Why Programmers Need To Learn Statistics

David Gerard writes "Zed Shaw writes an impassioned plea to programmers: Programmers Need To Learn Statistics Or I Will Kill Them All. Quoting: 'I go insane when I hear programmers talking about statistics like they know s*** when it's clearly obvious they do not. I've been studying it for years and years and still don't think I know anything. ... I have taken a bunch of math classes, studied statistics in grad school, learned the R language, and read tons of books on the subject. Despite all of this I'm not at all confident in my understanding of such a vast topic. What I can do is apply the techniques to common problems I encounter at work. My favorite problem to attack with the statistics wolverine is performance measurement and tuning. All of this leads to a curse since none of my colleagues have any clue about what they don't understand. I'll propose a measurement technique and they'll scoff at it. I try to show them how to properly graph a run chart and they're indignant. I question their metrics and they try to back it up with lame attempts at statistical reasoning. I really can't blame them since they were probably told in college that logic and reason are superior to evidence and observation.'"

Comments

Re:Your argument is dead, Zed

[ihavnoid]

Well, I think this would be the article Zed needs to read:

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000332.html

Basically, many programmers feel that everybody else around him(or her) is a stupid asshole. However, if you want succeed, (e.g. have everybody around you learn statistics) you should never, ever, ever make enemies.

Be productive, work hard, listen to others, and try to do the work in the *right way*. Gain respect from yor collegues, and then they will get interested.

what a tone

[obarthelemy]

whatever his professionnal skills, I just hope I never have to work alongside a guy with such a foul mouth and attitude.

I did manage to hang on long enough to see that below the big "I'm a jerk" sign, there was at least some truth to his argument. Not that original or that strong to warrant such a hissy fit though.

the real question is: what's worse
- the swearing ?
- the attitude towards others ?
- the ego ?
- the lack of perspective ?

that guy should tone down the statistics skills and brush up on his social ones. Maybe we could send him a guide:

"fucking idiots devs need to do good like me myself I do, and stop swearing and belittling others like the foul-mouthed idiot fuckers they are they are and learn some modesty, politeness, and perspectve like my godly self, otherwise the world is gonna END !!!!!!"