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Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

janellequibuyen.com

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Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#31

Post by aub3bhat »

spinPhysician wrote: post #12

Ten years ago, the rhetorical buzzwords of that period had gotten really, really tedious. Words like: - Patriot - Freedom - Terrorism - Never Forget - If we don't do X, they win Ten years later, and I'm glad those words are a joke by now. But only to face new words: - Privilege - Trigger - Victim Blaming - Social Justice - Perpetuating false narratives Buzzwords only have currency with people who want others to stop…

My favorite new ridiculous word is "silent technical privilege"[1] , according to which we now must apologize for having interests in technical subjects since childhood, rather than socializing and getting drunk like rest of the "unfortunate" kids.

[1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#33

Post by xivzgrev »

"The concept is ideal for all, but not realistic for many"

Working on your own on something you are passionate about is, in fact, not the ideal for all. Many many people see work as a paycheck. They derive their meaning from activities from outside of work.

One could argue they could enjoy work more if they incorporated a passion into it, but then what if they lose that stark line of separation? Some people may actually enjoy a clear line between work (make the money) and fun/meaningful stuff (spend the money on)

What if that passion loses its luster once its your work? What if you get most meaning from close relationships, how do you incorporate that into a job?

I'm wary of most things that say this is the ideal for everyone. There are universal needs but there are not universal ways to meet those needs.

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#34

Post by withdavidli »

shopkins wrote: post #24
Animats wrote: post #18

"We are predatorily luring working class people into an entrepreneur lifestyle as the answer to living a meaningful life and loads of money. It’s the new American Dream." Yes. Being an entrepreneur is about selling. Few people are good at selling. If you're good at selling, you can make good money doing it for someone else. Expecting most people to be good at selling is a cruel fantasy.

What was the old American Dream, if not exactly that?

Good grades->good college -> good job -> marry -> buy house -> have kids. All on a middle class salary. In the bay area that's probably about 100k/yr for a household. Impossible these days.

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#35

Post by [deleted] »

aub3bhat wrote: post #31
spinPhysician wrote: post #12

Ten years ago, the rhetorical buzzwords of that period had gotten really, really tedious. Words like: - Patriot - Freedom - Terrorism - Never Forget - If we don't do X, they win Ten years later, and I'm glad those words are a joke by now. But only to face new words: - Privilege - Trigger - Victim Blaming - Social Justice - Perpetuating false narratives Buzzwords only have currency with people who want others to stop…

My favorite new ridiculous word is "silent technical privilege"[1] , according to which we now must apologize for having interests in technical subjects since childhood, rather than socializing and getting drunk like rest of the "unfortunate" kids. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

[deleted]

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#36

Post by fao_ »

aub3bhat wrote: post #31
spinPhysician wrote: post #12

Ten years ago, the rhetorical buzzwords of that period had gotten really, really tedious. Words like: - Patriot - Freedom - Terrorism - Never Forget - If we don't do X, they win Ten years later, and I'm glad those words are a joke by now. But only to face new words: - Privilege - Trigger - Victim Blaming - Social Justice - Perpetuating false narratives Buzzwords only have currency with people who want others to stop…

My favorite new ridiculous word is "silent technical privilege"[1] , according to which we now must apologize for having interests in technical subjects since childhood, rather than socializing and getting drunk like rest of the "unfortunate" kids. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

It isn't, and never has been, about apologising. It is about recognising that you had a step-up based on being part of a particular demographic, and then either acknowledging that other people won't necessarily have had those step-ups, helping to level the playing field by giving extra help to those who don't have that step-up, or both.

So, basically equalising things a wee bit.

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#37

Post by rev_bird »

yardie wrote: post #20
FreedomToCreate wrote: post #2

Passion without genuine skill and knowledge is useless. You can be passionate about many things, for example cars, but unless you put in the hours, your passion doesn't mean you will be a great car engineer, or automotive company executive. [EDIT] Also want to add that people grossly underestimate the responsibility of being their own boss. There are a lot of tasks you have to handle outside of your usual work like f…

There are lots of startups that I considered dumb. A messaging service that only allows 140characters sounds ridiculous. But here we are. In trying to start my own business I'm still learning to get over my own self doubt.

> A messaging service that only allows 140characters sounds ridiculous.

It made a lot more sense when we used SMS to tweet.

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#38

Post by RGamma »

aub3bhat wrote: post #31
spinPhysician wrote: post #12

Ten years ago, the rhetorical buzzwords of that period had gotten really, really tedious. Words like: - Patriot - Freedom - Terrorism - Never Forget - If we don't do X, they win Ten years later, and I'm glad those words are a joke by now. But only to face new words: - Privilege - Trigger - Victim Blaming - Social Justice - Perpetuating false narratives Buzzwords only have currency with people who want others to stop…

My favorite new ridiculous word is "silent technical privilege"[1] , according to which we now must apologize for having interests in technical subjects since childhood, rather than socializing and getting drunk like rest of the "unfortunate" kids. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

That dichotomy is a false one, since you can do both (see e.g. demoscene) :)

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#39

Post by [deleted] »

aub3bhat wrote: post #31
spinPhysician wrote: post #12

Ten years ago, the rhetorical buzzwords of that period had gotten really, really tedious. Words like: - Patriot - Freedom - Terrorism - Never Forget - If we don't do X, they win Ten years later, and I'm glad those words are a joke by now. But only to face new words: - Privilege - Trigger - Victim Blaming - Social Justice - Perpetuating false narratives Buzzwords only have currency with people who want others to stop…

My favorite new ridiculous word is "silent technical privilege"[1] , according to which we now must apologize for having interests in technical subjects since childhood, rather than socializing and getting drunk like rest of the "unfortunate" kids. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

[deleted]

Re: Quitting your job to pursue your passion is a privilege

#40

Post by blackrose »

Was looking for something insightful, but I guess I haven't heard (and bought into) the same stories as the author. I quit my job half a year ago to do the "entrepreneurial lifestyle", but I'm not going around telling everyone to quit their job and be as ostensibly great and care-free as I am.

Of course I'm thankful for my situation, and realize I'm luckier than many Americans, and lucky to live in a prosperous country. But is it really "privilege" to live frugally enough to save up for years, and then quit my job to pursue my passion? Am I not supposed to do that at all? Am I supposed to feel my privilege for having a job? Or computer skills? Or a computer in the first place? Electricity? I don't know where, to the author, the privilege train is supposed to end.

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