[plt-scheme] Re: HTDP - evidently not for everyone.

On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 12:49 AM, wooks <wookiz at hotmail.com> wrote:
> We do how to sum a list. We show how it's the same list template, give
> them a list and they understand how to use first and rest (and
> combinations thereof) to get at list elements.  We even create a human
> list - pick out 5 people in class allocate them a number and say ok
> here's your number tell the next person in the list to give you his
> sum then add your number to this. They understand that the next person
> is summing the rest of the list. They understand that this result is
> being handed to the person at the head of the list (first my-list).
> They get that. They understand how to combine these values with plus
> and how and why that is the right answer. They get this.

I tried to use the same analogy Tuesday night explaining a
multi-threaded program to a non-programmer. I thought it would be
brilliant; it would totally speak to them as something with which they
were familiar. Well, I failed miserable. She looked at me like I told
her to go and kill her puppy. I didn't get it, and, put an entry on my
todo list called "Learn some new approaches to talking/teaching this
kind of stuff".

I'm not the only person who has encountered this right?