[LM_NET] OT: Is reading important for computer & game programmers?

["Tony L. Pope" <Pope1966@AOL.COM>]

I wanted to see if any of you have a family member or friend who is a
computer or computer game programmer that you could pose this question  to...

Is reading important for you and your job?

My niece's boyfriend (she is 16) dropped out of school last year, got his
GED this year and started a technical school/college, doesn't like to read (yes,
 that grates my skin), loves to play computer games and wants to be a
computer /  game programmer.  Tonight while at dinner he wanted to argue that 
reading
 was not important...what good is reading for pleasure...it doesn't do
anything  for you...etc.  Yes, he "knows it all" and any reply I made he had a
counter reply why he did not need it to program a computer or computer  game.
When I questioned him whether or not he had to "read" to program on  the computer
he stated that "no" and he named some sort of computer  programming language
or software I've never heard of that doesn't require any  reading...it just
has pictures (?).  I told him that those that originally  wrote those programs
had to be able to read.  He just rolled his eyes and  grunted.  I couldn't wait
to get home and send a message out to LM_NET and  hopefully send him some
replies I receive.  My niece by the way is an avid  reader....and yes, I hope she
finds another boyfriend!  Ha...

Please have them reply to me at my e-mail address or if you can  forward to
me I would appreciate the assistance.  I wanted to ask him how  he was able to
read directions, the computer screen, etc. but knew that since he  knows
everything it was a waste of my time.  I've already had a discussion  with him when
he made a statement that it irritated him that "teachers did not  know what
they were talking about" when they were talking about computers...that  they
try to tell him the CPU is the computer part while the CPU is not the  entire
unit...it's a part inside of it.  I told him the central processing  unit might
be a part inside the "computer," but that it is referred to as the  CPU in the
books that come with most computers and the monitor is the "TV" on  top.  He
kept wanting to argue so I let him continue to talk and didn't  respond.  Any
ideas on getting my niece to break up with him?   Ha...

Thanks in advance,
Tony Pope
Library Media Specialist
McHenry Primary School
100 McHenry Dr.
Rome, GA  30161
_Pope1966@aol.com_ (mailto:Pope1966@aol.com)

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