Came here to post exactly this :D I also have the collection of Microhobby magazines I copied game listings for, and learned programming by osmosis at a very young age :)
I'm too young for what you guys are talking about, but I've always have trouble articulating how I got [sucked] into computing. It feels like I did a similar thing with HN and the internet in general.
I think osmosis is one of my new favorite ways to put it hehe.
I guess with internet, it's more like joining something that's rolling on but as big as an ocean..
Times ! they're changing !