The world of Computer Programming is one that is comprised of people from every corner of the globe, from countless different social and economic backgrounds, which has led to one of the most diverse fields of study in the world. Some come from well-established foundations; utilizing the resources at their disposal to create new and innovative products. Many more come from more humble beginnings, forging their own path and transforming the world around them. Yet, across this wide spectrum of developers, researchers, and teachers, they all share one thing in common:
At some point in time, at the beginning of their studies, they had no idea what they were doing.
Sure, this sounds harsh. But it’s true for quite literally every field of study imaginable. No one is born with the ability to write machine learning algorithms, develop web applications, or any other kind of work in the field. At one point or another, this knowledge was learned, practiced, and perfected.
In the world of computer programming, the amount of seemingly trivial yet incredibly difficult problems one may encounter can be quite high. They can often be hyper-specific issues where directly posing the question at hand to your peers may be the most effective way of coming to a solution. And in the age of the internet, an incredible medium of getting answers proves time-and-time again to be a rock-solid support: StackOverflow.
StackOverflow is a forum made for programmers to post issues and questions related to their work, and to receive answers from other programmers on how to resolve these issues. It can be astonishing how regardless of how niche or specific you think your issue may be, there’s a good chance that someone else had the same problem, posted it, and received multiple different solutions. StackOverflow has the benefit of being powered by the vast workforce of the internet, where millions of people can chime in and offer their assistance. However, therein lies the problem:
The internet can be full of jerks.
Of course, I don’t mean to discredit the vast majority of users who are often incredibly helpful and welcoming to newcomers. The usefulness of StackOverflow and similar sites cannot be overstated. The core issue, in my opinion, is the vocal minority who either through arrogance or simply a lack of tact, can scare away those new to the programming field with a sarcastic attitude and an aura of superiority.
This is the mentality that I believe should be addressed and challenged more often in order to create a more welcoming community. The field of computer programming is growing fast. And there are definitely indications that we’re moving in the right direction. That same developer survey found that users on StackOverflow who were people of color felt more welcome than in previous years, which is a great step forward. However, fields of study are driven by the people who study them. And the more welcoming and supportive these groups are, the more a field will grow.
Citations:
Nate Swanner. “It’s Not Just You: Stack Overflow Is Still Full of Jerks.” Dice Insights, Dice, 18 Apr. 2019, http://www.dice.com/career-advice/stack-overflow-many-jerks.
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