SXSW 2010: Program or be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age

Best-selling author and technology visionary Douglas Rushoff offers his insights and perspectives on humanity's role in the bight new future.

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[TheGzeus]

@petercoffin Programming's not an art. but is a craft.

The programmer's tool is the programming language, not the computer. You can program without a computer, it's just not going to be executed. You can draw in the dirt, but it's not going to stick around.

The computer is the user of what is crafted.

The thing is, the computer then lets the craftsman use the result of it's work, and so on in a positive feedback loop.

I've met people who thought it was amazing that I can change my oil.

It's odd.

[detcader]

Anyone else think "the used" after he said "the users" and then was surprised that he went and said it?

[Starrdusk2]

@mx4px I would describe all of the things you mentioned being both then; writing, the Craft is what one does to produce the Art that comes from that Craft.

the process is the Craft, the outcome is the Art....

hadn't thought of it interms of manuals, but that would go across the board, possibly in many instances continuing with the old saying that it (art, beauty) is in the eye of the beholder.

[dementedd12]

@TheGzeus What I should also have added is what happens when the brain is combined with a computer?

[dementedd12]

@TheGzeus Programming is an art. I take it you've never programmed before?

[selfeducationguide]

Douglas Rushkoff is a brilliant man. Too bad our politicians aren't so brilliant.

[lotusfeetable]

Woah...What is this guy smoking?

[hamiltino]

@BubbaLouis the exact recount of history is irrelevant, the concept presented is what you should be analyzing and criticizing . I see his idea in which people can become subjected into the ideas and concepts of others, It is important for us to not be mere characters in ones novel, but rather the writers of our own will.

[mx4px]

For Peter Coffin ...regarding programming being an art vs. it being a craft. What is writing? Art or craft? Does your answer change if we're talking about writing a novel vs. writing a manual? How about drawing? Schematic or museum piece? How about something a little harder to judge: music? Underscore for a commercial or love song for your girlfriend? Art or craft? Each of these can be both. Same goes for software. Write for money, write for love. The best is art AND craft.

[BubbaLouis]

Part II about this idiot

The Chinese language had 5,000 characters. The Hebrews were running around the desert of Israel on donkeys living in mud huts while China was inventing steel and foundries and furnaces, and building architecturally innovative pagodas. Get this: China had drydocks for ship-building 100 years before the Torah came out.

[BubbaLouis]

Part I

This guy is an idiot. His knowledge of history is false. The fact that he makes it Israel-centric with its 22 characters is bizarre. China's civilization was already in place (Sun Tzu had already written The Art of War [550 BC] 200 years before the Torah showed up in written format [circa 300 BC]). Confucianism existed for 200 years before the Torah.