[Edu-sig] Programming for the fun of it

[Dethe Elza]

So, I've been working for awhile on the how of teaching programming to 
non-geeks.  What I think is a more important question, is Why?  Why 
should someone be interested in learning to program?  I'm not talking 
about convincing them to give up their day job, or learn higher math, 
just to have an interest in occasional programming.  Here's my first cut 
at some possible motivations, but I'm very interested in finding more:

* Build problem-solving skills
* Learn math
* Create toys
* Fix the software you use
* Understand computers and the digital world better
* Extend the software you use
* Create tools you need.

Any ideas? 

--Dethe