When I was 9, my parents got a 286 that had a Qbasic interpreter among other things, and it came with a game where a gorilla throws a barrel at buildings. When I read the code, I was startled to learn how easy it was to understand - multiply this by that, draw these here if this happens, etc. Then I tried to write my own programs and kept getting errors. And nobody anywhere -- not my parents, nor schoolmates or teachers, faculty, clergy, or TV characters had any kind of problem like that. The lack of support was ultimately what discouraged me, I suppose.
And today's 9 year old can now hop in the internet and learn everything there is to know about programming. Ditto for making electronic music, robotics... I am so jealous of the opportunities kids have now.
Back in the Olde Dayes, if you weren't geographically close to a mentor, you were pooched. I had to chip away at all my knowledge bit by bit. My only consolation is that I learned the Hard Way, so I feel I have a more fundamental understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.
Going on the internet to fill out those old topics though... all the little pieces suddenly combine, the blockages removed... it all suddenly becomes clear, it's like having an extra sense or gaining 100 IQ points.
