a new area?

pxsant · 6 years ago

Someone below mentioned remote. When I first started there was no such thing as remote learning. These days even the most prestigious universities offer BSc programs where you never have to set foot on campus and can do it all over the internet. The nearest I came to that was when the University finally offered somewhat remote courses but it involved ordering books and course materials and taking exams where you had to get a proctor to monitor your exam taking. I did a course or two that way and used my local church pastor as the exam proctor. That method was really difficult. Completing a single course was a major accomplishment.

Actually taking Internat based courses now takes a lot of self discipline. Far too easy to slack off and do something else.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

jkingsbery · 6 years ago

How did you go about getting your phd? Did you take a break from paid work to go to school? Did you work on your thesis nights/ weekends?

Do you feel like you learned from your advisors, some if whom I'd imagine were younger than you?

Did you study an area related to your work at the time? Or did you use it to learn a new area?

pxsant · 6 years ago

I took two years off to complete my PhD when one contract ended and could not immediately find another. I thought at the time if not now, I'll never find the time. Actually my primary advisor and sponsor was a professor at the University and head of the department. We kept in contact over the years and he kept bugging me to get my act together and finish what I started.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

mromanuk · 6 years ago

Why are you not yet retired? I can think of few strong reasons, but I would love to hear from you. (I started programming at 8, I’m 41 and I have no plans of stopping )

pxsant · 6 years ago

Not retired because I don't want to live on social security alone. That would be a bummer.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting? · Posted by u/genedangelo

pxsant · 6 years ago

I am 80 years old and still working full time in IT. Although I evolved from pure programming to project management and business analysis the past few years. Originally started out working at Cape Canaveral as a radar and telemetry engineer and moved into programming after I left there. Whenever I interview, I completely ignore the age issue. If the interviewer is to dumb to recognize the value of my knowledge and experience, that is on them. Finally completed my PhD in Computer science when I was in my 60's.

pxsant commented on Ask HN: Large brand wants to buy my side project, what should I do? · Posted by u/advicefromhn

pxsant · 9 years ago

10K is an absolute insult. I have sold domain names for that much. Ask for at least 100K plus a percentage of any revenue they generate from the product for the next 10 years. Then you will find out how serious they are.