FatGeekUK

IT, as in IT work.

I have been a professional coder (don't laugh) for over 20 years. Yesterday, My son(Alex, 12) and I where in the car, and as is natural, our discussion got around to copyright. Where it has been, where it is going, why it is as it currently is. During the discussion, I realised, I have run my career all wrong.

I Learned Basic (Applesoft) Pascal (UCSD pSystem) and 6502 assembler while at school.

My first job was writing CBASIC programs. I then moved in to Sculptor 4GL, C, Assembler (many varieties) Perl, Ruby and now, Python.

But, I should have stuck with CBASIC, and mandated that the rest of the world stick there too. After all, I had a absolute right to maintain my
 business model and the investment I had made in the architecture I was working in, Didn't I?

After all, if it is good enough for the RIAA, MPAA, BSA et al, it should be good enough for Peter R Morris, right? Surely....

So, stop now, close your web browser, put down your iphone and step away. we are all going back to the good old days. After all, its my right, surely!

In fact, I want to do one better, I want the whole RIAA deal, I want to do a few days of work back in 1983 and live off the proceeds from then on. I want my kids to live off the proceeds of those two days long after I am gone, cos, you know, thats my right too!

But no. I realise that things change. 'This too shall pass'. Every few years I have to re-invent myself, assessing the technical merits of the changing world and choose where I am going to spend effort reskilling. I realise the world does not OWE me a living. Just because what I do is in demand NOW, I realise that it won't be SOON. Thats as it should be,

So, come on, say it with me......

> 10 PRINT "Hello Brave Old World ";

> 20 GOTO 10