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Myths About Apple Design, From An Ex-Apple Designer

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Re: Myths About Apple Design, From An Ex-Apple Designer

#2

Post by jarrett »

The part about being dedicated enough to donate weekends and vacation time struck me. I'm of multiple minds about that mentality when it's applied to a large company. On the one hand, there's something beautiful about having a day job so meaningful you'll happily do more of it for free. On the other hand, I wonder if there's something exploitative about the following situation: Both employees and owners give over their lives, employees get satisfaction, and owners get satisfaction plus the financial rewards of the lives everyone donated. On the other other hand, if the employees enter into that deal consciously and happily, then maybe nobody loses. On the other other other hand, maybe there's also an element of brainwashing--which can, in principle, cause people to consciously and happily enter into exploitative relationships. Clearly, this is a complicated issue, and I don't feel at all qualified to pass moral judgment on it one way or another.

Re: Myths About Apple Design, From An Ex-Apple Designer

#3

Post by j10t »

jarrett wrote: post #2

The part about being dedicated enough to donate weekends and vacation time struck me. I'm of multiple minds about that mentality when it's applied to a large company. On the one hand, there's something beautiful about having a day job so meaningful you'll happily do more of it for free. On the other hand, I wonder if there's something exploitative about the following situation: Both employees and owners give over the…

I am not exceptionally smart, but I am a "hard worker." I often work nights and weekends, and I don't hate it.

As a result of my efforts, I am more skilled, and consequently enjoy a more lucrative position than I otherwise would. If I were a mediocre developer I could earn half as much as I do, or less. My nights & weekends developing software for my employer are investments in myself.

Re: Myths About Apple Design, From An Ex-Apple Designer

#7

Post by syntern »

j10t wrote: post #3
jarrett wrote: post #2

The part about being dedicated enough to donate weekends and vacation time struck me. I'm of multiple minds about that mentality when it's applied to a large company. On the one hand, there's something beautiful about having a day job so meaningful you'll happily do more of it for free. On the other hand, I wonder if there's something exploitative about the following situation: Both employees and owners give over the…

I am not exceptionally smart, but I am a "hard worker." I often work nights and weekends, and I don't hate it. As a result of my efforts, I am more skilled, and consequently enjoy a more lucrative position than I otherwise would. If I were a mediocre developer I could earn half as much as I do, or less. My nights & weekends developing software for my employer are investments in myself.

Family? Kids? Working at night and weekends quickly disappear once you have life in your work-life balance...

Re: Myths About Apple Design, From An Ex-Apple Designer

#9

Post by bluthru »

jarrett wrote: post #2

The part about being dedicated enough to donate weekends and vacation time struck me. I'm of multiple minds about that mentality when it's applied to a large company. On the one hand, there's something beautiful about having a day job so meaningful you'll happily do more of it for free. On the other hand, I wonder if there's something exploitative about the following situation: Both employees and owners give over the…

>On the other other hand, if the employees enter into that deal consciously and happily, then maybe nobody loses.

Society loses. Friends and family lose. Health is probably compromised. Other businesses lose from the employees not being able to spend their money as frequently.

Maybe I wouldn't be so critical of it if we in American had the same amount of days off as other first world countries.

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