Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

I read an infuriated blog post by this programmer who ripped up PHP programmers for not being "real" computer science people.  He also bragged about his guitar ability, saying he could play anything (I doubt it).  In the end, I pondered about the arrogance of such a person and brought two things that seemed unrelated together: guitar and computers.  Yet the other piece that was missing was this guy's arrogance.  A lot of so-called "real computer programmers" hate PHP script kiddies much in the same way that "real guitarists" probably hate the hell out of Guitar Hero. 

When I look at Guitar Hero, it reminds me of these scripting languages that seem to devalue "true" computer scientists and their languages (the blogger in question only mentioned objects, closures, which I assume is "real" computer science).  I mean, essentially you're making something difficult easier to do for the common person.  In the case of guitar hero, you're supposedly making it easier for us to play guitar and be some rock god while being adored by millions of virtual fans.

Or is this the wrong way of looking at the situation?

I think a major difference in scripting languages and Guitar Hero is that scripting languages still allow one to create something.  With Guitar Hero, you don't create songs, you barely imitate.  And you're not even re-creating something, you're just faking being a star.  The one thing about playing a real guitar that anyone who's spent significant time investing their energies into such an endeavor would tell you is that you can actually create art with it as opposed to this virtual toy.

As a guitar player and developer, I can see both worlds.  As a guitarist, I realize that I'm not great but I'm still capable of writing small riffs and even having a tiny voice that originates from the way I hit the strings and frets.  I've written my own riffs and even put them down on some recording mechanism at one point.  I can never do anything like that with Guitar Hero.

But unlike Guitar Hero, scripting languages allow me to create as well.  I think it's actually great that we have the capability of things like scripting languages that allowed us to develop so many applications within these past few years.  I think scripting languages like Linux has done tremendous work in freeing us from the monopoly of Microsoft.  So should so-called "real programmers" unmercifully bash people who earnestly work on things like PHP, but are still able to develop something that's useful to society?

I understand the anger in both areas, but I heavily believe that in scripting languages the anger is slightly misplaced.  I think people in development should be proud of being able to create something. If people aren't bashed and are encouraged to improve their skills by continuing to learn how to make better systems, then the criticism is justified.  But raw anger and insults don't go a long way.

Now, Guitar Hero on the other hand, is an insult.  Guitar Hero makes one a poser because it completely dumbs down the art form of what a guitar is about.  If Guitar Hero was able to enhance the ability to create music, it would contribute something to society and culture.