I don't mind:.

Yesterday I decided to share a post that generated controversy and also many support comments, and I think it's only fair to make some remarks about what I said last night.

First of all, I can't but respect all those who truly maintain that search for knowledge and fulfilment in the academic world...but to be honest, I couldn't find many like you in my five years journey, and if I had, maybe I would be writing something else.

Anyway, if it wasn't for these influences, I could've just simply settled for a job 10 years ago, didn't raise any questions, and just kept going on a dull job to earn good money, but I'm not like that. If there's anything I've learned from these masters, is that you have to keep challenging yourself to achieve better results, even if that means starting from zero from time to time...

I know it's not an easy thing to do, and I would even challenge anyone who reads this blog to consider if they'd be willing to do that themselves today. I'm afraid I already know the answer...

Why should I be frightened (of dying)?, 
there's no reason for it, 
you've gotta go sometime.

I wish you would see what I see:.

About five years ago I decided to start all over again because I didn't like the way my life was going, and five years later I seem to face a similar challenge. Let me explain...

I went back to the academic world because the software industry didn't seem to have the right answers for what software development should be (from my perspective) and I thought I could contribute more from the theoretical point of view than from the trenches...

Five years later, I can assure you that the researchers/academics are as lost as the practitioners...

Sure, I've contributed some ideas that might seem interesting for some folks, I've given academic workshop/conference/summer school talks, but all in all, I can tell you that academics are orders of magnitude behind the real software engineering practice...

I've seen colleagues graduate just to have their PhD degrees, others just to call themselves doctors and sell to big companies, and worst, others just accept their destiny and start teaching basic programming courses...

Although my motivation is really low (and almost nobody but my family cares whether I finish my thesis or not), I'm going to try and finish my work this year:.

Were you ever alive?.
I wish I could see what you see.