Abstruse Goose: Computer Programming 101
By Ann Finkbeiner | February 11, 2013 | 5 Comments
In spite of AG’s title, this is really Science Writing 101. The first time science writers run across these infinitely receding questions is when they start researching a story and the story is all parts and no whole. The next time is when they start asking scientists questions and every answer just means another question. And the time after that is when they write the first draft and nothing is irrelevant. How far down the rabbit hole do you go? Once you’re down there, how do you get back up again? How much of what’s down there do you bring back with you? Oh Lord it’s awful, it’s just awful.
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Abstruse Goose has been on some kind of sabbatical and was posting from his archives. This one was labelled Jan. 2, 2009 and didn’t have a link. Because if it did, I’d link to it. Meanwhile, he seems to be back again, all fingers and toes accounted for — for which we are grateful and a little relieved. http://abstrusegoose.com
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5 Responses to “Abstruse Goose: Computer Programming 101”
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February 11th, 2013 @ 10:41 am
This made me laugh. You need to follow this up with a story about rabbit-holes, for full meta-humor.
February 12th, 2013 @ 11:57 am
I’ve been on the other side too. I’ll be telling my (nonbiologist) husband about some story I’m working on or new story idea I have and he’ll interrupt me with questions (as he should). Many times, we have reached this point: “What’s a cell again?”
February 15th, 2013 @ 12:09 pm
Reminds me this answer by Richard Feynman:
http://youtu.be/wMFPe-DwULM
February 15th, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
Yup. Plus great video!
February 16th, 2013 @ 8:10 am
[...] Goose neatly captured the infinite regress that tortures us science [...]