I was talking with one of the people I am currently contracting with about the weird nature of our profession. I taught myself most of what I know, reading books, watching demos and tutorials, attending free Microsoft events like the upcoming Code CampII, and taken a few community college classes here and there. How many other respectable professions can you do that with? Can you teach yourself accounting or veterinary medicine at home? Come here Willis, I want to try to neuter you!(Willis is one of our cats, not children).
There are not too many other professions that I know of where the person will actually spend 8, 9, 10 or more hours working with something, fight a nasty commute, and sit down at home and spend another 3, 4, 5 or more hours doing THE SAME THING. I wonder why that is? What makes a geek a geek? Why is it (seemingly) just us?
The only other difference I notice with our kind is the amazing community support. Blogs, free events, mentoring and the like make this life fun and easier, if you're into it. Do accountants get to play with beta version of the next Peachtree or MAS90? Do most of the accountants in that community have access to all the rich resources that blogs, MSDN and other great websites offer?
If you're out there and you're reading this, thank you.
If you've linked to this or passed it on another way thank you.
If you give up a weekend to teach geeks for free like Thom Robbins and Patrick Hynds do at Code Camps, THANK YOU.
If you stay up waaayyy too late on Thursday nights and host or speak on DotNetRocks, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU .
If you write a blog that has at least taught one person one thing, thank you.
If participate and contribute anything to this community, thank you. This is a great community and a great profession, and a great BUNCH OF GEEKS.
Everyone keep up the great work! Thanks again, Dan K