Post #3729970

2026-07-11 02:11 UTC

I’ve been working with computers for five decades. Some people view me as an “expert” in certain subjects. And I can tell you that when I am learning a new technology I still feel like the dumbest newb on the planet. I make tons of mistakes. I go down stupid rabbit holes of my own making. I have tons of self doubt. So give yourself some grace. Everybody goes through this phase. Take a deep breath. Believe that you can do this.

Replies (7)

@Rajiv@infosec.exchange 2026-07-11 03:06

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange definitely needed to hear this today.

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@asyetundecided@mastodon.social 2026-07-11 04:24

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange Can you help me with my Dot matrix printer?

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@NuclearOatmeal@beige.party 2026-07-11 03:25

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange General curiosity here. If you do languages, do you have a go-to problem you know how to solve that you use to learn a new one? I do Conway's Life. It's pretty simple, and then you can add all sorts of stupid as you learn more.

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@scottcain@genomic.social 2026-07-11 07:31

First: 5 decades and I quickly thought to myself “he’s old” and then almost as quickly “oh, 5 decades for me too.” Second, I frequently find those rabbit holes entertaining (tho usually not exactly fun). They feel to me like an important part of the learning process @hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange

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@roadskater@mastodon.social 2026-07-11 07:43

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange You're of approx my era. Wrote my first computer program in IIRC 1977 or 78. Last time I took a programming class was 1981 — in high school, no less! And yet, here in 2026, I still make my living writing 'computer programs'. (Which, wow, 'computer programs', an ancient term for what we now call 'code') Anyhow, I still write my own code, and I pray that the library dependencies I rely on are still safe.

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@arclight@oldbytes.space 2026-07-11 14:47

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange You've been watching me struggle with Rust, haven't you? It helps to remember that nobody starts out an expert, everyone's starts at the beginning. Celebrate your early failures - it means you're trying and learning and moving out of your comfort zone.

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@0x520@kolektiva.social 2026-07-11 03:18

@hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange you’re doing amazing!

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