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Quit Your Job

palladiummag.com

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Re: Quit Your Job

#151

Post by chii »

lhorie wrote: post #106
darkengine wrote: post #41

I know it's bad form to move so quickly into meta-discussion on here, but I feel a lot of the comments in the thread right now are endemic of a certain closed-mindedness that has, to me, come to define in part the Hacker News zeitgeist, which stands in something of a contrast to the site's supposed founding principle of intellectual curiosity. There is plenty of prior art in Western (and other traditions of) philosop…

If we're going to talk about polarization, it behooves us to bring up that this isn't a either-or topic: you could take risks and succeed, avoid risks and stagnate, but also take risks and fail as well as avoid risks and succeed. If we're really going meta, it might also be appropriate to think about our tendency to attribute causation to simple inputs (i.e. either X or Y), when in reality, there may have been a mix…

> as well as avoid risks and succeed.

that's just pure luck, and i think a lot of people would imagine this is called "undeserved success".

Re: Quit Your Job

#152

Post by [deleted] »

darkengine wrote: post #41

I know it's bad form to move so quickly into meta-discussion on here, but I feel a lot of the comments in the thread right now are endemic of a certain closed-mindedness that has, to me, come to define in part the Hacker News zeitgeist, which stands in something of a contrast to the site's supposed founding principle of intellectual curiosity. There is plenty of prior art in Western (and other traditions of) philosop…

[deleted]

Re: Quit Your Job

#154

Post by sho »

mrjangles wrote: post #123
allendoerfer wrote: post #119

This article makes me anxious that I just might not have any interesting ideas to share with the world, that I might be stuck in my own perspective and that others will see right through all the fancy words I come up with to masquerade it. I think I might not be able to refrain from smiling when being called an intellectual. Only positive outlook: At least I do not think I will ever go as far as calling myself an int…

now that's an amusing take. But would you go so far as to call yourself an "elite" like this guy does... >This is a key part of what it means to be a responsible elite. The best description I ever heard of an "elite" is "A term used ironically to describe someone so out of touch with reality that they think people are using it to refer to them unironically."

Around the time I signed up for this site, I thought the same as you. 10 years and a couple of successful startups later - perspectives change. I don't know if I'd actually unironically call myself "elite" but we need some name, right?

The fact is there's a large number of very, very capable people out there who probably don't need to work for anyone else again if they don't want to. But they get jobs anyway because that's just the kind of people they are. I know quite a few of these people. This essay is a CTA to them.

Give it a few years and you might find yourself in the exact same boat.

And in case you hadn't realised, this whole site is the poster child for a "privileged elite" deciding the world needed something and just going and making it, and thank the gods he did.

Re: Quit Your Job

#155

Post by [deleted] »

geekbird wrote: post #18

I found myself wishing for hip waders to even try to get through part of this self-congratulatory pile of BS. Reading between the lines told me he quit his job, mooched off of friends and girlfriend/wife, then managed to con people into investing in a magazine. I figure he had a trust fund somewhere, or has the gift of gab and could easily part fools from their cash.

[deleted]

Re: Quit Your Job

#156

Post by chii »

wyager wrote: post #108
Traster wrote: post #5

I'm conflicted by this article. I'm sympathetic to it, but some things just really push past my BS meter. For example: >This is related to why man became stunted with the dawn of agriculture. We traded a life limited by the occasional violent struggle over bountiful surplus for a more predictable life limited by grinding labor after barely sufficient nutrition. Firstly, "man" or humanity did all of their greatest wor…

Fossil records strongly suggest that life may have been a lot worse and less bountiful for early agriculturalists than contemporary non-agriculturalists.

Then where did the non-agriculturalists went? They either got killed by the surplus capacity of the agriculturalists, or joined them - both is rooted in the expanded capacity for food creation, and thus, technological creation.

Re: Quit Your Job

#157

Post by nnoitra »

deltree7 wrote: post #55
chana_masala wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So, his experiences is very specific to his skills, his reach and societal perceptions about him. I mean, that part is true for literally everyone?

No. We are talking about thresholds. He has advantages that may be applicable to If a person quit their job being a short, brown, woman and found happiness and people willing to help them, it is more likely to be replicated by a broader population. It's like an attractive guy giving dating tips

That's a double edged sword. I understand that he has advantages but don't you think those advantages would make him feeling even more of a fool if he was to waste them?

On the other hand you should also consider the emotions of uncertainty, fear and confusion that he had to overcome. Everyone everywhere attempting something similar would face similar emotions which are not at all trivial to overcome. The fact that he is in California may be even worse. Think of it this way his friends are travelling to Bora Bora and becoming millionaires as he has to console himself with being ok while he is choosing the road less travelled.

Re: Quit Your Job

#158

Post by sho »

mmcgaha wrote: post #103

Growing up poor white trash gives me a completely different perspective and makes me crass enough to say go fuck yourself you entitled prick.

No post body was provided.

Re: Quit Your Job

#159

Post by barry-cotter »

allendoerfer wrote: post #119

This article makes me anxious that I just might not have any interesting ideas to share with the world, that I might be stuck in my own perspective and that others will see right through all the fancy words I come up with to masquerade it. I think I might not be able to refrain from smiling when being called an intellectual. Only positive outlook: At least I do not think I will ever go as far as calling myself an int…

It's ok to be secure in your identity and interests. I hope things get better for you.

Re: Quit Your Job

#160

Post by thelettere »

nobody9999 wrote: post #143
Traster wrote: post #5

I'm conflicted by this article. I'm sympathetic to it, but some things just really push past my BS meter. For example: >This is related to why man became stunted with the dawn of agriculture. We traded a life limited by the occasional violent struggle over bountiful surplus for a more predictable life limited by grinding labor after barely sufficient nutrition. Firstly, "man" or humanity did all of their greatest wor…

>Firstly, "man" or humanity did all of their greatest work after the dawn of agriculture. That's partly true. Learning to do agriculture was probably the most consequential thing humans have done -- as it let to the rise of towns and cities -- which have been the sources of innovation for millenia. >Before agriculture, life wasn't bountiful. It was short and harsh. Actually, life has generally been "short and harsh"…

The "short and harsh" cliche is a gross generalization. High rates of infant mortality and childhood death skew the lifespan data such that for these that survive childhood the average lifespan is not so starkly different than ours (though there is a wide range depending on time and place).

And the harsh thing also depends. The Kitavans for example are well documented to have lived moderately active lives with much leisure time and plenty of food. One tiny example of course but they are far from the only ones. So it depends.

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