Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#121

Post by kristianp » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 3:27 AM UTC

freedomben wrote: post #54

If money was no issue, I'd go into carpentry. I find building things out of wood to be immensely satisfying. Everything from the smell of the wood, the differences by wood type, the naturally beautiful look it has, and the usability/UX of the final product tickle me in ways that I haven't experienced before. I've gotten very close with personal software projects, but the physicality of the wood is something software…

There's an organisation in Australia called "the Men's Shed", that has workshops that people can go to to work on projects. It's more about combating loneliness though. https://mensshed.org/about-mens-sheds/what-is-a-mens-shed/

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#122

Post by johannfalkes » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 3:40 AM UTC

I sometimes think of being a massage artist. It's relaxing and satisfying to massage people and feel the kinks and knots loosening. However I don't have the verbal skills to smalltalk. And I don't like dealing with people either.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#123

Post by csa » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 7:29 AM UTC

Ag or musician.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#124

Post by funnybeam » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:32 AM UTC

bradlys wrote: post #80

I’d probably go into finance, law, or medicine. Most likely finance. I specifically went away from it due to moral reasons but seems this society has no morals and never will. May as well just plunder the poor.

Don’t let the bastards win. Keep your principles

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#125

Post by taurath » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 9:19 AM UTC

I’d go into psychology research. I have some very low percentage chance mental health traits and there’s not many people studying what I have who have lived experience and are not too disabled to study it. I know I’d enjoy doing clinical work too, and often find my time not doing software is helping others and making community w those folks.

Sadly, I’m not wealthy enough to afford to reset like that, I’ll never be able to retire.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#126

Post by johannfalkes » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 10:24 AM UTC

beej71 wrote: post #76

I'd do what I do now: computer science instructor and author. :) My wife is an SLP at a hospital and she loves it. I couldn't handle the more medical parts, but I can see crossover there with assessment and problem-solving. She geeks out on it. Both of us are definitely interested in work that benefits lives. (For me, a lot of that is driven by my desire to repent for working in online advertising for so many years.)…

SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist?

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#127

Post by thehamkercat » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 10:57 AM UTC

If i didn't work in tech, I would work for tech.

I'm a linux user, but I hate that majority of MacOS apps/tools are Paid, and I want to change that

If money was not an issue, and I had all the time in this world, I'd start giving it all to Open-source software.

Starting with rewriting all the paid/subscription apps created for macOS.

For example, I'll create an exact replica of: - Alfred, Raycast, Bartender, BetterDisplayTool etc, but completely FOSS

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#128

Post by R_D_Olivaw » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 2:25 PM UTC

scottyah wrote: post #102

If I had money, I'd start to set up free after-school tutoring/play areas. I'd love to open a new business of a dog park that sells coffee in the morning, and beer in the afternoon/evening. A small amount of nice workstations for people to get some work/studying done. If I never got into tech- well I was going to be a Materials Engineer, but if I were a tradesman I'd probably be an electrician because of my superiori…

I really like your ideas and send you support energy if you ever want to pursue these.

I also have ideas for creating such spaces and just the other day I fantasized about a building I saw rent.

Fwiw, if you earn USD, the "developing world" also needs these spaces and it's significantly cheaper to try and take a chance at some of these spaces.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#129

Post by cafard » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 3:21 PM UTC

I was a copy editor long ago, and pretty good at it. I have been slightly surprised to make the acquaintance of a couple of people who still do that. One said that the wages aren't great, which was my recollection. But I wouldn't mind working as an editor.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#130

Post by organsnyder » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 4:18 PM UTC

knowitnone3 wrote: post #108

freedomben wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed! I also found it let me indulge in a secondary passion of mine which is fuel efficiency. For example, when I'm building it myself I can make the walls ludicrously thick and insulated to the point where it stays a relatively moderate temp inside even without climate control. I built a shed to use as a luxury dog house, and it was tight enough that a single small space heater could keep it quite pleasant in the…

tight is not the goal - a home needs to breath

This is accomplished in new builds with intentional ventilation. My above-garage ADU accomplishes this with a schedule on the bathroom fan and a make-up air intake in the utility closet. A more expensive (and more efficient) route would be to install an HRV or ERV.

As an energy consultant friend explained to me: You want to control the ventilation rate, rather than relying on whatever you get accidentally (which may not be enough, especially on calm days).