Computer Programmer Offers NYC Homeless Man A Laptop And Lessons To Do Internet Coding
Business Insider – Yesterday, NYC programmer Patrick McConlogue made internet waves with a post on Medium that suggested he wanted to teach the homeless how to code. In an interview with Business Insider, the 23-year-old said he simply wanted to give the homeless man he sees on his way to work each morning a choice: He could take $100 in cash or get the chance to learn a new trade. If the man rejected the money, McConlogue would provide him with a laptop and coding books, as well as one hour of coding lessons a day for two months. The whole thing caused a lot of people in the tech world to blast McConlogue for being insensitive toward homeless people and turning the man into his pet project. But it looks like McConlogue will get the last laugh. The homeless man, who McConlogue dubbed The Journeyman Hacker, is named Leo. Today, he took McConlogue up on his offer; he’s going to learn to code. In an update on Medium today, McConlogue writes: It turns out Leo is a genius particularly concerned with environment issues. As I sat there becoming increasing stunned, he rattled off import/export prices on food, the importance of solar and green energy, and his approval for “efficient public transportation initiatives [referring to NY’s new Citibike]”. He is smart, logical, and articulate. Most importantly, he is serious. It’s up to him if dedication is also his gift. The next step? For the next two months, McConlogue will leave for work an hour earlier to meet with Leo for a coding lesson. McConlogue said he overnighted him a Chromebook with access to Code Academy, three levels of coding books, and a solar charger. He said he has yet to find something to “hide” the laptop in.
Sounds just like something out of a movie script right? A homeless man down and out taken in by some Mark Zuckerberg genius. A tale of two men, polar opposites. Took two very different paths in life…but they’re not all that different. A heart warming tale of a computer genius who had it all…and a down on his luck loner who was willing to learn. Together they both learned more about life than just internet coding. Coming to theaters this summer…”HTML.”
Too bad this is real life and this bum has already traded this Chromebook for an 8 ball or a blowjob. Either that or his hobo enemies have already beaten him up and robbed him and bartered for their own 8 ball or blow job. Homeless people are homeless for a reason, folks. They’re junkies and criminals and there’s no changing that. Give a homeless man a hundred dollars, and you feed him for a day. Give a man a Chromebook and internet coding lessons, and you’ve wasted your goddam time and money because there’s a 100% chance he disappears and uses everything you gave him to score some smack.