Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

neilthanedar.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 424 posts

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#261

Post by johnnyanmac »

ecshafer wrote: post #207
NoGravitas wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will Jesus pay my rent? Because His yoke may be light, but my landlord's isn't.

Thats a bit of a strawman. Will religion pay your rent? Probably not. But focusing on a simple life around family and charity and not chasing material possessions or luxury might. Changing priorities from hip neighborhoods to family friendly neighborhoods may.

Even my best neighbors didn't let me sit in their house when I'm in danger of not affording rent. A "simple life" is more expensive than ever now.

And yes. odds are that those who are going to church already have the "simple life" covered. So be careful of selection bias.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#262

Post by marcus_holmes »

nradov wrote: post #238
marcus_holmes wrote: post #209

Please note that depression != burn-out. If you really can't get out of bed on a Monday morning, can't face the day, or muster any enthusiasm for anything, then you might not need a purpose, you might need medical assistance. Be kind to yourselves, people.

Be unkind to yourselves, people. I find the best way to prevent depression and burn-out is to be brutally, ruthlessly frank with myself. There's nothing positive in accepting weakness and failure. I always feel better when I hold myself to the highest standards and don't make excuses. Of course, I don't always manage to fully do that but it's something to aspire to.

Please don't do this to yourself.

Please go and get help.

Brains really don't work this way, and you are damaging yourself.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#263

Post by johnnyanmac »

techgnosis wrote: post #133
Jare wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we're burnt out because everything we want is simply too expensive Perhaps the problem starts with the fact that we continue to steer society in the direction where everything we want costs money.

I think this is the only comment that captures the message of the article. I feel for everyone who is priced out of life, those are very serious problems, but it wasn't what the article is talking about. If I was seeing lots of comments say something like "The cost of life is preventing me from pursuing my dreams" then the article would be relevant to that.

That's the danger of assuming people's lifestyle in a post like this. You say

>You got the great job. You built the startup. You took the vacations. But that’s not what you really needed.

And people will lash out if they haven't even gotten that far. it's tone deaf to the wider realities of society.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#264

Post by johnnyanmac »

Jare wrote: post #92
llmslave2 wrote: post #46

Maybe this hits for millennials and older but as a gen-z I think it's safe to say we're burnt out because everything we want is simply too expensive, our degrees are useless, dating and relationships have become damaged because of the apps, and we are inheriting a world that is broken and continues to shatter. The older generations have everything and still feel burnt out and unhappy? Cool. Cool cool cool. That will…

> we're burnt out because everything we want is simply too expensive Perhaps the problem starts with the fact that we continue to steer society in the direction where everything we want costs money.

"We" being the billionaires and boomers who want to preserve their property value, yes.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#265

Post by randyrand »

marcus_holmes wrote: post #209

Please note that depression != burn-out. If you really can't get out of bed on a Monday morning, can't face the day, or muster any enthusiasm for anything, then you might not need a purpose, you might need medical assistance. Be kind to yourselves, people.

And the money to pay for it. So better get to work.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#266

Post by thatfrenchguy »

nnutter wrote: post #154
sdeframond wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the time spent caring for the kids was energizing and purpose-providing. Depends. At 3am it's not.

That's a pretty short period in the grand scheme of things. Before you know it they'll be driving and just a year or two from leaving the nest and you'll wish you could have had more time with them.

Yup, but when you’re sleep deprived the months feel like years, and if unlucky and you got a bad sleeper the years can feel like decades

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#267

Post by johnnyanmac »

nzeid wrote: post #98
llmslave2 wrote: post #46

Maybe this hits for millennials and older but as a gen-z I think it's safe to say we're burnt out because everything we want is simply too expensive, our degrees are useless, dating and relationships have become damaged because of the apps, and we are inheriting a world that is broken and continues to shatter. The older generations have everything and still feel burnt out and unhappy? Cool. Cool cool cool. That will…

Man, posts like these always strike a nerve. I graduated in 2008. "Everything" wasn't just handed to us, we had our own share of horrible to deal with as well. And guess what? You'll get through it too. I wasn't a fan of the article either but I think at any point in history you can make a convincing argument that the world is ending. I don't have any good advice as to how to defeat this perspective, but I am constan…

>And guess what? You'll get through it too.

Will you? https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/recessi...

Maybe you did, but statistically those people are permanently behind.

>I wasn't a fan of the article either but I think at any point in history you can make a convincing argument that the world is ending

There's hoplessness of impending doom, and hopelessness of no progression. I do think Gen Z has a unique experience of the latter, where the former generations were mostly facing worries over the former. Boomers had the nuclear scare, Gen Z had the peak unease of the cold war, Millenials had 9/11 and a decade of questionable wars.

Gen Z doesn't have that impending doom... yet. COVID was very impacful, but not apocalyptic as long as you followed mandates (I know, a big "if" in the US). But I wouldn't hold my breath given all the conflicts out there, and the US's own warmongering riling up again.

Meanwhile, many can't even get their foot in the door. Not many 20 years olds ever felt like the future was hopeless, no matter what they did.

>Fuck it, create a dating app without perverse incentives.

Pay my rent for a year or so and you got a deal.

Otherwise, I feel like this is highlighting the exact tonedeafness Gen Z is tiring of. Gen Z doesn't just get to sit down and hack in their free time. They are doing gig work to pay rent and applying to thousands of jobs a day for hope of an interview (not even an offer).

I won't say it's uniquely bad. But it's bad in different ways from when you or I were growing up.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#269

Post by johnnyanmac »

alexey-salmin wrote: post #30
GMoromisato wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think people should have kids because they otherwise lack meaning, but it's absolutely true that kids change you in ways you would never have believed. If you think you might want kids but aren't sure, just do it.

> have kids because they otherwise lack meaning That's how life on earth worked for 3 billion years. I think that assuming humans are somehow above that is unwise. We're not.

Not to dismiss child labor laws. But kids until some 100 years ago were useful, free labor to help around the house or even with your business. The financial incentive of having a kid now is an astronomical investment.

Re: You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving

#270

Post by johnnyanmac »

HendrikHensen wrote: post #42
mensetmanusman wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This solves it for most, but secular society has lost any structural capability to succeed in this. Marriage rates have dropped over 70%. There are extremely thriving sub-communities in places though. Graft on to those.

> This solves it for most, but secular society has lost any structural capability to succeed in this. Can you explain how you see a causation between religion and marriage success?

Many religions still have pre-arranged marriages. Easy way to solve the issue of having to look attractive in an app.
Post reply on HN