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“Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

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Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#71
post #60

I think the post might be misinterpreting the intent behind the phrase. My first impression was that it is a parody of the famous electronic dance song with similar lyrics.

No I think most people get that, but even recommending it in a joking manner is worrying.

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#73
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I distinctly remember sitting in yet another dull sprint retrospective and thinking, "Boy, I wish I were a firefighter." Granted, that line of work comes with its own drawbacks and I would certainly get bored of it the same way I get bored of software (or else worn out from the demanding physical aspect), but some days I'm surprised to find myself wishing I could "dig ditches out in the sunshine" or something of the…

I have had a literal ditch digging job, and I hated that even more. But I still find myself longing for such a thing. Maybe if I could just have 3-4 days per year? xD

We call those "reminders."

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#74
post #8

Generally, this is an easy stance for young, unmarried, and otherwise unattached people to approach their career. A warning to those that think this will enhance their opportunities later in life. It won't. Sure there are a few great employers out there that will reward you with loyalty (or massive sums of money) but that is the exception. After a life of nothing but work, no matter how much you love it at the time,…

I think the issue here is when people take that viewpoint as a career.

I code for a career.

I also code for a hobby. I code for fun. They're different. You can eat. sleep. code. repeat. without it being eat. sleep. work. repeat.

And you can mean it lightheartedly/halfheartedly as well. "Eat, sleep, game, repeat." can be the same thing.

Obviously taking it literally is unhealthy, but I don't think anyone is proposing people do that other than employers with an unhealthy obsession of getting as many possible hours out of their employees as they can.

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#75

I think the OP misses the point of the shirt. Lot's of different subcultures and activities have this type of shirt. Someone could just as well wear a shirt that says "Eat. Sleep. Hike. Repeat." And people wouldn't actually think the person _only_ hikes. The shirt is completely ironic because to suggest someone _only_ codes all day is ridiculous. The OP misses the irony.

The ordering of activities is also a bit strange. I don't like to eat right before sleep; I'd rather eat after sleep, then code.

So transpose the eat and sleep, it rhymes better anyway ;)

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#76
post #27
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people code for fun too.

Sure, but this shirt is being produced by a corporation and sold at a professional developer conference.

Why does that matter?

I'm sure a "Eat Sleep Hike Repeat" shirt would be produced by a corporation and sold at "hiking conferences".

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#78

Yeah, fuck enthusiasm! /s I can understand that we might want to avoid the obsessive behaviors of some developers that could be considered unhealthy, but blaming a simple catch-phrase isn't going to get us anywhere. What if the shirt said, "Coding is rad" ? I say that all the time, and people just give me that look that says, "Ha, what a nerd" and it's fine for me because I can maintain my enthusiasm. Other people ne…

It's not the shirt that bothers me, it's the fact that Google tries to create this kind of work culture internally with perks designed to keep you at work longer, and then they sell this shirt so they can profit even more from the wider developer community's passion.

I know that Google pays their developers well, and personally I am a bit of a workaholic myself devoting long hours to my company, but still there is something that I find unsettling. I wouldn't deny anyone their passion, and I wouldn't judge someone for spending all their time programming; the hair I want to split is doing so as part of a cheerleading exercise for a major corporation just feels exploitative somehow. Maybe that criticism is unfair, but Google is no stranger to handing down unfair decisions ;)

Re: “Eat, sleep, code, repeat” is such bullshit

#79

I think the OP misses the point of the shirt. Lot's of different subcultures and activities have this type of shirt. Someone could just as well wear a shirt that says "Eat. Sleep. Hike. Repeat." And people wouldn't actually think the person _only_ hikes. The shirt is completely ironic because to suggest someone _only_ codes all day is ridiculous. The OP misses the irony.

Lot's of different subcultures and activities have this type of shirt

In that case, I'm waiting for the first doctor to proudly wear his "Eat. Sleep. Operate. Repeat" shirt.

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