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Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

nytimes.com

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Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#21

Post by kbenson »

brainflake wrote: post #14
cryoshon wrote: post #3

Meh. I can't imagine the mindset that would lead someone to sacrifice their entire existence on the pyre of working; what's the point of making big cash if you've got no time or people to enjoy it with? I think that these kind of aberrant/nauseating/maladapted pathological behaviors (working insane hours, money addiction) show a bewildering lack of wisdom that is intentionally selected for among the "most competitive…

Wow, you can't even 'muster empathy' for people like this? I can understand how you wouldn't want to work these hours, but when the article is detailing someone who dies and your first comment is 'Meh.', that's absolutely abhorrent to me.

Perhaps you are mistaking empathy for sympathy? I too cannot empathize with the people they are describing. Not only would I not let it get to that point, I could not. My personality is such that when overworked and over-stressed I naturally screw-off for a while to release stress. It doesn't always help my deadlines (which is sometimes a good thing. Sometimes you just need to say "I need more time"), but it does keep me from getting overworked for the most part.

So, I feel bad for these people (I sympathize), but I don't understand them (I don't empathize).

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#22

Post by steve19 »

brainflake wrote: post #14
cryoshon wrote: post #3

Meh. I can't imagine the mindset that would lead someone to sacrifice their entire existence on the pyre of working; what's the point of making big cash if you've got no time or people to enjoy it with? I think that these kind of aberrant/nauseating/maladapted pathological behaviors (working insane hours, money addiction) show a bewildering lack of wisdom that is intentionally selected for among the "most competitive…

Wow, you can't even 'muster empathy' for people like this? I can understand how you wouldn't want to work these hours, but when the article is detailing someone who dies and your first comment is 'Meh.', that's absolutely abhorrent to me.

Not the OP but I struggle to sympathize with someone who takes that kind of job. I can't think up any other motivation other than greed or addiction to money/power.

A friend of mine just turned down an insanely high paying Wall Street job. She told me that there was no way they could pay her that kind of salary without taking every second of her existence and every joule of her energy. A couple of week ago she went to London for less than half that salary (but still a crazy high salary considering how young she is).

Only a fool would think that a WS job at twice the salary of a top London law firm did not come with ridiculous sacrifices.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#23

Post by ratsmack »

Many people work long grueling shifts in stressful positions for years and don't see the need to binge on alcohol and cocaine to manage. I feel sorry for anyone that dies, but I see this as a situation where this person suffers from symptoms of a weak character and/or mental issues.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#24

Post by [deleted] »

pcunite wrote: post #11
bglazer wrote: post #8

I just finished the longest stint of work that I've had in my short career. Probably 80 hours for two weeks. I didn't really keep track. I have mixed feelings. I got a lot done. The quality of work that happened around 8-10pm was pretty low, but it got done. I did no physical activity and my stress levels were through the roof, which led to some moments of intense mental anguish. On the other hand, I felt a great sen…

I've done this too. I think it is dangerous, maybe even something that could become addictive. I know, the pressure to get the product out the door. If you truly have down time and can truly get away, maybe there is a way. But that is the trick, you may get trapped in that lifestyle and "just one more all nighter".

[deleted]

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#25

Post by curiousjorge »

commenting on this quote from the article: "‘I’m 29. This is what you do when you’re 29"

I don't know what the fuck is it with this wall street culture. I find SV culture banal and disgusting but no where close to the shit show that is the wall street glamorized by movies and tv shows.

I would've done the same and I have done the same when I was 25. Working like crazy. You realize one day, this is bullshit. Everyone in this shitty place is fucking bullshit. A check at the end of the fucking month that translates into a measely minimum wage if you count the long hours and the office male bravado bullshit. High school never ends.

It's only after I was chewed and spit out, I realized, no amount of glamor or prestige is worth chasing if there's no chance at MY happiness and MY health.

This make it till you are 30 mentality bullshit has got to go. The anxiety it gives a person in early to mid 20s to feel like you need to keep moving to feel like you are moving closer to success.

Lot of young men like ourselves are conditioned to believe that giving up a decade of our youth to live like kings and gods the rest of our lives is a pretty seductive thought, no matter how unlikely the chances, society almost expects young men to behave and perform like robots, showing no emotion, just take it and bring home the bacon.

These days, I'm a bit older and beginning to think, good things, like all other things, take time. This kamikaze rags to riches type of mentality we see in movies, doesn't seem to work very well (you burn out quickly).

This quote from Frank Lopez in Scarface rings true here.

"Hey, Tony. Remember when I told you when you first started working for me, the guys that last in this business, are the guys who fly straight. Low-key, quiet. But the guys who want it all, chicas, champagne, flash... they don't last. "

Don't think I want to be part of any work culture where shitty cocaine mixed in some shithole in colombia and commiting adultery with overpriced hookers with plastic boobs .

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#26

Post by eachro »

steve19 wrote: post #22
brainflake wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, you can't even 'muster empathy' for people like this? I can understand how you wouldn't want to work these hours, but when the article is detailing someone who dies and your first comment is 'Meh.', that's absolutely abhorrent to me.

Not the OP but I struggle to sympathize with someone who takes that kind of job. I can't think up any other motivation other than greed or addiction to money/power. A friend of mine just turned down an insanely high paying Wall Street job. She told me that there was no way they could pay her that kind of salary without taking every second of her existence and every joule of her energy. A couple of week ago she went t…

You can't think of any other motivation besides greed or addiction to power?

Consider 1st generation college graduates from immigrant families who have the chance to singlehandedly lift their families out of poverty by accepting these jobs. That's not greed.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#27

Post by curiousjorge »

FD3SA wrote: post #6
cryoshon wrote: post #3

Meh. I can't imagine the mindset that would lead someone to sacrifice their entire existence on the pyre of working; what's the point of making big cash if you've got no time or people to enjoy it with? I think that these kind of aberrant/nauseating/maladapted pathological behaviors (working insane hours, money addiction) show a bewildering lack of wisdom that is intentionally selected for among the "most competitive…

Absolutely on point. What always amazes me about these "super-lemmings" is that they are so unaware that they are being thoroughly exploited. They don't understand basic economics, that if you have zero leisure time, all of your earnings are for nothing. I'm sure their goals are some variation of: "I'll work 120 hour weeks for 5 years straight to make a seven figure nest egg, then retire off the interest forever." Th…

>don't be a lemming. Don't sacrifice rationality for idealism. There are severe consequences.

this should be wrapped in and displayed on every page on YC.

like: DISCLAIMER: MAY BE FATAL TO STARTUP FOUNDERS WHEN FORGETTING TO BE A HUMAN.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#28

Post by kbenson »

Bulkington wrote: post #9
FD3SA wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely on point. What always amazes me about these "super-lemmings" is that they are so unaware that they are being thoroughly exploited. They don't understand basic economics, that if you have zero leisure time, all of your earnings are for nothing. I'm sure their goals are some variation of: "I'll work 120 hour weeks for 5 years straight to make a seven figure nest egg, then retire off the interest forever." Th…

'Meh' this comment sequence. If I overreact, it's because these were at the top of comment thread when I caught the post, and (at the risk going Reddit on HN) this is pure Reddit ad hominem BS. Self-proclaimed übermenschen defy gravity in their own minds. Great. Have at it. Edit: Sorry, should have said 'self-imagined' rather than 'self-proclaimed.' Regardless, login in 20 years and let me know how it's worked out.

Even with your edit, I'm still confused as to what point you're trying to make. You seem to be calling out the parent comments on behavior, but your ending sentence makes it seem like you agree. The kicker is that you appear to do both in a fairly negative way, so proponents of either side of the argument might find something to disagree with in both tone and message, which is probably netting you some down votes.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#29

Post by samstave »

cryoshon wrote: post #3

Meh. I can't imagine the mindset that would lead someone to sacrifice their entire existence on the pyre of working; what's the point of making big cash if you've got no time or people to enjoy it with? I think that these kind of aberrant/nauseating/maladapted pathological behaviors (working insane hours, money addiction) show a bewildering lack of wisdom that is intentionally selected for among the "most competitive…

They are making big cash FOR those above them. The attitude of those above is "fuck the slaves"- even if these "slaves" make far more than the average American...

So these firms don't care.

Wall Street is cancer.

Re: Deaths Draw Attention to Wall Street’s Grueling Pace

#30

Post by BadassFractal »

confluence wrote: post #5

My rule is that no job is worth dying for. If the expectations are unreasonable, quit.

My rule is that unless yours or a loved one's basic well-being is at stake (e.g. you have family to support and no savings), you should not be putting up with a job that's causing you physical or psychological distress. Obviously situations can be complicated, but you should aim for that most of the time.
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