Personally, I'm a UNIX admin who also does programming, and I certainly use
both parts of my brain. Admining (at least for me) involves as much, if not
more, creativity/synthesis as 'logical' thinking. Of course, I primarily
admin HPC systems and clusters for a research department at the university of
illinois, so my workload probably differs (at least a bit) from a lot of
admins. I can see if you're an admin in a strict corporate environment (I
know a couple of these), there must be less creativity and more strict
following of procedure & logical diagnosis.
As far a programming is concerned, it's gotta be a pretty even mix...otherwise
you'll have great ideas that don't work (a program is inherently strictly
logical after all, and you have to be able to follow that in your head in
order to succeed), or wonderful logic statements that don't do anything
interesting!
Subramanian Iyer said:
> Hmm,
> well u know what, the system programmers i guess use
> the right side of their brain, while the admins use
> their left.
> i guess, as an admin, u need to look at individual
> problems and try to solve them with a more logical and
> rational approach
> while, a programmer would have to use his creativity,
> and intuition to be able to "design" programs/SWs.
> and,
> i'm neither of them, so no bias here!!!
> what do u think, curt???
>
> >
> >
> >
> >Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 22:17:33 -0800
> From: Ernest <ernestls_at_comcast.net>
> Subject: System programmers vs. administrators
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
> <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
> Message-ID: <1074320253.1586.16.camel_at_ernest>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> I was having a discussion with a friend earlier
> tonight about
> programming, and how I've never been the least bit
> interested in
> learning how to program -I'm convinced that I have a
> mental block
> against it, or something like that.
>
> As the discussion progressed, we decided that there
> are two types of
> advanced computer users -system programmers and system
> administrators.
> That in itself is debatable but where our discussion
> became bogged down
> was when we tried to decide which user was left brain,
> and which was
> right brain.
>
> We started by agreeing that programmers are artists,
> while the
> administrators are more scientific. But then, as we
> talked, we decided
> that you could make the same arguement for each side.
>
> So, I thought I would throw the discussion out here,
> and see what you
> guys think. Assuming that there really are two types
> of computer users
> -programmers and administrators- which side is left
> brain thinking, and
> which is right brain thinking?
>
> I pulled the following off some psycho-babble website:
>
>
> Experimentation has shown that the two different
> sides, or hemispheres,
> of the brain are responsible for different manners of
> thinking. The
> following table illustrates the differences between
> left-brain and
> right-brain thinking:
>
> Left Brain:
>
> Logical
> Sequential
> Rational
> Analytical
> Objective
> Looks at parts
>
> Right Brain:
>
> Random
> Intuitive
> Holistic
> Synthesizing
> Subjective
> Looks at wholes
>
>
> Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of
> these styles of
> thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and
> equally adept at
> both modes. In general, schools tend to favor
> left-brain modes of
> thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones.
> Left-brain scholastic
> subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and
> accuracy.
> Right-brained subjects, on the other hand, focus on
> aesthetics,
> feeling,
> and creativity.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:19:54 -0500
> From: "Curt vendel" <curt_at_atarimuseum.com>
> Subject: Re: Re: Apple 'Star Trek'?
> To: <freddyboomboom_at_comcast.net>, "General Discussion:
> On-Topic and
> Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
> Message-ID: <000601c3dd1e$211f6990$1a02a8c0_at_starship1>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hmmmm....
>
> D/L'ing now... curious to check this out :-)
>
> I have a Mac OS X 10.2 Server running in my office, so
> I'm curious to
> see
> how these interact...
>
> Curt
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
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- Dan Wright
(dtwright_at_uiuc.edu)
(
http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/)
(UNIX Systems Administrator, School of Chemical Sciences, UIUC)
(333-1728)
Received on Tue Jan 20 2004 - 10:31:37 GMT