It tells me that he would probably have difficulties getting the stereotypical Java programming job where they want programmers who work 8 hours per day churning out consistently mediocre code at a predictable rate, and who can easily be replaced or moved over to other projects when desired. Of course, Vas would hate such a job anyway (as would I).Nelson Hernandez wrote:Yet, I get a sense that in spite of his very evident human flaws the guy gets a bum rap. Carefully consider his position. He has not held a regular job in seven years. Full stop. In human terms, do you recognize what that means? He has to make a living with Rybka; he has no choice in the matter, because after a CV like the one he's built, and given his age (40) most conventional companies would feel trepidation about hiring him. They'd worry not about his talent, but about his ability to conform to a regular, systematic routine. Secondly, you have consider that he is not like you or me in other ways. You guys should have seen him the first time I linked up with him on Skype last December. He looked like he hadn't shaved or had a haircut in six months. I am not saying this is a critical point, but it is still a data point that you need to factor in there somehow. He's outside the mainstream; he doesn't think like you or me. He is untethered from convention, and that fact certainly leads to misunderstandings and cognitive dissonance between him and us, his customer base. Do you remember that throwaway line of his in his interview with me about how he worked for Ford Motor Company and was walking around the office in his bare feet? What does that tell you?
There are jobs -- in programming and elsewhere -- where being untethered from convention is considered an asset, where creativity and independence are valued higher than consistency, and where nobody cares how you look. These jobs are perhaps not as plentiful as the more regular jobs, but neither are the number of applicants. If Vas ever needs or wants to do something else than computer chess, I'm sure he'll have no problems.
By the way, I also walked around without shoes at my job through most of the winter this year, because of a foot injury that made it painful to wear shoes for extended periods of time.
