You're right to not have qualms about laughing at something that's literally just black and white pixels (and some in-between grays) that are arranged in some configuration on your screen. ;-)
That said, this XKCD comic is one of Randall's rare misses. It's about mocking something which I -- as a developer -- would actually like to promote: People taking initiative and teaching themselves to code. Even people who are shitty at it.
In fact, I'm almost always very impressed with people who are not professional coders but who have taught themselves a few coding skills in order to solve some problem or to actualize some idea -- even if the code itself is horrific from a professional standpoint. That's awesome! And if they want help, I won't mock -- I'll help! It's a rare opportunity to really show someone why I find the act of programming to be so fascinating and satisfying.
> You're right to not have qualms about laughing at something that's literally just black and white pixels (and some in-between grays) that are arranged in some configuration on your screen. ;-)
Not sure what you're trying to say here? Its a cartoon about a stick figure who can't code.
Funniest part was "it's like someone took a transcript of a couple arguing at ikea and made random edits until it compiled without errors" lol
> That said, this XKCD comic is one of Randall's rare misses. It's about mocking something which I -- as a developer -- would actually like to promote: People taking initiative and teaching themselves to code. Even people who are shitty at it.
I understand that you feel passionately about this, and I agree wholeheartedly that non professionals should not be mocked. That said, I dont think that's what's going on here. What we have here, is a cartoon that's poking fun at an exaggerated circumstance. No individual or group is being (sincerely) called out or told they shouln't try to learn to code. It's all just a joke, for amusement.
Its like saying Peanuts is mean spirited for mocking people with poor hygiene with the character Pig Pen: It discourages those people from leaving their homes and interacting with people. I should instead encourage those with poor hygiene to pick up that bar of soap and go outside!
> Not sure what you're trying to say here? Its a cartoon about a stick figure who can't code. Funniest part was "it's like someone took a transcript of a couple arguing at ikea and made random edits until it compiled without errors" lol
I'm just poking a little fun at your earlier reductionism. You're right, it's just a stick figure. A real human has not been hurt.
My main issue with the comic is that it's not particularly funny. To me. The zingers don't really zing. It's just someone whaling on someone else for three panels. And since I'm not catching onto the humor, all I'm left with is the weird feeling that the comic is condoning that kind of behavior.
You're overthinking a cartoon in attempt to find malice where there is none. I'm sorry you didnt find it funny, but that doesn't mean it was written to be anything else but humorous.
There's nothing sinister in this cartoon, no matter what you feel. You might as well accuse all cartoonists of condoning their characters' outlandish behaviors. (e.g. "The writers of the Simpsons must condone child abuse because I didn't find the humor in Homer choking his son" ... Give me a break.)
The cartoon was clearly meant to be humorous. The humor fell flat. So the cartoon just comes off as mean. It's not the end of the world. I'm not going to attempt to reconcile it with Pig Pen and Homer Simpson in some effort to create Chasing's Grand Unified Theory of What Is and Is Not Mean-Spirited.
That said, this XKCD comic is one of Randall's rare misses. It's about mocking something which I -- as a developer -- would actually like to promote: People taking initiative and teaching themselves to code. Even people who are shitty at it.
In fact, I'm almost always very impressed with people who are not professional coders but who have taught themselves a few coding skills in order to solve some problem or to actualize some idea -- even if the code itself is horrific from a professional standpoint. That's awesome! And if they want help, I won't mock -- I'll help! It's a rare opportunity to really show someone why I find the act of programming to be so fascinating and satisfying.