OT: Degrees as barriers to entry [was Re: - E04 - Leadership! Google, Guido van Rossum, PSF]

[Aahz]

[much stuff deleted that I mostly agree with to get at an interesting
chunk of disagreement]

In article <pan.2006.01.04.01.33.25.176615 at REMOVETHIScyber.com.au>,
Steven D'Aprano  <steve at REMOVETHIScyber.com.au> wrote:
>
>By contrast, today's professional bodies like law, medicine etc. have
>independent standards of skill that must be met. I don't wish to deny
>that knowing the right people can help smooth the procedure of becoming
>a doctor, lawyer, etc., but failing to have an uncle who is a lawyer is no
>barrier to becoming a lawyer, provided you can pass the bar exam. That is
>very different from the guild system.

Unfortunately, this isn't quite true.  Medicine and law both require the
passing of an apprenticeship, so there's still some room for favoritism
and blackballing.
-- 
Aahz (aahz at pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/

"Given that C++ has pointers and typecasts, it's really hard to have a
serious conversation about type safety with a C++ programmer and keep a
straight face.  It's kind of like having a guy who juggles chainsaws
wearing body armor arguing with a guy who juggles rubber chickens wearing
a T-shirt about who's in more danger."  --Roy Smith