My name is Ryan, and 'tis an honor to be here!
I've been self-teaching myself C++ for a while now. I've strayed into the "intermediate" realm when it comes to programming concepts, but I'm still in the beginner-intermediate(if not purely beginner) in the way of actual coding and syntax-usage.
What I am looking for is other people, because I just know that it'll probably make this learning process 10-to-100 times more effective, it's gotta! Well... let's just hope I don't pick up any bad habits and practices, but even then I'm still willing to take the risk and work with other beginners at my level.
I've browsed the internet and heard many suggestions, to joining open source projects and doing book exercises, though I can't seem to find many beginner-oriented projects, and book exercises would be so much greater with someone else working on them as well!
The main thing is the ability to "really" discuss, and ask silly questions, and form a nice little group. Forums don't work "too" well for that, as discussion can be told it's "off-track", and silly questions are re-directed with RTFM-like answers and learn-to-search ;-;
but I know there's just gotta be some people out there who'd love to do that.. I mean, I'm one of those people, and would like to pass that on. I think another important thing is passion in programming, for I've come across too many people who treat it like just purely a job, and I am deeply interested in the magical world of programming that seemingly seems to unlock the secrets of life itself to me...
Any ideas? ^.^?
[size=2]If interested(especially in perhaps.. forming a group?
), a bit more about me:[size=1]Let's see, well, I decided I wanted to create video games long ago (I'm 20 now, long ago would probably be err, whenever I started playing games? hmm) because of two things: video games themselves, and dreams - the "zZzZz" kind. And actually, unlike most I very soon realized I didn't want to be a designer or artist, but I wanted to craft all the intricate details and physics of the entire game world, and was far more interested in possibilities and game-play, with not much desire for aesthetics and visuals(except where highly-polygonal models would lead to more realistic physics and collision and etc.. right?) . These days, I've expanded on that, and I can't help but find that programming would be meaningful to.. so many aspects of life. It is most definitely ingrained into my being and future - despite the little I've directly experienced of it. Creating games will be the beginning and core of my entire career, but it is still the beginning, as I wish to grow deeper into the science, math, and engineering of it, to perhaps specialize a bit more into simulations, artificial life/intelligence, robotics, space exploration/colonization, or a combination and more... and I'm sure those specializations will of course help further my game coding as well ^.^. Eventually, to go lower and lower levels to the hardware(and even higher and more abstractly complicated?) which in fact I foresee myself supplementing my knowledge with electronics and electricity... actually it could go in so many directions; chemistry, psychology, biology, almost anything... this is also why I see programming as so important and adaptive to just about any path you choose in life. *cough* Oh anyway, well some big goals down the line may eventually involve creating an Operating System, a programming language, perhaps a whole new form of hardware/computer with an entirely new programming method! Not to say I may achieve such goals in a lifetime, but it's an example to show how dedicated I am to this hobby/career/science/art, and how far I "would" to go. It is definitely no temporary interest, indeed.
[size=1]Ah, I just had to get my little(big.. eheh) outburst of programming love out there. It's for those who are truly interested, and it is a hope that someone who thinks similarly may actually come in contact with me, and hey.. that's the point of this message! Could you help me find like-minded people(maybe I seem like an enthusiast! heh... eccentric? Fanatic? I must agree! xP)?
Perhaps this font is too small, but hey.. what doesn't blind you, makes your.. eyes stronger? Or maybe a quick copy-and-paste into notepad? Ah, it's good brain exercise, and this is intended for those who care anyway! <3
Looking forward to hearin from ya 
