The problem with "teh womenz" is that up until that point I was thinking of adding that list to a set of programming resources I'm sending to a friend of mine who's been learning programming recently. And sure, she'll have to deal with that kind of attitude eventually, but I'm not going to throw it in with the basic training resources.
Talking about "teh womenz" is a good way to end up with a dearth of women in your general vacinity.
As most, if not all, learning books have you do exactly as you listed I'm not exactly sure why you're against starting with books.
It's just a rule of thumb.
Most books are just crap. I own a lot of them and have read most of them. They're great for programmers. From experience handing them to complete newbies, they're awful. Once you get past the tutorial they turn into a few hundred pages of greek. As well, being even over a hundred pages makes the book an investment for a newbie and most people are lazy. If the book is too thick it'll get lost under papers and forgotten promptly.
That being said, not all books are like this. I am considering handing out copies of The Little Schemer to any friend who is interested in programming. It's succinct, well-written, and teaches just one thing -- concepts. It doesn't teach a language, theory, libraries, and list a few example programs. Just one thing. That's enough for a newbie.
So that's why I say, just do a tutorial first before you delve into a book. Learn only enough that you can muck around and make a few basic things to impress yourself with and decide whether you're having a good time.
It's humour. Relax.
It's not really funny. Not because I'm humorless and uptight. It's just not funny.
That's why it says "other hobbies". "Other", as in "in addition to" or "besides this one".
