接着“中年IT人的困惑”讨论。

网友“苦瓜”说：
“第一点：文科生编程。楼主的感觉有些委屈，也有些底气不足，好像不够科班，先天不足。其实这是错误的说法。年初读过一篇文章，说的就是文科生编程的优势。编程实际上是个表达沟通的活儿，特别是高级语言的编程，没有深厚的文字交流水平，很难胜任。写文章的人说，见过的优秀编程人员都是英文专业毕业的，写文章这人是个美国人，若是咱中国人，结论恐怕就是最优秀的编程人员都是中文专业的了。这话相当有道理。功夫在程序外。楼主的中英文文字表达都相当出色，估计这也是多年来公司一再裁人，楼主稳坐编程位置的原因。往前看，您比我们都有优势，这行业只要还存在，您就是最优秀的那一类。别看其他人抖机灵，程序也是日久见功夫。您就安心往前走吧。

第二点：印度兄弟跟我们一样来自泱泱大国，都是有特殊基因的个体，剥削人的时候自己都没感觉，还以为是拉兄弟一把呢。自己千万保护自己，他不知道心疼你，你自己得知道。该反就反，谁怕谁。当年俺们那印度老板ceo，唠唠叨叨跟俺谈话，说些俺不加班之类的鬼话，俺也就站起来冲他拍了几下桌子走人了。那是经济萧条的02年，他以为自己是上帝呢，给人提供了生存的机会。而且，只要有人带头走，这传染病就算发作了。俺走之后，公司接二连三走了好多人。咱背井离乡的来的是美国，不是去台北、奔孟买，要用美国的生活标准要求自己。咱不惯他那毛病。”

俺特同意苦瓜MM的第二点，可是不同意她的第一点。下面是我的观点：

I think people differ from their abilities most not by training but by genetic. Engineering and computer programming require clear logical thinking and analytical skills while literature does more on creative thinking side. That doesn't say a person of English major can not have clear logical sense.

The article below only prove a person with clear logical thinking and know how to communicate well could be good software programmers regardless one's training.

In ideal cases, people choose their major because they like it or have passion about it. In not so perfect cases people choose a major as a way of earning a living. 楼主 mentioned that he doesn't not like or enjoy programming. That makes him for ever a ok computer programmer even he has master degree on CS.

I do agree that 楼主 made a good choice to stay in his current field as all he wants is a relatively easy job with good pay. What could be better than staying with a well paid job you already know how to do it, regardless you like it or not!

BTW, another good job would be a tech writer that requires good writing (communication) skill and some technical knowlegde.

并附那美国人的文章：

English as a First Language
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I've found that some of the best developers of all are English majors. They'll often graduate with no programming experience at all, and certainly without a clue about the difference between DRAM and EPROM.

But they can write. That's the art of conveying information concisely and clearly. Software development and writing are both the art of knowing what you're going to do, and then lucidly expressing your ideas.

The worst developers, regardless of background, fail due to their inability to be clear. Their thoughts and code tend to ramble rather than zero-in on the goal.

It's easier to train someone in a new language than to teach them to think clearly. C really isn't that hard to learn; it has but a handful of constructs. Most folks can learn the fundamentals quickly.
Debugging takes longer, but all new programmers find themselves at sea when first faced with bugs.

Too many engineering-trained developers have a total disregard for stylistic issues in programming. Anything goes. Firmware is the most expensive thing in the universe, so it makes sense to craft it carefully and in accordance with a standard style guide. Make sure it clearly communicates its intent. This is where the English majors shine; they've spent 4 years learning everything there is to know about styles and communication.

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