45
Root
6y

It's kind of neat knowing people who are famous for things I don't care about, and having their numbers / talking semi-regularly. They're a special person to so many others, but to me they're just some random person that's mildly annoying.

Like API Guy.
Freaking API Guy.
He's a millionaire musician who's adored by literally millions of people, but none of them know he writes absolutely terrible APIs, zero tests, rushes to the shiniest new things, and happily agrees to everything (often without listening) only to deny it later. Absolutely infuriating.

Or knowing one of Netscape founders as that strange and really terrible trumpet player with the great tequila. He did give me his copy of The C Programming Language (the bible) though. He was cool. Super weird, but cool.

It's just a strange feeling. I don't care, and yet others inexplicably think I should. I don't understand it. They're just people? idk.

Comments
  • 8
    @rutee07 They're fresh until they die, so calling them "fresh meat" is a bit more accurate. And creepier, which is always worth bonus points.
  • 2
    @rutee07 πŸ˜‚

    "Unwanted meat"?
    or "Meat bicycles."
  • 2
    @irene He cofounded the company with a friend, and codes for fun. If you master one field, you pick up another. At least I would.
  • 3
    @irene He enjoys it.
    He also takes vacations to ski resorts or tropical islands, and does concerts/tours with the band. But he enjoys code, too. And why not? We do. πŸ˜‹
  • 0
    My curiosity is killing me right now... Why do you do this to me??
  • 2
    So everyone is just playing it cool that @Root is in touch with some famous people who also happen to be millionaires?
    Okay. Got it.
    No big deal.
  • 0
    @Root
    If you give up in one field you will quicky lose the mastery in that field.
    Masters dont stop learning and improving.
  • 3
    The guy who wrote the Mosaic browser, and who used to date my wife (before she and I met), came to our wedding and caught the garter. And I used to ping his brother, who wrote the first Apache server, for config advice. Regular folks. Way richer than me, but regular guys.
  • 2
    @irene at the time it was no big deal. It was only later in my career that the potential significance, from the point of view of others, kinda hit home for me. But, they have their struggles just like I do. They’re good people, but money and fame aren’t fixing those problems. I often joke around with my wife that my lack of talent and ambition rescued her from a life of wretched excess. LOL
  • 2
    @Gregozor2121 Of course you don't drop your field; that's ridiculous. You pick up others and expand your skillset.

    @dr-ant I was worried this would sound like bragging πŸ™. It just struck me as strange that I used a famous musician as a professional reference when applying to a dev job, and how they might feel about that.
  • 1
    @Root I get it but there's no way for it to not sound like a brag in a peasant majority. 😁
    Even if you didn't mean it that way.

    Good luck on your callback though. I hope you get it.
  • 1
    @dr-ant Thanks!
    I just had a two-hour interview with them, and it went pretty well. I'm excited πŸ˜„
  • 0
    I gotta tell ya... It annoys the fuck outta me when people tell half-assed cool stories like these. Now, I understand that you can't dox them, sure. But, still.

    Also, there is just no way for me to know if you really are totally cool and for real have this meeting-celebs-is-no-big-deal attitude. But, if I were to be prejudiced, I'd say you're full of shit and you actually love it.

    Also, is it Will I Am? (no one really cares about the Netscape guy) :D
  • 1
    @telephantasm No, it's not. lol

    And you can think whatever you want.

    I'm going to think of him forever as "API Guy" and how irritating he is as a developer and (ex) coworker, and how irresponsible he is as a person. No, I'm not a fan of his music or voice, either.
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