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Forums Round Tables TopCoder Algorithm Competitions You know your a TopCoder when ... [ 1 2 3 4 5 ]    NEXT >
You know your a TopCoder when ... | Reply

Pops
8585 posts
Always love reading threads like this...


... when you take a laptop on vacation to participate in SRMs.
... when you see a sunrise and think "a flood-fill algo would have done that quicker".
... when you find yourself checking the TopCoder forums more often than your email.
... when you cackle out loud on a successful challenge.
... when you open a door, narrowly avoiding some obstacle, and think "Wow, that would make a GREAT problem".
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

reiners
40 posts
You include your TC ratings changes in your weekly progress reports to your manager.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

StefanPochmann
741 posts
... when your friends ask you to order pizza and you answer "aipzz".
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by StefanPochmann) | Reply

ValD
654 posts
...when you build your own stats on your performance.
...when you log into old practice rooms to make sure you weren't challenged.
...when your high number of participated events gives you a sense of pride.
...when your day is ruined if you lose a color standing.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

O_O
162 posts
...you think red > yellow > blue > green > gray, and orange is a special color.
...you always know the date of the next SRM.
...you think any program that does not finish in 8 sec is too slow.
...you can recognize more than 50 TC handles.
...your new year resolution includes a better TC rating.
...you have clicked every link on TC homepage.
...you want to be in some stats, any kind, and you are ready to do something nasty given the chance.
...you connect target with something good.
...you are reading this.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by O_O) | Reply

StefanPochmann
741 posts
... when the reason you can *not* recognize more than 50 TC handles is that you're not used to input sizes larger than 50.
... when you believe that "TopCoder - The Movie" would be a major box office success.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by StefanPochmann) | Reply

stigant
33 posts
"when you believe that "TopCoder - The Movie" would be a major box office success. "

only if Halle Berry was in it...

how bout
... you believe "TopCoder" would should be the next big reality tv show.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by ValD) | Reply

isv
2745 posts
...when you wake up at 4AM to challenge somebody
...when your day is ruined if you've overslept the SRM
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

axchma
116 posts
when you check TopCoder round tables before brushing your teeth in the morning

when your friends think that you are working at TopCoder, not at the place you are really working at

when you think that Tom Chapin's song (I am yellow...) is about TopCoder
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

Pops
8585 posts
... when you provide estimates in 75 minute blocks
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

axchma
116 posts
when you see a sunrise, and compare your rating to the rating of the Sun

when you stick your rating into your resume
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply

leadhyena_inran
861 posts
when you trade off days with your coworkers so that you are off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

when you prepare to do laundry by timing the washers and dryers at the laundromat and then writing an optimization algorithm to figure out how to get your laundry done the quickest.

when you have a pre-SRM ritual.

when you give up caffeine in an attempt to improve your rating.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by Pops) | Reply
Karshikinpa
239 posts
... when you read the last SRM writeup before you read your e-mail.
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by leadhyena_inran) | Reply

RalphFurmaniak
301 posts
Less caffeine improves ratings? Boy did I have things backwards!!
Re: You know your a TopCoder when ... (response to post by RalphFurmaniak) | Reply

leadhyena_inran
861 posts
to be quite honest, I'm not sure anymore. I think it factors itself out. You end up increasing your submission accuracy (slower, less "jump-to-conclusions", more thorough solutions), at the cost of not submitting so often. For low-value contests (250-400-900 type) caffeine is a definite benefit, because of the speed needed and the requirement not to over-engineer the solution. For high-value contests (300-550-1100 type) it's exactly the opposite, and you'll want to avoid caffeine. I'm not sure on challenge ability with/without caffeine yet, my self-study is not yet conclusive.

Man, I've been doing this too long. :)
Forums Round Tables TopCoder Algorithm Competitions You know your a TopCoder when ...
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