Working alone sucks • Hacker News Board

Re: Working alone sucks

#81

Post by jasonkester » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 8:30 PM UTC

codinghorror wrote: post #77

jasonkester wrote: post #49

I met a girl at a party once, and she said something really interesting when I mentioned that I wrote software for a living. "I could never do that", she said. "I could never sit alone all day, staring at a computer and never getting the chance to talk to anybody. It'd be my worst nightmare." I hadn't ever thought about it like that. Naturally, as a developer, I think I have the greatest job there is. Where else coul…

Wait what? Who in the world is using a computer today that isn't constantly interacting with people on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, uh.. Hacker News, even.. I mean, you're doing it right now . Today's web is an insanely social place. Compare with computers in 1985, yeah, you might have a point about social isolation. But today? Absolutely not, no way.

Sure, this person could have been an outlier. But I get the impression that that's what most people think we do all day.

Incidentally, I didn't expect anybody would question that particular point. If anything, I'd have thought people would think it much less plausible that a computer programmer had been invited to a party. And that once there he had actually spoken to a girl.

Re: Working alone sucks

#82

Post by kayoone » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 8:40 PM UTC

marknutter wrote: post #20

labaraka wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a difference between general human interaction and specifically having a peer working with with you on a common goal.

I pair program with a couple other devs on a Google Hangout all the time and it literally is no different than being in the same room together. In fact, it's often much better because we can easily switch between presenters.

does pair programming with google hangout really work? i cant find a way to make the video stream fullscreen which isnt ideal for viewing code imo.

Re: Working alone sucks

#83

Post by kayoone » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 8:44 PM UTC

codinghorror wrote: post #80

kayoone wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That still doesnt change "I could never sit alone all day, staring at a computer and never getting the chance to talk to anybody." Even by using social media, you are still alone in front of your computer.

That's meaningless. "never getting the chance to talk to anybody"? I'm talking to you, and everyone else who reads this web page, right now . Just look around you. Look at all the people who are in real world physical social situations and still spend most of their time staring at their smartphone and the stream of social updates from Twitter, from Facebook, from Email... Staring at those screens is compelling becaus…

I get your point, but i still think the girl the op talked about meant something different. My girlfriend thinks the same...sitting infront of a computer has nothing todo with social activity for her, even when she occasionally checks facebook, and she would go crazy if she had to be alone in front of a computer all day, while i enjoy it alot.

Re: Working alone sucks

#84

Post by pacomerh » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 8:45 PM UTC

I love the fact that a developer can work anywhere, while working on client projects thats totally fine and cool. But when you're doing 'cool stuff' or your own ideas. I found that working with someone else is another world. The energy that flows back and forth is incomparable.

Re: Working alone sucks

#85

Post by rm445 » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:00 PM UTC

codinghorror wrote: post #80

kayoone wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That still doesnt change "I could never sit alone all day, staring at a computer and never getting the chance to talk to anybody." Even by using social media, you are still alone in front of your computer.

That's meaningless. "never getting the chance to talk to anybody"? I'm talking to you, and everyone else who reads this web page, right now . Just look around you. Look at all the people who are in real world physical social situations and still spend most of their time staring at their smartphone and the stream of social updates from Twitter, from Facebook, from Email... Staring at those screens is compelling becaus…

It's interesting that you can't tell the difference. You are not talking to parent poster, you are typing text into a box while alone in room. You can't see his(?) facial expressions, change the subject, comment on things taking place around both of you. You just type into a box and sometime later you might see this reply.

Don't get me wrong, communicating on the Internet is great. But for some types of personality (and pretty much all of us to some extent) face-to-face interaction is vital.

Re: Working alone sucks

#86

Post by maigret » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:00 PM UTC

kayoone wrote: post #78

codinghorror wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait what? Who in the world is using a computer today that isn't constantly interacting with people on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, uh.. Hacker News, even.. I mean, you're doing it right now . Today's web is an insanely social place. Compare with computers in 1985, yeah, you might have a point about social isolation. But today? Absolutely not, no way.

That still doesnt change "I could never sit alone all day, staring at a computer and never getting the chance to talk to anybody." Even by using social media, you are still alone in front of your computer.

Doing software development (my role involves quite some coordination though), I am discussing all the time with people. On instant messaging, to people coming to my office, in meetings, on the phone, or around a coffee. Time communicating is more important than time coding.

Any other profession now have time in front of computers. But often for dull, administrative work. Teachers correct homeworks, police officers write reports, politicians review law proposals, etc. My time in front of the computer is fun, but ssshh don't tell that too much ;)

Re: Working alone sucks

#87

Post by mgkimsal » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:09 PM UTC

sbrother wrote: post #62

mgkimsal wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not completely outrageous, although most of the people I know that are billing >= $150/hr aren't billing 2000 hours/year. Actually, even most of the hourly consultants I know that work for themselves aren't billable that often - usually 1000-1200 billable hours between most of the independent IT/tech people I know. Still, even at $75/hour, you're still 2-3x what a lot of people are making, and it's generally only up…

Exactly. But that's one of the best parts of software development in my opinion - you can make 3x the median income while living wherever you like and working 20 hours a week (i.e. having time for side projects, or kids)

I agree, it's just not 14x. People sometimes assume I make boatloads of money - I don't - but I do enjoy the flexibility.

Re: Working alone sucks

#88

Post by dennisgorelik » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:58 PM UTC

rm445 wrote: post #85

codinghorror wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's meaningless. "never getting the chance to talk to anybody"? I'm talking to you, and everyone else who reads this web page, right now . Just look around you. Look at all the people who are in real world physical social situations and still spend most of their time staring at their smartphone and the stream of social updates from Twitter, from Facebook, from Email... Staring at those screens is compelling becaus…

It's interesting that you can't tell the difference. You are not talking to parent poster, you are typing text into a box while alone in room. You can't see his(?) facial expressions, change the subject, comment on things taking place around both of you. You just type into a box and sometime later you might see this reply. Don't get me wrong, communicating on the Internet is great. But for some types of personality (…

Experienced writers/readers easily communicate emotions through text.

Re: Working alone sucks

#89

Post by return0 » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 10:09 PM UTC

jasonkester wrote: post #49

I met a girl at a party once, and she said something really interesting when I mentioned that I wrote software for a living. "I could never do that", she said. "I could never sit alone all day, staring at a computer and never getting the chance to talk to anybody. It'd be my worst nightmare." I hadn't ever thought about it like that. Naturally, as a developer, I think I have the greatest job there is. Where else coul…

Maybe part of the reason why there's a big gender gap?

Re: Working alone sucks

#90

Post by gubatron » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 10:20 PM UTC

brandall10 wrote: post #37

marknutter wrote: post #3

Title should be "Working alone sucks for some people ". I've been working from home for years and love it, for instance.

I truly believe 'alone' is more a state of mind than anything else. Having recently left a veritable 'Office-Space' like enterprise, with 500 people on my floor you'd think I wouldn't have been so lonely. But being lost in a sea of cubes and water cooler/misery loves company talk replete with excuses of why someone can't do something and something didn't get done at every corner can wear one down. As a newly minted R…

exactly, I've felt more alone in an office with a bunch of morons, than at home being able to connect with people that share my interests. In the internet it's hard to be alone, there's actually a lot of distraction, working alone in real life is almost a blessing for focus.