![[Retraction] Error in Programming](https://ucsdguardian.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/image2.jpg)
The editorial board of The Guardian has decided to formally retract the article “Error in Programming.” We have been in several long discussions to decide how to handle this situation. We thank those for speaking up. We agree that this article is inappropriate, rude and not reflective of the caliber of writing we would like to see in The Guardian. I offer my sincere apologies, and I hope you know this article in no way represents the views of myself, the editorial board or the Guardian as a whole.
Best,
Laira Martin
Editor in Chief
Max • Dec 12, 2013 at 12:50 pm
I thought it was funny that you said we’re “breeding a world of robots” (referring to computer science majors) when you were most likely forced to push out this massive piece of shit for a deadline without the slightest inkling as to what you were saying.
B • Dec 12, 2013 at 11:50 am
I found it strange that you would hone in on computer science and ignore the other engineering fields which share the same stereotypes. However, these comments are still incorrect, and as offensive and ignorant as racial slurs. If you actually feel this way, you’re the one who lacks humanity.
Jim • Dec 12, 2013 at 9:59 am
You should really brush up on your grammar…
Pull it Together • Dec 11, 2013 at 11:45 pm
“We agree that this article is inappropriate, rude and not reflective of the caliber of writing we would like to see in The Guardian.”
I wasn’t aware that you had any kind of standards in your journalism. My friends pick up the Guardian only to play ‘what-did-they-get-wrong-this-time’ and ‘shot-for-every-grammar-error’
M • Dec 11, 2013 at 10:28 pm
I’m very glad this article was retracted. It shouldn’t have been posted in the first place, but whatever.
Kevin, I’m a CS major and let me tell you something: my favorite thing to do in the world is NOT coding. Excuse me for not being 100% invested in my major, but I have passions outside of the awesome-ness that is Computer Science. I love to watch TV, go to parties, shop, cook, and hang out with my friends. I met my lovely boyfriend in this major. I met the nicest professors, the best of friends, and so many inspiring topics. Everyone wants everyone to learn and it’s really great when a total stranger explains a concept to you and you just cry because the person was so helpful. I LOVE the fact that I’ll have a job after I graduate. My passion makes bank, so sue me. Your article is a pathetic excuse for failing the Intro to Java course (or one of the other simpler intro courses). You wouldn’t have been able to handle this major anyway. It’s just too damn good for ass-hats like you.
Glad you’re able to share your opinion, but it was based on total and complete lies. I’m sure you know that. I’m also sure you didn’t meet good people with your experience. Give CS folks another chance, because you have no idea what you’re missing. We all smell the f-ing roses. Except you.
Sincerely,
A total geek.
Anon • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:58 pm
This rivals the UCLA girl’s rant on Asian Americans in
terms of stupidity and offensiveness. I really hope that someone is
fired for this.
L • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:52 pm
As a CS major, i will gladly make a robot. But I, as a
freaking human being, have a heart and really take offense at the
immature and shallow article. Enjoy the robot!
Name • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:49 pm
He should be fired!!!
Name 2 • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I totally agree! He should be fired!!
D • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Wow. What a piece of garbage. I think I just felt some
brain cells die just from reading it.
C • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Are you kidding me? Yes, let’s all play on stereotypes and
marginalize a major. I hope you never write for The Guardian again.
Issue a formal apology.
Generic Pre-Med Biology Major • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Are you sure you weren’t talking about me?
The Mannican Programmer • Dec 11, 2013 at 8:01 pm
As I read this atrocious article, the only thing I can
think of is the Academic Decathlon scene from the movie “Billy
Madison,” starring Adam Sandler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPw6MKvvIc
smell the roses • Dec 11, 2013 at 7:56 pm
No need for the animosity. It’s unfair to make these
generalizations. I think it’s about time you “smell the goddam
roses.”
cool story bro • Dec 11, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Why does this exist? There are serious things going on at
our university and the UC as a whole. It’d be nice if the
“journalists” who are supposed to keep us informed reported on
things of more substance than one writer’s impressions of some
members of a particular major. Go fuck yourself.
Aw Poor Thing • Dec 11, 2013 at 7:42 pm
All I read was – “I failed a CS class and now I’m
resentful” No pity.
Josh T. • Dec 11, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Dear Mr. Fuhrmann, First I would like to applaud your
decision to leave the computer science major. It obviously was not
a good fit for you. You need a role in life where you can “smell
the roses,” and run around with flowers on your head, prancing
through fields happiness and sunshine. With unicorns, fairies, and
tiny little butterflies singing. Hard work, dedication, and love
for a field is certainly not your forte. But I wonder, while you
were typing this piece of filth of an article, did you stop to
think about the keyboard you were using, or the word processor? Did
you think about the millions of lines of code living on your
smartphone when you checked your Facebook feed? How about the hours
of work invested in this very website that now features your
rubbish of an article? Next time you choose to get the hamsters in
your head running, why don’t you write a discriminatory and
prejudice ridden piece about a particular gender, sexual
orientation, or race. Hopefully then you’ll be firmly kicked in the
rear and out the door by your “so called” editor, like you should
have been for writing this piece of garbage. Sincerely, A
concerned, offended, skydiving, rock climbing, marathon running
computer science major, that smells the roses.
J • Dec 11, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Does this article even have a point? There are people like
this in every major. A person who lacks the brain capacity to
understand basic programming skills that 12 year olds all over the
world are learning shouldn’t be allowed to have their thoughts
published. “I’m not convinced they are actually people” , “That
doesn’t mean they aren’t freaks”, “They speak in the same way they
use programming languages: succinct and unsettlingly impersonal”
Maybe the author couldn’t just take the hint that us CS majors
don’t enjoy associating with pretentious people.
Anon • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Discretion aside, I think it behooves the author to
consider the fact that an introductory level programming class is
by no means any more indicative of the people within CS than an
intro-level biology class is of pre-med students. Students will
change majors or get weeded out. And of course, acting like four
students are any way indicative of a diverse group of people is
just silly—I would advise you take a stats class or eight.
Furthermore, if your major change was to journalism or something,
then I would advise you learn to write better. Your grammar is
awful, and your writing style is worse. Your attempts at humor come
off as ignorant, mean-spirited, and extremely bitter. Oh, and next
time, do yourself a favor and use a pseudonym before publishing
your next masterpiece.
L • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:25 pm
I’m a Comp Eng major and I’m on a sports team with lots of
friends all around campus. I was also in a leadership class this
quarter. I know how to talk to people. Ask my friends and I’m sure
you’ll hear that I’m one of the more emotional, empathetic type
rather than the anti-social type. Please don’t spread prejudices.
As a gay man, (from your comment on the Whitney Houston thing) you
should know how hurtful and inaccurate stereotypes are. Please
strike up a conversation with me on the matter when I come in to
practice in Canyonview (I’m the swimmer guy with really blonde
hair). I’m sure that I can convince you that we
computer-based-major students can indeed speak and “go outside to
smell the roses” 🙂
Eswar Dhinakaran • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:17 pm
It’s depressing that this slides for articles in
newspapers. Albeit it is an opinions article, making vast
generalizations about a major and a group of people who share a
common interest shows a lack of research and a lack of critical
analysis. My high school newspaper (which I was the columnist for)
wrote better, current, well-researched and substantial articles
than this one. This article has no statistics to back it, relies on
personal evidence of the author, who obviously has not met many
computer science majors. Please retract this article and consider
(1) writing articles on topics that matter, (2) hiring actual
writers and (3) refraining from perpetuating and creating
stereotypes.
MZ • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Let’s correct a few points. Maybe Computer Science is a
super-major, but it’s definitely not a “new” super-major. Ask the
people pursuing this major a little more than a decade ago, or, let
me Google that for you,
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=computer+science+major+enrollment+trend+1990+to+2013
The second thing that really ought to be corrected is that this is
not a trend for CS majors alone. Student in many other majors in
science and engineering are doing the same thing. We simply find
enjoyment in creating things, wherever we are. There’s a reason
people call mad scientists mad. There’s nothing wrong with being a
mad scientist huh? They get all the fame. Well, we’re just people
who are like that. Talk to some other majors and see for yourself.
Oh yeah, and talk to some grad students in science and engineering.
We can all agree that they tend to get better jobs later on in life
and thus have more freedom to enjoy life however they want for the
rest of their life. Some people want to build up their career and
potential early on, and enjoy everything they want later in life.
Others like to enjoy earlier on in life and live a mediocre life
afterwards. It’s a tradeoff between a few years and a few
decades.
Tony Chan • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Wow this article is so heartfelt and true that I swear this
was a letter directed directly towards me. But it’s too late to
change Kevin, I am in too deep. It’s that first sentence that
really spoke to me.
K • Dec 11, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Wow, that was horrible. This “article” is lacking any real
merit, coherent thoughts, valid sentence structure, general story
telling, or evidence to support any of it’s claims. Calling it an
article gives actual articles, and The Guardian, a bad name. This
is more of a long, rambling Facebook post then anything else; what
is the actual point being made here? That CS is bad, or just the
people taking it? That technology is good but the people behind it
are bad? That CS majors are smart but horrible people, so we should
try to save them from themselves? Or is the actual point that this
author took his first CS class, didn’t like it, did poorly because
of it, and now feels the need to rage against it and all the people
in it? Computer Science is more than just writing code in a
“dungeon” with energy drinks; and moreover, Computer Science majors
more than a few antisocial gamers. Claiming not to be one is fine,
and unnecessary, since no one is making anyone else take any course
or majors against their will. Take all the classes you want, enjoy
your time in college and explore what’s out there; find out what
your passion is and do it. Just don’t turn around and rail against
those classes and it’s participants that you didn’t personally fit
in with. It’s sorely unbecoming of someone who claims to be a
Triton, and makes me sad that our great institution might be
failing you. I hope The Guardian takes another look at this piece,
and perhaps your overall writing “style”. This is not what UCSD is
about, and The Guardian should not be condoning such a nonsensical
and unintelligent stream of consciousness.
W • Dec 11, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Thank you so much for your rant. I really needed a break
from studying for finals, and your article made me laugh real hard.
I thought I’ve seen bad but wow this just takes the cake. Now I see
why the colleges make us go through the gauntlet of writing
classes. Major props for your passionate bias. I’m no computer
science major, but damn even I feel insulted by your inflammatory
comments. So what if a few individuals don’t see enough time
outside, that does not mean you can condemn the rest of the flock
for the minority. These guys just want to get their A, and dammit
we didn’t come to UCSD for a 3.0 when we know we could do more. If
you have issues with individual CS majors, then settle that
yourself, but you’re doing nothing good to your position if you
turn everyone against you. I really hope this is a joke because
this article is just designed to piss off people.
Elle • Dec 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I can’t believe the Guardian let this thing publish. Still
confusing their/there/they’re? Check yourself before you bash on
others please.
A • Dec 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I don’t know about you, but I found this article pretty dam
insulting with viscously exaggerated stereotypes reigning from
beginning to end. As far as I know from direct experience in the
“dungeon,” every derogatory claim you’ve made has been inaccurate.
People working in the lab and in the major have been the sweetest,
most helpful people in the world who not only are capable of
spending hours hard at work on homework that they actually enjoy,
but they participate in many activities outside of computer science
as well. If anything, the multitude of people I have encountered in
the lab and in the major have been the most vibrant individuals I
have befriended in my stay so far at UCSD. I’m sorry your
experience was not the same, but considering the limited time you
spent in computer science related courses, please consider that the
unfortunate experience you had may very well not represent the
generality of this major.
M • Dec 11, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Your writing for the wrong newspaper. The one you’re
looking for is called the Koala.
A • Dec 11, 2013 at 1:17 am
The atrocious grammar and writing. Did the Gaurdian really let this slide? I CANNOT.
Z. • Dec 10, 2013 at 4:26 pm
What a pathetic attempt for attention. Maybe remove all the cliches and perhaps the article would at least become tolerable.
wut • Dec 10, 2013 at 4:24 pm
The opening line was terrible, and it went downhill from there. Let’s talk about good writing, just kidding. We’re talking about you’re article, literally the opposite.
N • Dec 9, 2013 at 4:05 pm
What kind of 80’s move trope have I stumbled into; way to pass of “NERDZZZZZ” as an attempt at crafting original humor.
C. • Dec 8, 2013 at 9:29 am
Thanks, for sharing your prejudices against computer science majors. Although I’m an “impersonal” computer science major who “doesn’t run” (aside from three marathons this year alone), I was actually quite offended by your remarks.