WebWord.com > WebWord Weblog Archive


If you want to know when new content is added to the site,
subscribe to the WebWord.com Usability Newsletter!

WebWord Weblog Entry


Previous entry: "3-October-2001 -- Characterizing People as Non-Linear, First-Order Components in Software Development" WebWord Home Page Next entry: "3-October-2001 -- Web Development in the "Real World""

10/03/2001 Entry: "3-October-2001 -- WebWord Comment"

WebWord Comment -- Why do so many geeks juggle?

Replies: 8 comments

Because it allows them to demonstrate some form of physical coordination without having to take part in sports where they might lose or get hurt?

Posted by Alan @ 10/04/2001 05:45 AM EST

I would say that the juggling is more a love of patterns and systems. I am trying to learn to juggle myself and it is great for clearing your mind. You can only concentrate of the balls. Any lapse will ruin the pattern.

Posted by Dave Bauer @ 10/04/2001 07:27 AM EST

I think we're seeing a return to career fundamentalism. After the tech crash, geeks are looking into history to see what kinda jobs they could have. Unfortunately, since most of their history comes of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, juggling and minstrel shows look like the best backup plan. Looks like I'll be seeing more geeks performing on the streets pretty soon.

Huh huh :).

Posted by Francis @ 10/04/2001 09:09 AM EST

Juggling is all about a glide/ flow. I also get it from snowboarding, music, and yes, sometimes coding. Totally agree with the meditative clearing of the mind and love of patterns. Plus, you need something to do while waiting around for the compiler to finish...

Posted by greenmonki @ 10/04/2001 10:38 AM EST

Juggling is all about a glide/ flow. I also get it from snowboarding, music, and yes, sometimes coding. Totally agree with the meditative clearing of the mind and love of patterns. Plus, you need something to do while waiting around for the compiler to finish...

Posted by greenmonk @ 10/04/2001 10:39 AM EST

It's a physical manifestation of the control (or lack of control) over the multiple project threads, thought processes, and partial solutions being balanced precariously in our brains at any given time. It's mechanical, logical, fluid, and poetic at the same time. A conundrum of arcing objects.

Posted by Grant Hutchinson @ 10/04/2001 01:57 PM EST

Juggling is one of those activities where thinking actually gets in your way. Think, drop. Think, drop. Pretty soon you learn not to think about it, which is a great break from coding (for me, anyway). It exercises your hands and gets your blood flowing a little... gets you using a completely different part of your brain... and you go back to the computer refreshed.

Plus, I had to have something to do while my lamer kid brother lost at SpaceWars. ;>

Posted by Sam Gray @ 10/04/2001 10:44 PM EST

Sorry, I was being facetious before (sports analogy). I have a friend who took up juggling for the very reasons mentioned here. It also explains why I can't juggle - I keep thinking about it instead of letting my mind wander.

Posted by Alan @ 10/05/2001 06:32 AM EST

Home | Moving WebWord | Cool Books | Hot Web Sites
Newsletter Archive | Services | Interviews | About WebWord.com

Subscribe to Webword.com
Receive the best free usability newsletter on the Internet.

 


URL: http://www.WebWord.com/weblog/

©1998-2005 by WebWord.com. All rights reserved.
Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document,
in whole or in part, without explicit written permission from WebWord.com.