My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job • Hacker News Board

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#81

Post by pearjuice » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 6:55 PM UTC

Taylorious wrote: post #45

Seems like this guy has a good thing going. Lots of people pay for a gym and workout every morning before they go work. This guy is basically doing the same thing but he is getting paid for it.

Comparing a proper gym workout with some mundane cycling is like saying driving a high class Porsche is the same as driving a middle class Volkswagen

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#82

Post by darkstar999 » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:08 PM UTC

spada wrote: post #56

mintykeen wrote: post #21

I'd much rather do that than pay to join a gym. Feels more productive and helpful.

biking 1.6 miles isn't going to get anyone fit.

100% better than biking 0 miles.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#83

Post by patcon » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:09 PM UTC

This is an amazing idea. I had a similar experience working cashier at a food co-op that I realized was operating in an alley beside my new apartment. Working on cash duty for 2 hours a week is one thing, but I think the most mind-blowing idea came from being a regular shopper when not on-shift. I'm a pretty friendly and respectful guy, and I like to think I treat everyone fairly and equitably, but... this job made me realize that something was amiss. When the people stocking your shelves and charging your credit card might just as easily be a professor or small business owner, a tiny behavioural toggle flips in your brain. And I found that disconcerting. I realized that maybe I hadn't been giving the other people in my community the mindshare they deserved, if that makes sense.

Or maybe, in a funny way, a member-owned co-op is a lot like open source, more than anything else. People who are there, are there because they choose to be. Maybe that's the most important thing that informs the different sort of interaction. We assume unhealthy things about people who do not choose to be serving us.

Or maybe that's not the take-home. I'm still thinking on it :)

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#84

Post by justinsteele » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:10 PM UTC

pearjuice wrote: post #81

Taylorious wrote: post #45

Seems like this guy has a good thing going. Lots of people pay for a gym and workout every morning before they go work. This guy is basically doing the same thing but he is getting paid for it.

Comparing a proper gym workout with some mundane cycling is like saying driving a high class Porsche is the same as driving a middle class Volkswagen

"Mundane" cycling daily is all that it takes to get the majority of health benefits. No reason to downplay what he's doing.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#85

Post by darkstar999 » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:12 PM UTC

jshakes wrote: post #77

I'm glad you appreciate the value of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. But reading this, it's easy to see why people post "Die Techie Scum" stickers around SF. You've taken a job that someone else could actually use to help pay rent and have turned it into a hobby. If I did this job for a living I would be furious at the arrogance of someone treating as an exercise in "Feeling Good". Get some perspective.

I thought the same thing at first, but then realized IT'S A FREE MARKET.

For every job out there, there are [x] people more qualified and more desperate for it.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#86

Post by hoggle » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:17 PM UTC

jshakes wrote: post #77

I'm glad you appreciate the value of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. But reading this, it's easy to see why people post "Die Techie Scum" stickers around SF. You've taken a job that someone else could actually use to help pay rent and have turned it into a hobby. If I did this job for a living I would be furious at the arrogance of someone treating as an exercise in "Feeling Good". Get some perspective.

That's a difficult but worthwhile topic to discuss as we need to be mindful of those kinds of disconnects as privileged tech workers. Would it still be un-ethical if there'd be no one willing to do it? Can we ever know?

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#87

Post by ojbyrne » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:17 PM UTC

Its a 2 mile bike ride from the look of things. I (and I'm sure others) ride to work in the morning and go at least 2 miles off the shortest route (perhaps, like me, to go on a trail). So the $35 and free coffee would be a bonus.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#88

Post by yepguy » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:23 PM UTC

Taylorious wrote: post #45

Seems like this guy has a good thing going. Lots of people pay for a gym and workout every morning before they go work. This guy is basically doing the same thing but he is getting paid for it.

If a bike ride could replace your gym membership then you are not making very good use of the gym.

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#89

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:23 PM UTC

pearjuice wrote: post #81

Taylorious wrote: post #45

Seems like this guy has a good thing going. Lots of people pay for a gym and workout every morning before they go work. This guy is basically doing the same thing but he is getting paid for it.

Comparing a proper gym workout with some mundane cycling is like saying driving a high class Porsche is the same as driving a middle class Volkswagen

[deleted]

Re: My low-paying, early-morning, exertion-requiring job

#90

Post by Gracana » Fri, Apr 04, 2014, 7:30 PM UTC

evan_ wrote: post #72

timjahn wrote: post #25

LOVE this idea. A great way to get exercise and force yourself to step outside our little startup/tech bubble to experience more of the "real world".

In the REAL real world, the bagel place has a guy with a truck who drives around delivering bagels.

Bicycle courier/delivery is very common in many parts of the world.