Monday, June 11, 2012

It's Official - I am a Demigod

In its 11 June 2012 Database Application Developer Newsletter, Oracle writes  "The "PL/SQL 101" series, by PL/SQL demigod Steven Feuerstein, is the ultimate quick-start introduction to the language. Even if you are an experienced PL/SQL developer, you may find these articles a handy refresher on language fundamentals."

Yes! Finally, the official recognition for which I have so longed. I am a demigod.

I thought that was pretty good, but my longtime pal, Hugo Toledo, wrote to me:

I just learned about your demotion to "demi-god". Sorry! I don't know but I'm guessing this is just a term-of-art role-change, like Pluto went through a few years ago.

Well, just as Pluto continues its orbit blissfully unaware of what the IAU decided, I think you, too, should just keep doing what you do. Besides, unlike Pluto, you only dropped to the "demi" level. Pluto is a "dwarf" planet. Yikes! No doubt they took your physical stature into account when making their decision.

Regardless, I think i can speak for the rest of us when I say you are still a bonafide top-of-the-heap god to us.
Demotion? This is, possibly, a very alarming development. Is it really a demotion that I am now referred to by Oracle as a "demigod"? Is this Oracle's way of telling the world that my career is on a slippery slope downward to "legendary" or "once helpful to many"? But I am still so young, so vigorous, so anxious to shout from the mountaintops "PL/SQL is fantastic!"

No time to waste! It is time to check with Wikipedia, where I found the following:

The term demigod (or demi-god), meaning half-god, is commonly used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human as such, demigods are human-god hybrids. In some mythologies it also describes humans who became gods, or simply extremely powerful figures whose powers approach those of the gods even though they are not gods themselves.
Assuming that I my parents are actually my parents (neither of whom would qualify as gods, however wonderful they were and are), Oracle's designation clearly indicates that I have either ascended to god-hood or have such powers as to make the distinction of no importance. Hey, that's not so bad, really.


2 comments:

Joel Garry said...

Just watch your step, clay is pretty brittle.

3 tries to prove I'm not a robot.

iudith said...

Hello Steven,

Demotion ?!?
No, by no means !
How could the creator of PL/SQL Challenge think of demotion ?

Demigod ?
It depends on the Mythology you adopt.

For us, the PL/SQL Challenge community, you are a complete and entire God.
Or, better say, a Guru ?

In my opinion, God-ness does not depend on one's parents, but on the number of one's followers,
so, you can really, really be proud of being one of the Oracle Gods :) :)

Maybe a new Oracle certification level on the way for separating those like you from the mere mortals, the many OCP-s included ?

Keep shouting about the PL/SQL from the top of the mountain,
we all are with you :) :)

Best Regards,
Iudith Mentzel
a non-God PL/SQL Challenger