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SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

theguardian.com

11–20 of 54 posts

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#13

I am sure that he is very intelligent, but this is literally child labour. Especially if you are 14, there is more to life than education and career. And I can't help but think that this might eventually harm him, a major company isn't a place for a 14 year old who should be making friends his own age. Child labour isn't just bad because it is potentially dangerous and keeps children out of education, but because it…

Conversely, how would you feel if you were forced to be friends with 14 year Olds with an adult intellect.

The reality is that there's probably no good fit for this person, so it makes sense to leave it up to them and their parents decide how they want to spend their time

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#14

I am sure that he is very intelligent, but this is literally child labour. Especially if you are 14, there is more to life than education and career. And I can't help but think that this might eventually harm him, a major company isn't a place for a 14 year old who should be making friends his own age. Child labour isn't just bad because it is potentially dangerous and keeps children out of education, but because it…

Conversely, how would you feel if you were forced to be friends with 14 year Olds with an adult intellect. The reality is that there's probably no good fit for this person, so it makes sense to leave it up to them and their parents decide how they want to spend their time

I hope that at the very least his parents encourage him to participate in non-technical activities with kids his age, e.g. sports, musics, chess.

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#16

I am sure that he is very intelligent, but this is literally child labour. Especially if you are 14, there is more to life than education and career. And I can't help but think that this might eventually harm him, a major company isn't a place for a 14 year old who should be making friends his own age. Child labour isn't just bad because it is potentially dangerous and keeps children out of education, but because it…

Conversely, how would you feel if you were forced to be friends with 14 year Olds with an adult intellect. The reality is that there's probably no good fit for this person, so it makes sense to leave it up to them and their parents decide how they want to spend their time

I don't think it was implied that he should be "forced" to be friends with anyone.

But there is more to being an adult than just intellect. And I question if it is even emotionally or mentally possible before puberty.

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#17
post #11

Is he required to work in the office min 40h per week?

Is that worse than high-school?

I attended high school from 8am to 3pm with a 45-minute lunch break and 15-minute reading break.

6hrs. Plus the 5-10 minutes between classes where I had to get up and walk to the next classroom.

And you're saying that the work environment at SpaceX is comparable?

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conversely, how would you feel if you were forced to be friends with 14 year Olds with an adult intellect. The reality is that there's probably no good fit for this person, so it makes sense to leave it up to them and their parents decide how they want to spend their time

I hope that at the very least his parents encourage him to participate in non-technical activities with kids his age, e.g. sports, musics, chess.

I hope he has a non technical life too. I just don't assume that he would enjoy that interaction with other 14 year-olds. If he is used to studying and now working with adults, he might find them childish, boring, and unrelatable.

Re: SpaceX hires boy, 14, who became youngest graduate at California university

#19
post #17
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that worse than high-school?

I attended high school from 8am to 3pm with a 45-minute lunch break and 15-minute reading break. 6hrs. Plus the 5-10 minutes between classes where I had to get up and walk to the next classroom. And you're saying that the work environment at SpaceX is comparable?

You may have had an easier high-school experience than I did. I had a commute of 30-45 minutes, I had long periods where I wasn't allowed to use the bathroom (and even when I could, the time in betweeen was short), my belongings were often messed with (people messed with the locker locks), and mucg higher academic expectations than I've seen in any workplace.
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