IMHO, writing software, in Java or any language, is a creative effort. There are many fields of creative endeavor - artists, musicians, developers, etc. Pair programming is just plain stupid and nuts IMO. Do you ever hear of pair painting (canvas not houses), pair sculpture, pair composing, pair solo singing - no you don't. I had hoped this pair programming nonsense had faded into oblivion - I guess not, but let's try to push it over the cliff and into the abyss of poor ideas.