How do you cope with not being able to understand things
- Thread starter cymatty
- Start date
Cheers for that, makes it easier to understand. The issue I had with it was linked to using it in a slightly more complicated scenario,
eg a question today was something like
ID is 123-456-456
Name is Brown Bill Mr
Remove all the - from ID (not a set length)
Rearrange name to Mr Brown. (not a set length different obs will obviously have different lengths)
So hopefully with the understanding of the substr and the other things I "learned " today I may be able to get further than two lines even if I cant complete it.
Thanks for the help
Just need to stop the rage.
That's a big question, and too late for me tonight mate.
I will get back to you tomorrow.
For now, I will just say that substr wont cut it.
Search on "regular expressions" or "filtering using regular expressions" for now.
Don't worry about asking people for help at your new workplace.
It's expected, and (some, should be all) people will enjoy helping you out, because they've been in the same position themselves.
Bottom line: Don't worry
Ok first of all don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s just a programming language much the same as any other programming language. It’s not that you can’t understand it; it’s more that you are not aware of the syntax and semantics, the restraints, of the environment.
Now you say you don’t come from a programming background so we’ll begin there. The very first statement you should ever hear in any programming course should be ‘forget about the language we’ll be discussing a top down design strategy!’ If you don’t hear this then all that follows could be gobbledegook for all it means to you. Right now what’s happened is you’ve been asked to speak Swahili with some natives, a ludicrous idea especially if you don’t speak the language.
What you need to do is to break down the MAIN problem into separate little problems until each of the separate solutions can be written in a short precise sentence, like ‘get address’, preferably on paper just like you would use a recipe or directions on a road map.
e.g
Ect etc etc.
Hopefully you’ll be getting the idea by now that you have to treat the MAIN problem like a set of Russian dolls or pealing off layers of an onion until finally arriving at a point where the process you want to program is so simple that there is a direct relation within the syntax of the language. Like Cambofrog has shown you in the latter half of his/her post he/she creates a set of processes he/she wishes to accomplish and then uses the syntax or ‘the rules and principles’ of the language to achieve it. I hope this helps. Keep your chin up you’ll get there.
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Now you say you don’t come from a programming background so we’ll begin there. The very first statement you should ever hear in any programming course should be ‘forget about the language we’ll be discussing a top down design strategy!’ If you don’t hear this then all that follows could be gobbledegook for all it means to you. Right now what’s happened is you’ve been asked to speak Swahili with some natives, a ludicrous idea especially if you don’t speak the language.
What you need to do is to break down the MAIN problem into separate little problems until each of the separate solutions can be written in a short precise sentence, like ‘get address’, preferably on paper just like you would use a recipe or directions on a road map.
e.g
1. MAKE TEA
2. Fill Kettle.
2. Fill Kettle.
2.1 Plug in Kettle.
2.2 Turn on Kettle.
3. Cup.2.2 Turn on Kettle.
3.1 Tea Bag in Cup.
3.2 Add Sugar.
3.3 Add Milk.
End.3.2 Add Sugar.
3.3 Add Milk.
Ect etc etc.
Hopefully you’ll be getting the idea by now that you have to treat the MAIN problem like a set of Russian dolls or pealing off layers of an onion until finally arriving at a point where the process you want to program is so simple that there is a direct relation within the syntax of the language. Like Cambofrog has shown you in the latter half of his/her post he/she creates a set of processes he/she wishes to accomplish and then uses the syntax or ‘the rules and principles’ of the language to achieve it. I hope this helps. Keep your chin up you’ll get there.
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Know how you feel Simon!
How I deal with it normally depends on my level of interest in the matter, however if I need it for work I book a meeting room, get some piece and quiet in there and take a look at it at my own pace without everything going on around me! Normally works
How I deal with it normally depends on my level of interest in the matter, however if I need it for work I book a meeting room, get some piece and quiet in there and take a look at it at my own pace without everything going on around me! Normally works
I started a new job in January and I have to admit from the outset that I think I have struggled, (even though every appraisal has been positive and I received an award for some work that I completed). I have contemplated leaving, because I had a terrible week which nearly pushed me over he edge. I was talked out of it.
The biggest cause of my misery is SAS, I have never programmed before and as I dont use it all the time I am picking it up slower than the new people who use it most days.
This has been brought into stark contrast this week when I have been on a SAS training course with work, everyone is is soldiering on and I was OK until today when I started to struggle and not follow what was going on. It was at this point I default to my usual behaviours which are,
1) Start getting angry with myself
2) Getting really angry with the person teaching and the question in my own head (I am very polite if the teacher comes over)
3) Go silent and into my shell (so much so that the teacher commented on it to the whole class, cheers)
4) Get more angry with myself
5) Check out of whatever I am doing, even if I understand the question by this point it is too late I have convinced myself I can not do it
6)Occasionally it will get so bad that I stop eating for a day or so and cant sleep ( I think this is some kind of subconscious self punishment)
So is my reaction OTT or do people have similar reactions?
I started a new job in December, I too have struggled with some sides of it (I freely admit to not being the greatest salesman the world has ever seen)
But all the feedback I get from my regional manager and MD is very positive and other depot managers around the network are always saying they speak very well of me.
However, when you are struggling with something, and you KNOW it can be done better, you will always have doubts and worry.
All you can do is go and speak to your manager and ask him (in a nice way) to always be upfront and to let you know at the earliest opportunity if you are failing to perform to the standards they require, to at least give you chance to address those issues.
If you are confident that you will get the earliest warning that things were not going well, and that warning never comes, you will feel a lot better.
Imo, if you are questioning yourself to much, than you always make a mistake, Try to be relax. 100% you will understand when you more relax, do not get angry to yourself which will put you down.
If something I learn new, I usually make a note and listen very carefully, If I do not understand ask again and again which is normal.
If something I learn new, I usually make a note and listen very carefully, If I do not understand ask again and again which is normal.
Really it sounds like your more worried about what people would think about you not understanding it than the actual lack of knowledge itself.
I was the same myself but really once you get over the self concious bit of being able to say in a room full of people you dont understand something things get easier.
I bet you there are more people than just you in the class that dont understand it or are not completly clear about it but again are just raging inside rather than asking for a further explanation for fear of seeing stupid.
First thing you should have done was ask for a further explanation from the teacher. If you still don't get it ask the teacher to recommend some further reading/work you can do yourself to help.
I was the same myself but really once you get over the self concious bit of being able to say in a room full of people you dont understand something things get easier.
I bet you there are more people than just you in the class that dont understand it or are not completly clear about it but again are just raging inside rather than asking for a further explanation for fear of seeing stupid.
First thing you should have done was ask for a further explanation from the teacher. If you still don't get it ask the teacher to recommend some further reading/work you can do yourself to help.
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I know what you mean OP....i got in exactly the same mess when at school and also at college, all because i just do not get maths at all.
By maths i dont mean the easy stuff like addition, subtraction or Trig....i mean algebra etc.
I just do not and cannot get my head around it at all, when it was being taught to me i would get very angry with myself and other people and would quite often throw up the old "in what situation in the real world could i ever need to know what X or Y means"
I still cannot get my head round it no matter how much i try, i suspect its more psychological now than ability but because i have some kind of fear of it and because i do not enjoy it at all i just keep away fromsituations where i may need to use it.
By maths i dont mean the easy stuff like addition, subtraction or Trig....i mean algebra etc.
I just do not and cannot get my head around it at all, when it was being taught to me i would get very angry with myself and other people and would quite often throw up the old "in what situation in the real world could i ever need to know what X or Y means"
I still cannot get my head round it no matter how much i try, i suspect its more psychological now than ability but because i have some kind of fear of it and because i do not enjoy it at all i just keep away fromsituations where i may need to use it.
Soldato
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- 10 Jan 2004
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I kill everyone smarter than me....
Research is the key, you can learn anything if you put your mind to it long enough.
Research is the key, you can learn anything if you put your mind to it long enough.
Going to keep this short as I am on my phone.
Day 3 started ok but the rage has descended again, everyone has gone to lunch but me as I have a headache and feel crap. Cant see the rest of the day getting better.
Grrr I really need to stop doing this, thanks for the advice though guys it will probably settle in when I am calmer.
Day 3 started ok but the rage has descended again, everyone has gone to lunch but me as I have a headache and feel crap. Cant see the rest of the day getting better.
Grrr I really need to stop doing this, thanks for the advice though guys it will probably settle in when I am calmer.
Im so permanently surrounded by things i dont understand that if i got angry i'd be in a permanent rage. I just ask. I'm in a fortunate position where I enjoy what i do and learning new things about it, so asking is a natural part of progression.
Better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake, i say. If you worry you'll look stupid in front of people, wait around after hours or ask to have a quiet word somewhere else. If you're worried they're getting annoyed with all the questions, try writing them down and asking for a session where you can cover them all at once.
Better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake, i say. If you worry you'll look stupid in front of people, wait around after hours or ask to have a quiet word somewhere else. If you're worried they're getting annoyed with all the questions, try writing them down and asking for a session where you can cover them all at once.
Soldato
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- 22 Feb 2008
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I think "Le Wha?", and seek out the nearest alcohol.