Isn't pushing perks like 4-day work week,etc you do at your company the same thing you are talking about regarding trying to cash in on someones youth and optimism?
I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
71–80 of 97 posts
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can be taken advantage of simply by participating. Hackathons that are tacked on to events are a great example: they're simply a way to sell more tickets. I've been guilty of this in the past on shows we've done (Twitter's Chirp conf, etc). Can good things happen at these hackathons? You bet. That doesn't mean Developers shouldn't be careful though. As for "20-hour days", that's just a number you've thrown out. W…
Have you ever lived in a hacker house? I haven't, and if you haven't, then I don't think either of us are in the position to say the whole point of living in a hacker house is to work non-stop. You simply don't know that. Of course lots of work is going to get done at such a place, but who said that the experience and fun wouldn't also be incredibly beneficial to a young developer?
I've lived in 3 hacker houses (still living in one now), and it's been a nice place to live with like-minded individuals. It's equal parts fun and hard work.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#73Hmmm. How is this different from an incubator? Maybe the similarities are more interesting than the differences.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#74Normally, the majority of comments disagree with the OP. That's the nature of commenting. But in this case, the disagreement is almost complete: I see only one comment slightly in agreement.
I have no idea where this post came from. I can only assume ryancarson is going to different hackathons and hacker houses than everyone else.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm just not entirely sure how someone can be taken advantage of at a hackathon. Are you implying that someone will steal their product? Or that they'll somehow be convinced to give up a large % stake in their project by someone who can't code? Again, an example of a hackathon where this has happened would be great. Besmirching the name of hackathons in general is wrong. As for hacker mansions, the post you linked to…
You can be taken advantage of simply by participating. Hackathons that are tacked on to events are a great example: they're simply a way to sell more tickets. I've been guilty of this in the past on shows we've done (Twitter's Chirp conf, etc). Can good things happen at these hackathons? You bet. That doesn't mean Developers shouldn't be careful though. As for "20-hour days", that's just a number you've thrown out. W…
Can you explain how exactly I could be taken advantage of by going to a hackathon?
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#76I'm not entirely sure what hackathons Ryan Carson has been to, but this post is seriously misguided. Developers don't go to hackathons to be "code monkeys", rather they go to build something cool in a fun environment. It's often a great break outside of the day job to build something they would otherwise not have the motivation to. No one is stealing their concept or forcing them to take it further, it's just fun. As…
I agree with you on the reason Developers go to hackathons. That's why they're so likely to be taken advantage of. I'm simply saying that the young developer community needs to be wary. Regarding "hacker mansions" a cursory read of this job posting should reveal what I'm referring to: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3961037 It's clearly written by someone who thinks they can throw material things at a Developer a…
I fail to see how this is taking advantage.
A typical intern wage in the Valley is 5-6K per month. This is 10K for a 12(?) week stint. The pay is a bit low, but it sounds like included perks make up for it. That rent must be about $1500 per person per month, bringing the total salary up to 14.5K - not significantly less than the standard.
A lot of young developers like this lifestyle - I know I did (I am sadly not 22 anymore). Just because it isn't the right lifestyle for you (and other people with families and responsibilities) doesn't mean people are being taken for a ride.
Edit: I now see that that 10K is for 10 weeks, bringing the salary right into the middle of the "normal" Valley intern range (aka higher than most American's highest lifetime salary)
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think you're giving enough credit to the optimistic youth! They notice all right, most of them just don't care enough because all they really want to do is programming, motherfucker. After X years in the industry their passion might fade (and possibly their skill if they stop coding altogether), but it's not naïvety that gives rise to the occasional optimistic youth who gets screwed.
I think you're giving more credit than youth deserved. Almost all youth are exactly like that: naive.
Conclusion: the only thing in life worth doing is telling kids to get off your lawn.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#78> It’s a joke and I’m tired of it. Developers aren’t monkeys in a cage who can’t wait to do the next “hackathon”. They’ve got families, bills to pay and every other pressure that normal people do. They don’t want to drink Red Bull all night and sleep under their desks. Except I do want to do those things, and many others do as well. Not all developers have families or lots of bills to pay. Even those with lots of res…
>>If they don't appeal to you, don't go to them
By the same logic if we don't like OP's opinion, we should stop reading and may be stop questioning him instead?
People will and should question any new practice.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree with you on the reason Developers go to hackathons. That's why they're so likely to be taken advantage of. I'm simply saying that the young developer community needs to be wary. Regarding "hacker mansions" a cursory read of this job posting should reveal what I'm referring to: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3961037 It's clearly written by someone who thinks they can throw material things at a Developer a…
On that note, I really wish commenting was turned back on for HN job postings. I understand why they were turned off - people trying to expose anonymity for instance - but since they left, I feel like I see worse and worse postings, with little repercussions - or at least community feedback - to the companies who post...
Comments were never "on" for HN job postings.
Re: I’m tired of the opportunists and their hackathons
#80[deleted]