That's exactly my point: there is an expectation associated, especially from the HN echo-chamber, that you've been passionately programming since your early teenage years and that if not you're just a pretender looking for the salary and can't solve problems.

> As a mechanical engineering major undergrad, I can assure you that I had no particular experience in the area prior to college.

I'd say this is true of most people entering college. Hence we have introductory courses to learn there.

It's a shame that so many people on here and elsewhere simply want to discourage people from following an interest simply because they discovered it later.