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Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

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Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#21

Post by lsc »

thefool wrote: post #16

The only problem I have with this is that he left a job where he had the potential to make a net positive change in the world to one where he is a tool in destroying the environment. Sure personally he feels less obligation, but it just seems like eventually that will catch up with him, i know it would to me... especially for someone who professes to love the outdoors, and then contributes to its destruction. The mot…

Trees can be responsibly planted and responsibly harvested, like any other plant. My understanding is that the majority of modern logging consists of harvesting trees that were planted specifically to be harvested later.

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#22

Post by krschultz »

thefool wrote: post #16

The only problem I have with this is that he left a job where he had the potential to make a net positive change in the world to one where he is a tool in destroying the environment. Sure personally he feels less obligation, but it just seems like eventually that will catch up with him, i know it would to me... especially for someone who professes to love the outdoors, and then contributes to its destruction. The mot…

I'm not sure if I agree with that assesement.

Considering that the lumber industry gets the bulk of their wood from farms and tracts that are continusouly replanted, they aren't cutting down old growth forests like "the old says". Compared to aluminum or steel, wood frame construction is fairly renewable and to be encouraged.

Google is creating new products and services that increase demand for energy. Everything they do requires more computers sucking up power, more devices to be made with crazy materials in them etc.

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#23

Post by lsc »

[deleted] wrote: post #19
staunch wrote: post #9

It sounds like this guy thinks his job at Google was as good as it gets. This is like a musician thinking their job at a marketing agency writing jingles is the best they can hope for. My feeling is he probably gave up too early on finding a way to integrate money making and his passion. Maybe this works best for him though.

[deleted]

but... I know a few guys who are absolutely awesome programmers; way smarter and way better than I hope to be ever... but some of them are working on things like the google IE toolbar.

I mean, I only have an outsiders view of google, but certainly, there are many very bright people working on what look to me like not very interesting problems.

(Obviously, there are also people at google working on very interesting problems; Living near Mountain View, I know quite a few people who work at google, and most of them seem to like it quite a lot. I'm just saying, it's possible to be at google and get stuck working on things many of us would, ah, rather not work on. Google also has a very strong, ah, company culture. it's not a place, I think, that I would fit in or do well, even though many of my friends work there.)

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#24

Post by flatline »

lsc wrote: post #23
[deleted] wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

but... I know a few guys who are absolutely awesome programmers; way smarter and way better than I hope to be ever... but some of them are working on things like the google IE toolbar. I mean, I only have an outsiders view of google, but certainly, there are many very bright people working on what look to me like not very interesting problems. (Obviously, there are also people at google working on very interesting pr…

Yeah, Google strikes me as first and foremost an advertising agency. They make their revenue from ads, and ads are not really the sexiest thing out there IMO. They do a lot of interesting research and large-scale implementations in the pursuit of advertising revenue but the bottom line is still going to be the bottom line, and other types of work are going to be better for a lot of people.

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#25

Post by [deleted] »

lsc wrote: post #23
[deleted] wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

but... I know a few guys who are absolutely awesome programmers; way smarter and way better than I hope to be ever... but some of them are working on things like the google IE toolbar. I mean, I only have an outsiders view of google, but certainly, there are many very bright people working on what look to me like not very interesting problems. (Obviously, there are also people at google working on very interesting pr…

[deleted]

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#26

Post by etaque »

One friend of mine did the same, here in France: high level degree, but only one year working in front of a desk. He totally switched to a sailing instructor job. As a computer engineer and sailor, that's really appealing me, but my skin wouldn't bear it. I know he's 100% living during the day, I know I'm making mouldy on my chair...

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#27

Post by gruseom »

thefool wrote: post #16

The only problem I have with this is that he left a job where he had the potential to make a net positive change in the world to one where he is a tool in destroying the environment. Sure personally he feels less obligation, but it just seems like eventually that will catch up with him, i know it would to me... especially for someone who professes to love the outdoors, and then contributes to its destruction. The mot…

That would be more convincing with evidence that you live without wood or paper.

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#28

Post by jey »

wallflower wrote: post #17
thaumaturgy wrote: post #8

I have a story to share: I started programming computers when I was very young. Because of the skills I developed, and because of some connections I had, I got a very high paying job in the data processing department of the Livermore School District while I was still a junior in high school. (I was on independent study at the time.) I literally made more money than I knew what to do with, unfortunately. A couple of y…

> It taught me so much that I couldn't have learned by staying behind a computer desk all day long. It taught me how to relate to people, for one. The topic of relating to people always fascinates me. Would you say it is more about not facts but sharing feelings? What would you want to tell and teach your future son or daughter about relating to others? Thanks in advance.

It's mostly inarticulable and learned through experience. If you're having trouble in this area, you'd probably benefit more from someone who can function as a coach to motivate you when you're down and to talk things over with, as opposed to looking for some kind of purely theoretical explanation.

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#29

Post by stinkytaco »

thaumaturgy wrote: post #8

I have a story to share: I started programming computers when I was very young. Because of the skills I developed, and because of some connections I had, I got a very high paying job in the data processing department of the Livermore School District while I was still a junior in high school. (I was on independent study at the time.) I literally made more money than I knew what to do with, unfortunately. A couple of y…

That sounds good, but I worked hard enough to get a job in my field that pays me enough to live comfortably and have a good college savings plan for my daughter. What advice for those of us who did not have outstanding early success, good savings and obviously immense talent?

Re: Reddit IAMA. An ex Google programmer switched to a job in the lumbering industry

#30

Post by frognibble »

lsc wrote: post #23
[deleted] wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

but... I know a few guys who are absolutely awesome programmers; way smarter and way better than I hope to be ever... but some of them are working on things like the google IE toolbar. I mean, I only have an outsiders view of google, but certainly, there are many very bright people working on what look to me like not very interesting problems. (Obviously, there are also people at google working on very interesting pr…

Although you might not want to get stuck working on certain projects, that does not imply that the people on these projects are unhappy with their assignments.

Your IE Toolbar example is a good one. The team working on the IE toolbar is probably very small (how many devs are needed, one or two?), but it's used by a very large number of people. I think it might be interesting to work on a project with this very large user/developer ratio.

Google engineers to have some degree of mobility. If they get stuck on a project that they don't like, then they can eventually move on to something of their choosing.

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