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Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

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Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#111

Post by mewpmewp2 »

ARandomerDude wrote: post #35
nicolashahn wrote: post #2

Hmm. I don't usually get imposter syndrome. Wait, does that mean this is saying I am an imposter? Oh no, what if I am? But wait, wasn't that thought imposter syndrome? That means I'm not an imposter. Wait, now I'm back to not having imposter syndrome. Oh no.

Your comment is an example of a logical fallacy called "affirming the consequent." Borrowing from Wikipedia, a good example of affirming the consequent is: 1. If an animal is a dog, then it has four legs. 2. My cat has four legs. 3. Therefore, my cat is a dog. The problem is the conclusion is the result of a reversal of the conditional statement. Similarly, you've said, essentially, 1. If I am an imposter, then I wil…

I don't think it's comparable to the first example and I don't think it's affirming the consequent.

It's more like a paradox where you start to loop. Similar to a sentence such as "I always lie".

Or it's kind of like a Dunning-Kruger where the premise would be that:

1. Smart people think they are dumb.

2. Dumb people think they are smart.

So you start to loop between those never being able to figure out if you are actually smart or dumb.

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#112

Post by Rapzid »

charles_f wrote: post #96

The title is somewhat misleading, because it's talking about two different types of imposter. The "imposter" of "imposter syndrome" believes others didn't figure what they really are, that they're flawed, underskilled, will fail, etc. ; and that makes you somewhat of a fraud, i.e. an imposter, because they're secretly not the skilled person that was hired. The "actual imposter" from the "imposter syndrome" would be s…

Shark vs charlatan.

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#113

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

deanCommie wrote: post #77

A lot of the discussion here is treating impostor syndrome and qualifications as binary: You're either qualified or not. And your evaluation of your skills is either above your actual skills or not. But it's more nuanced than that. I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. I have impostor syndrome all the time. Why? Because I measure myself against 1) role models that are ahead of me in many ways - I've always do…

> Why? Because I measure myself against 1) role models that are ahead of me in many ways - I've always done that, and it's how I grow, 2) against those with strengths in areas that I have weaknesses.

I don’t think this is why you feel like an imposter, rather this is a rationalisation for why you feel like an imposter.

It’s possibly to do 1 and 2 and not feel like an imposter, so this can’t be the whole reason. It might be necessary for some people some of the time, but it’s not a sufficient explanation.

You even called yourself out on it later in your comment where you say it’s a fallacy.

I’d hazard a guess the real issue is some kind of underlying generalised anxiety.

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#115

Post by Uehreka »

jldugger wrote: post #87
deanCommie wrote: post #77

A lot of the discussion here is treating impostor syndrome and qualifications as binary: You're either qualified or not. And your evaluation of your skills is either above your actual skills or not. But it's more nuanced than that. I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. I have impostor syndrome all the time. Why? Because I measure myself against 1) role models that are ahead of me in many ways - I've always do…

Total derail but: > I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. Does anyone other than a MS employee put an M in FAANG?

People probably should. If the acronym includes Netflix, it definitely needs to include MS, they’re way bigger.

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#116

Post by psyc »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #92
jldugger wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Total derail but: > I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. Does anyone other than a MS employee put an M in FAANG?

I think as of late FAAMG is more popular or appropriate than FAANG, but I mean, who knows. According to Wikipedia at least https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Tech Edit: Not popular maybe, but appropriate still.

I always thought it was more appropriate for most purposes. But on HN, perhaps the most common purpose is discussing ludicrous total comp. And, at least when I left in 2010, Microsoft most certainly did not offer that. I heard that they raised pay across the board shortly after I left, but considering where they started, I’d be shocked if it put them on par with FAANG. Anybody know?

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#117

Post by reureu »

jldugger wrote: post #87
deanCommie wrote: post #77

A lot of the discussion here is treating impostor syndrome and qualifications as binary: You're either qualified or not. And your evaluation of your skills is either above your actual skills or not. But it's more nuanced than that. I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. I have impostor syndrome all the time. Why? Because I measure myself against 1) role models that are ahead of me in many ways - I've always do…

Total derail but: > I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. Does anyone other than a MS employee put an M in FAANG?

If we're actually gonna do this, can we at least rearrange and make it "MAFANG"?

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#118

Post by kjeetgill »

deanCommie wrote: post #77

A lot of the discussion here is treating impostor syndrome and qualifications as binary: You're either qualified or not. And your evaluation of your skills is either above your actual skills or not. But it's more nuanced than that. I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. I have impostor syndrome all the time. Why? Because I measure myself against 1) role models that are ahead of me in many ways - I've always do…

> Luckily I get this just often enough that I don't fall into a catatonic mess of anxiety.

So this is the sticking point for me: is it really _impostor syndrome_ if it's not disproportionate and negatively impactful? What you're describing just seems like normal, mostly healthy, reasonable critical self reflection?

To me the syndrome part of it is the overwhelming runaway thoughts part.

Re: Actual impostors don't get impostor syndrome

#119

Post by Aulig »

slumpt_ wrote: post #91
jldugger wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Total derail but: > I'm a Principal Engineer at a FAAMNG company. Does anyone other than a MS employee put an M in FAANG?

Definitely not. This is literally the first time I’ve even seen FAAMNG.

First time I've seen it too, but I find it more fitting actually. I see Microsoft as a lot more of a tech giant than Netflix, but maybe Im judging by the wrong criteria.
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