• Back in the 'old days' when there weren't STEM courses, most of us had quals in other subjects. Mine was Politics, Political Philosophy and Economics but oddly most of my comtemporaries had Geography degrees if they had a degree at all. We seemed to end up in computing because we could think 'outside the paper bag' i.e. bring some sort of lateral thinking to a problem. I did once get a job because I was 'that girl with a Maths A level'.

    The recent graduates I've met don't seem to be able to bring a broader aspect to an issue. They seem to follow a set path and, when that doesn't work, they are stumped i.e if it isn't logical it cannot be right. Life isn't logical and neither, I swear, is computing. Perhaps it is the way they are taught?

    I recently asked for a 'Retired Members Forum' (which has been set up) for those of us who have stopped working for a living but not stopped thinking. I also hoped for interest from the younger end of the profession who were stumped by older legacy systems which are prone to the eccentricities of those early programmers.

    Perhaps I should have asked for it to be called 'Old Codgers' ?

    Madame Artois