I am a big fan of looking at the whole person, but I wouldn't put it in stark black and white terms like that. The fact is that as we age, and go through life changes, we think in different ways and this means we bring different things to the table.
A 22-year-old hot-shot programmer brings to the table something very different than an experienced 45-year-old software developer who used to be a hot-shot programmer. The former can code circles around the latter, but the latter brings a perspective to the table which can save a lot of time, energy, and expense down the road.
I don't think I'd want a software team with an average age of 26, which looks down on or ignores the advice and feedback of more experienced programmers.
Our industry is developing in strange ways. I know a bunch of good programmers who are unable to find work because of their ages, and who then start their own businesses, and are successful there. Then, I suppose they get brought in to the people who might have otherwise hired them as "consultants!"
A 22-year-old hot-shot programmer brings to the table something very different than an experienced 45-year-old software developer who used to be a hot-shot programmer. The former can code circles around the latter, but the latter brings a perspective to the table which can save a lot of time, energy, and expense down the road.
I don't think I'd want a software team with an average age of 26, which looks down on or ignores the advice and feedback of more experienced programmers.
Our industry is developing in strange ways. I know a bunch of good programmers who are unable to find work because of their ages, and who then start their own businesses, and are successful there. Then, I suppose they get brought in to the people who might have otherwise hired them as "consultants!"