Too Late? For What? | Hacker News Reader

Too Late? For What?

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35 pointspeachananr8 comments

For myself, in my late fifties, I'd say that it's too late to do all the things that I'm interested in, that I'd like to do, but that don't really hold my attention enough to get going in.

Learning to program is one of those things. Always been fascinated by it, always wanted to do it, but every time I've made a stab at it, it doesn't hold my interest.

But for the last five years I've been learning Chinese. Something that I NEVER had the slightest interest in doing (until I started) and never would have believed that I could do. But for some stupid reason, I work at it every day, 365 days of the year and I like it, even though my progress has been painfully slow.

I'm not sure what the moral of this story is. Maybe just that you might as well do what you love, no matter what age. And also, that you might not know what exactly you really love until you try it.

I think you're confusing "too late" with "physically impossible". I'm a 28 year old with more things I'd like to do than I can do (barring medical advances that drastically extend my lifespan). I wouldn't say it's too late to do them, just that there are too many to do. I have to prioritize.

It's not too late for you to learn to program -- it may take a couple of years, but you sound smart. I think you're physically capable of programming. Perhaps what you're saying is you want to know how to program, but you don't (yet) like the act of programming. Kind of like someone who wants to be physically fit, but doesn't (yet) like exercising.

So I respectfully disagree. There are surely some situations where it's too late to do something (deathbeds, after a stroke, etc), but I think they are few and far between.

> you might as well do what you love, no matter what age.

Awesome :)

I admire your courage!

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:VfAV744...

I'm a programmer. I want to learn Chinese now.

As long as you have passion, anything is possible. :) Thanks for the comment!

This is true, for the most art. If what you want to do depends on other people, it may be "too late". For instance, if your dream is to work for a startup in Silicon Valley, and you're in your 50s, it may be too late. No one will hire you. You can start your own startup though...

> No one will hire you

Out of curiosity, why is this? I've heard similar statements from people who have found or worked in startups that they'd never hire a programmer who's over ~35 years of age or so, but I've never been able to figure out why.

Yes you are correct. You can create your own startup and work for yourself. :)

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