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From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

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Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#111

Post by antiterra »

The worst of poverty tourism is when it is done impersonally without recognition of the inescapable circumstances of others. Do see how real people live and work, connect with them to their faces. Recount your difficult escape from a low-income origin.

But: don’t think that you are one of them and able to advocate as a representative if you aren’t, a la Pulp’s Common People.

We should encourage resilience, but be sympathetic about its absence. Everyone should choose to learn to shake off a punch to the face, but that doesn’t negate the real trauma of someone getting assaulted who didn’t have that lesson.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#112

Post by jrochkind1 »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #70
avgDev wrote: post #9

"The experience was physically taxing, he was diagnosed with tendonitis after moving hundreds of boxes a day, but it pulled him out of his depression and helped him gain perspective and a deeper sense of meaning"....... I have mixed feelings about this. What this has proven is working at amazon warehouse sucks, and is not sustainable. I've had many physical shitty jobs in my 20's. Then, I had some health issue and co…

> What this has proven is working at amazon warehouse sucks, and is not sustainable. This person went from a 23-year career sitting at a desk to doing physical labor all day. Any physical labor is going to take a toll on someone in their 40s who hasn't been doing physical labor. I have a lot of people in my extended social circle who are in physical labor jobs. Amazon Warehouse jobs are always viewed as the "easy" fa…

I also have people in my extended social circle who are in jobs that involve a lot of physical labor. As we all enter our late 30s-early 40s give or take, and they realize what a toll it's taking on their bodies, most of them are trying to get out of it, or have gotten out of it. They realize they aren't going to be physically able to do it another 25 years, and their bodies are going to get increasingly wrecked.

From what I've heard (including from acquaintances who have worked there), a job at an Amazon Warehouse takes a toll on your body for sure. For sure it's hardly alone in being like that.

(The people in my extended social circle who are in jobs involving physical labor are perhaps more likely than most physical laborers to have people in their social circle who sit at desks, and to be able to access networks and resources to shift out of physical labor to make a living).

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#114

Post by nathanaldensr »

tristor wrote: post #61

I read the article, and... I get it. But something about this just seems weird to me. I grew up mostly on a family farm, worked every day of my life in some capacity since I was 9 or 10 years old, and did shit jobs to pay for college (which I eventually dropped out of right before graduation). I don't think my route into tech is that different from many of the other folks I've worked with... this guy lived a /very/ c…

Why deny his experience, though? Not everything needs to be viewed through a lens of privilege. I hope the author gained an appreciation for those less fortunate or less ambitious. At least they have experienced the "other side," so to speak.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#115

Post by avgDev »

antiterra wrote: post #99
markdown wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

The most sinister thing about it is that we do need to honor those people who work incredibly hard and undesirable jobs, but by compensating them, not just worshipping them like heroes. Mike Rowe and the cabal that funded his character attempt to make the viewer feel self-righteous satisfaction merely from empty recognition of merit. He argues against a minimum wage because some jobs are ‘stepping stones,’ but this r…

The reason I as a dev earn a lot more than our order picker where I work is that the software I have built is speeding up everything. I created massive improvements in efficiency. My high salary is justified because my work has a much bigger impact on the finances.

It is that simple. I interview often to get a true market rate. Nobody would pay me what I'm making if the market for devs wasn't this good.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#116

Post by nunobrito »

avgDev wrote: post #108
logisticpeach wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Devs can get by working few hours a day, some barely do any work at all Not sure how others here feel, but I have to say that when I've found myself in situations where there isn't much work to be done I find it utterly soul destroying. Always feel guilty doing anything else in down-time when I'm billing a client and so sometimes end up sitting in a weird stand by mode, feeling like I'm somehow being lazy.

It's not lazy. If I go for a walk I'm actively thinking about projects. I have solved many problem by just clearing my mind and taking breaks. Building software should not be paid by the hour. It's a weird thing. If I can build a piece of software in 10 hours, and another dev needs 40 hours....it seems kind of odd to pay the slower less resourceful dev MORE for a slower delivery?

Yep. Same here, at my level of experience can deliver work in high-quality at a fraction of time required for a junior. Instead of burn-out, use the extra time to enjoy other things and keep learning/improving.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#117

Post by darod »

germinalphrase wrote: post #63
dfxm12 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More than just doing something physical, something group/team/class based like BJJ would also give the camaraderie and socialization that satisfied him. I hear a lot of retired people say "I miss working", but when probed, they'll say things like "I miss the routine", "I miss the people I saw all the time", "I miss the structure". Work is not the only place you get these! Going to BJJ, kickboxing, clay studios, adult…

If anyone is interested in trying Brazilian jiu jitsu, just know it’s common to be completely confused for a while before the different positions/techniques start to click. It’s like a huge flowchart, and you’re randomly jumping into the middle somewhere.

yup, baby steps (black belt 2nd degree)

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#118

Post by renewiltord »

WesternWind wrote: post #21

It's interesting that he developed tendonitis. I've read that the rate of injury at amazon jobs is incredibly high , which is not good practice in my view. Article says amazon rate of serious injury 80% higher than competitors https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57332390

Qantas has for decades been one of the safest airlines. During this period, it was also the airline with some of the highest minor incident rates. I believe I read this in The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error by Sidney Dekker.

You may find it a useful thing to consult on the subject.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#119

Post by renewiltord »

scrlk wrote: post #46
samstave wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon will be the first to adopt the exo-skeleton-assist for factory/warehouse workers, which the unit is registered to you and any damage will result in a docking of your medical coverage/pay.

> "Alexa, open the exo-skeleton, I need to go to the bathroom" > "I'm sorry, your exo-skeleton has already been opened for the allotted 15 minute break, it will not open again until the end of your shift"

Imagine doing all this and not installing a condom cath at least.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#120

Post by [deleted] »

symlinkk wrote: post #64
humanistbot wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If all jobs had the same salary, benefits, career path, etc, there is no way I'd trade software development for a job involving strenuous physical labor.

I would. Imagine getting paid to be outdoors in the sun getting exercise. Imagine not having to spend an extra hour each day in a crowded gym doing boring repetitive movements because your sedentary job would ruin your body otherwise. Imagine not having posture and back problems at age 30. Imagine having the output of a hard days work be a physical object you can point to your son and say “see? I made that”.

[deleted]
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