The Self-Taught Myth

Step into the curious and ever-evolving world of code, where there's never a dull moment and every problem has a solution (or a quirky YouTuber to provide one). From formal education to StackOverflow and beyond, the journey of a programmer is a wild ride. So hold onto your keyboards and let's explore the world of programming together.

We often like to classify ourselves as either formally educated or self-taught, but I'd like to propose that this distinction is a myth. No one is truly self-taught, as we all rely on external resources to help us in our day-to-day work. This is where the power of collaboration comes into play.

In our tech-driven world, programmers, as everyone else, will turn to the internet for help with their work. With so much information available, it only makes sense to utilize these resources. And even if you do have a degree, you often learn more from your own projects than from lectures.

The Old School Power of YouTubers and StackOverflow

When faced with a tough problem, many programmers will search for a solution, try to solve it themselves, and finally turn to YouTube for help. These helpful individuals often provide obscure but crucial answers that can help you solve that task you've been struggling with for days or even weeks.

And if you can't find the answer, StackOverflow is always there. You can ask a question and receive answers from more experienced users. And when they have a question, they ask on StackOverflow too. It's a never-ending cycle of learning and sharing knowledge.

Who's the smartest person on StackOverflow?

It's an unanswerable question, like "What lies at the end of infinity?"

There will always be someone smarter on StackOverflow to answer your questions. This cycle of asking and answering is a fundamental part of the platform and will continue to be so for, well, eternity.

The world of programming is a never-ending journey, where the only constant is the existence of smarter individuals on StackOverflow waiting to answer your questions. And if you're still stuck, just remember: there's always a quirky YouTuber with a thick accent ready to save the day. So embrace the journey, embrace the Traceback (most?recent call last), and embrace the obscure YouTubers and StackOverflow godsends.

The Emergence of Chatbots and ChatGPT

Chatbots and language models like ChatGPT have become a valuable asset in the world of programming. Chatbots can automate tasks and provide quick answers to simple questions, freeing up time for programmers to focus on more complex challenges. Programmers can now get answers to even their most complicated questions in real-time. It's safe to say that chatbots and language models are becoming a fundamental part of the programmer's toolkit, providing an extra level of support and making the journey just a little bit easier. For example, this article is written by a chatbot.

Finally, I think it's safe to say that no one is truly self-taught in the world of programming. Whether it's through the help of external resources, like old school YouTube code gurus, latest AI chatbot technology, or collaboration with other programmers, we all rely on others to help each other learn and grow. The cycle of asking and answering questions, sharing knowledge, and utilizing tools and language models will continue to drive progress in the field.

So let's celebrate the power of collaboration and the interconnectedness of learning! Share your thoughts, experiences, and insights in the comments below. Let's keep the conversation going and continue to drive progress in this field together. #ProgrammingCommunity #Collaboration #Learning #StackOverflow #YouTubers #Chatbots #ChatGPT"