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A Platitude on Software Failure

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Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#2

Post by j_baker »

This was certainly a cheerful piece.

Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#4

Post by codingthebeach »

j_baker wrote: post #2

This was certainly a cheerful piece. Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

I'm pretty sure that's why it was put on Pastebin, which lately is turning into a sort of PostSecret of random geekery. Thanks probably in part to Lulzsec.

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#5

Post by neilk »

codingthebeach wrote: post #4
j_baker wrote: post #2

This was certainly a cheerful piece. Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

I'm pretty sure that's why it was put on Pastebin, which lately is turning into a sort of PostSecret of random geekery. Thanks probably in part to Lulzsec.

I suspect this was the start of mainstream pastebin-as-publishing-platform: http://www.michielovertoom.com/python/pastebin-abused/

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#6

Post by arrel »

It sounds like a poetic call to action that everyone on HN should probably heed. Too many talented people are pouring their efforts into the next location-based photo sharing app that nobody is going to use (trust me, I did it myself for almost a year) and not tackling real problems with positive sum solutions. We all need to get out of the SV hype machine a little more often to make sure what we're working on matters.

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#7

Post by tdavis »

j_baker wrote: post #2

This was certainly a cheerful piece. Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

Really? I thought this was rather good prose and the core message is quite accurate. As someone neither disturbed or depressed, I found it a quite refreshing read. On the one hand you can always argue that humanity isn't doing enough "meaningful" work--and perhaps the author is really distraught about that (though I'm not one to imagine it'll ever change). On the other hand, the tech industry is undeniably filled with snake-oil salesmen, herd mentality, and general bullshit.

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#8

Post by BasDirks »

j_baker wrote: post #2

This was certainly a cheerful piece. Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

I thought it was very well written, a rare phenomenon on the internet. Don't let perceived bitterness make _you_ bitter.

Re: A Platitude on Software Failure

#10

Post by Andi »

j_baker wrote: post #2

This was certainly a cheerful piece. Seriously though, I'm convinced the person who wrote it needs the help of a good psychiatrist and maybe some antidepressants more than they need... whatever it is they're asking for.

If you (do not believe what this guy wrote OR will try to forget it) AND (still develop software) == You have already failed and (should find another job OR find a good psychiatrist)
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