This is in the category of “things which I have long believed which, on substantial experience, I believe I was underrating in importance for decades.”
Particularly the bit about raising the ambitions of folks who are new to things versus merely encouraging them.
Particularly the bit about raising the ambitions of folks who are new to things versus merely encouraging them.
https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1311732898060476418
(Or “not discouraging them.” Crikey our societal bar is so low.)
What’s difference? “I believe that if you work hard and apply yourself you can learn to program eventually” versus “You could write a compiler six weeks from now if you wanted one. Want to hear how?”
What’s difference? “I believe that if you work hard and apply yourself you can learn to program eventually” versus “You could write a compiler six weeks from now if you wanted one. Want to hear how?”
We have a weird cultural superposition in the U.S. of being extremely, extremely supportive of ambition in the abstract (“You can be whatever you want to be!”) and viciously critical of ambition in the concrete.
“I’m going to grow up to be president!” is an applause light in elementary school but God forbid you suggest that you have a plan to actually win a local election.
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