TechGuy 4.0 is obsolete (was Re: Free OS/400)

Hey all,

> Well, starting from 100 and going backwards, you get to about 25
> where the only thing you know is the technology du jour, which
> as we all know only has a lifetime of about 3 years, so there is
> the answer: 25

Well, I better hurry up and make a couple million bucks in the next 
couple years, or I'm in trouble, right?

<rant>
Frankly, I'm of the serious belief that age doesn't matter.  What's 
the most important factor in a person's knowledge becoming obsolete 
is their willingness to learn new things - as long as they continue 
to be willing to learn, they'll never truly be "obsolete."

From my perspective, I'd hope that there are people out there who 
wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions like the one above.  So 
what if someone is 20-something and only knows the tech-of-the-day - 
that might be all that is available to them.  If they show a 
willingness to learn, they're potentially incredibly valuable in any 
kind of business model.

In the same vein, if you want to hire a Java developer, and you're 
presented with a 20-year-old who knows Java inside and out and 
doesn't care about anything else, or a 40-year-old who knows Java 
inside and out, as well as C, C++, Cobol, RPG, etc. etc., it may be 
in your best interest to go for the 40-year-old on the basis of their 
maturity, knowledge, and adaptability.

Once you start lumping people into categories even as simple 
as "young" or "old," you start stereotypes, and begin to assume those 
people do certain things.  When one of those people doesn't meet your 
assumptions, you pay a price, one way or another.
</rant>

My 2 Cents,
Erik
http://www.baron-inc.net
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