Maybe stupid question but: should I study programming if I don't really like it, in and of itself?
I think I would be good at it. I have taken an online web dev course, so I learned basic CSS, HTML, and the basics of how the internet works. I found it fascinating to learn about. Studying Python right now using Mimo, been doing that for about 2 months, going pretty good. I feel like I'm good at picking up new skills, and I appreciate what I learn.
I also need a job where I can work from home. I've looked into the idea of skilled trades, but I don't think I can physically handle them.
Now, to be clear, I'm autistic, and there are certain things I like about programming. I like logic and organizing data. I like when something works and I love fixing things and solving problems for other people. I have an eye for detail and I like when I challenge myself to learn complicated things.
But if I'm being honest, I'm not one of those people who naturally gravitated towards computers or programming. I have no intrinsic passion for programming. When I study it for a long time, my brain kind of goes numb and I have to push past that. I just find it kind of dull.
My actual passions are just things that don't pay. Art, literature, philosophy, championing social causes, etc. I'd do animation if I had money coming in from a day job.
I think it should be okay to want to be a programmer for work, but I have a hard time grappling with it because it's not my passion. It's simply an in-demand skill I feel like could get me a good-paying job without having to worry about car trouble (I live in a small town in the middle of Florida and my commute to anywhere would be a bitch).
I guess my question is, should I still pursue it? Trying to make money from the things I do consider myself passionate about doesn't seem to work. I hate making a job out of things I like, because then it makes them into a job, if that makes sense. Like if I sold paintings, I'd become a 'painting factory' and I don't like that idea. So maybe it's good that I'm not actually passionate about programming.
Like I said, I do like solving logical problems and helping people. And I can catch mistakes easily, so I think I'd be good at debugging or editing other people's code.
It's just when it comes to writing my own code, I draw a blank. There's nothing I want to do that badly, and making stuff that already exists seems boring/pointless. And almost everything I can think of already exists. And even if I make, say, a timer, it'd be worse than the one I already get for free on my phone/computer, so it feels pointless. Wonder if I should get into game dev so I can put my own creativity into the projects more?