I am fully convinced now that computing is just modern magic.

24    10 Jun 2021 16:19 by u/_Ruq_

To some, at least. To me, it is a science, with principles that can be observed and executed upon to accomplish any desired task. However, I have observed others(normies) first have to recite with me each and every individual step and detail, and write them down so they can repeat it on their own. Without it, they would be entirely lost and unable to accomplish the task. It's almost like inscribing a spell to be casted in the future by an inexperienced wizard. Those of us experienced in the field of computing are wizards to the rest of the world. It kinda gives me a feeling of importance; that the rest of the world views computers as black boxes of magic. Then I remember that there are so many things about computers to me that might as well still be magic because I don't know enough yet. Even with the most experienced wizards, they too must sometimes work with other wizards with other specializations sometimes. Pretty cool and humbling if you ask me. --Ruq.

30 comments

19 u/SEELE 10 Jun 2021 16:38
The hardware side is even worse. It's a miracle that anything works, honestly. In my life I have gone from knowing nothing about computers, to knowing a little, to understanding everything, to knowing nothing again. I imagine it's like that with any sufficiently deep domain of knowledge. Eventually you have to either specialize or accept that all your knowledge is somewhat shallow.
5 u/MarmotBoi 10 Jun 2021 16:44
Yeah, I *do not* understand hardware. That is the real magic to me, lol.
3 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 16:48
this.
6 u/SEELE 10 Jun 2021 16:50
I understand just enough to know that it's voodoo bullshit. Everything looks like it's made from standardized components, but then there's small variances between the same "identical" component made by different manufacturers, components that don't meet stated specs, etc. And all the weird hacks to fix ghosts in the machine are nuts. It's apparently normal to just reroute your PCB design "until it works" if you run into EMF issues. I have immense respect for people who can put up with all that.
6 u/None 10 Jun 2021 17:54
> reroute your PCB design "until it works" if you run into EMF issues. Two different pairs of wires, running in parallel both make EM waves. You have to twist them at different rates to change the frequencies, or increase the distance between them, until they don't interfere. Same principles with board design.
6 u/SEELE 10 Jun 2021 18:13
Oh yeah I mean I understand why it happens, it's just that fixing it (from what I've read) can involve a few rounds of trial and error and a good "feel" for how the circuit will behave. In that way it's more of an art than software.
8 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 16:48
Yeah I stay the hell away from hardware for that reason; it boggles my mind for the most part. I can mess with hardware from a troubleshooting perspective, or building a PC, cabling some, maybe a couple of other surface level things. That's it.
7 u/jBoi76 10 Jun 2021 17:27
You got krugger'd my dude
5 u/SEELE 10 Jun 2021 18:14
For sure, I mean it happens to everyone at some point.
2 u/Gundam 11 Jun 2021 12:24
Seele funded the Magi computer so this checks out.
14 u/captainmeta4 10 Jun 2021 16:48
"Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" And I communicated that just by moving my thumbs in funny ways (to hit the mobile keys)
4 u/None 10 Jun 2021 17:55
Damn you. I should have read the comments first.
7 u/Gigababejfl 10 Jun 2021 16:30
You're basically talking about people like me. I appreciate wizards and long decided this is magic and great programmers are like these little internet gods. Bc wtf we all spend our time on these things. > Pretty cool and humbling if you ask me. Cool to me too and it's nice to see you're humbled by the power. My journey has exposed to me some massive power tripping and its scary to be around. It's nice to see the knowledge used with grace.
6 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 16:36
Thanks! It's best to start early I suppose, every accomplishment boosts my ego immensely, yet I still feel so inadequate. But having those groundings of humility will benefit anyone once they "get gud".
8 u/captainmeta4 10 Jun 2021 16:49
The more you learn, the more you realize how much there still is you don't know.
7 u/Lethn 10 Jun 2021 16:53
What blows my mind are people who don't even understand really basic shit like installing Windows 10 from scratch, I think it's the same kind of experience I had with maths. Too many people aren't taught at all about it so they get frightened away because of how alien it is to them but when you break it all down and just take some time to learn it, it all makes perfect sense.
5 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 18:07
I get frustrated when I don't understand the underlying basics of software I'm learning.
7 u/bloodguard 10 Jun 2021 17:04
I'm trying to remember the name of it but I read a short story once about how master class wizards would program spells and put them in the "Milieu". Then lesser wizard could just provide the magic power and execute the programs with a keyword (abracadabra!). High tech version in the [Flux and Anchor](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/584402.Spirits_of_Flux_and_Anchor) series.
6 u/Retrofire 10 Jun 2021 18:47
Information Age technology is just harder to understand, imo. A computer can be programmed to do... literally anything. And there is no mechanical components involved. How did the first safety bicycle operate? You could observe the parts moving. The first aircraft mimicked a bird. With computerized systems everything is obscured. Nothing can really be understood by simply using the software. You have to consciously seek out external sources to understand it. I guess a good demonstration of this is shit like Instagram, you have teenage girls that use it their entire lives without understanding what resolution is, what the code that runs it looks like, or even where they are actually *getting* that information from. i think in some ways it's like what mechanics is to me, something completely inexplicable and intricate to the point of being alien i'm a fuckin' wizard!
5 u/albertguedes 10 Jun 2021 17:48
By definition, Magic is a effect that its impossible to know its primary cause.
5 u/None 10 Jun 2021 17:52
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. If magic existed, it would be just another branch of science, like Math.
4 u/sigilstone17 10 Jun 2021 17:46
The machinations of the Machine-God are miraculous, indeed. Praise the Omnissiah!
3 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 18:07
lul
4 u/stars_in_blue_major 10 Jun 2021 17:47
https://youtu.be/m7NXfuMhIwc Grammar. Grimoire.
4 u/Retrofire 10 Jun 2021 18:48
oh boy another red pill!
3 u/wuzizname 10 Jun 2021 17:43
I'm astonished how few people I work with know how to use a computer and what it's meant to do. Honestly it's like showing up to work as a carpenter without knowing anything about wood and nails. People sit in front of the thing 8 hours a day and they barely know how to use it.
3 u/None 10 Jun 2021 17:57
I love how with computing there is always something new to learn. It's so vast and there are new directions for every individual to learn and challenge themselves.
2 u/deliverreviled 10 Jun 2021 23:16
I have "It's a miracle any of this stuff works" and "The definition of insanity is repeating the same actions expecting different results... Except with computers" talks that I like to give end users when they get whiny. My shitty mutant ability is being able to touch stuff that is broken and get it to work. Something, something, discrete bio-organic electric charge caused by my short circuited brain zaps the things back to life. Gonna hate the Parkinsons or whatever degenerative neurological disorder that manifests itself later.
2 u/_Ruq_ [OP] 10 Jun 2021 23:40
curious.
2 u/deliverreviled 11 Jun 2021 00:01
Agreed. I forgot to mention my minor degree in percussive maintenance. It is impressive how effective hitting stuff in the right place is sometimes. I am entirely convinced that principle is a respectable portion of human achievement.