I think this is an interesting thesis that could have been expressed in 100-200 words.
Why software engineers are grieving
21–30 of 37 posts
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#22I think I'm also grieving loss. I'm at a time in my life where I most probably have 15 to 20 years of gainful employment left in me. Perhaps too little time to retrain; but definitely too much time to retire comfortably now. A midlife crisis, coupled with an existential crisis. I thought I had a clear route ahead. What do I do when everything I've learnt and dedicated myself to, is no longer valuable?
I've always thought that I could retrain myself multiple times in my life, and wouldn't suffer too much because of it. But the paths that I would've taken have changed as well: for example, I wouldn't feel as confident retraining myself for a designer-esque position, and I'm not sure whether I'd enjoy how those roles appear to be modernizing. This (seeming) lack of options seems to be a part of my low spirits.
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#23Its okay to be a tradesman. You don't have to join a cult and save the world. Work is hard and unpleasant. That's okay.
I dont think it is okay. If you spending 8-12h per week then you it needs to mean something. If you dont care, you are throwing away majority of your life without meaning.
Then we need to redesign our entire economic system because none of it hinges on you enjoying your productivity to survive or reaping the rewards. Not saying I entirely disagree with you, just saying our economic system isn’t configured for the theoretical ideals you suggest. I’m not sure we can do that or the people with enough wealth and power to shift things would ever want to change these things.
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#24Those who pay no attention to history are surprised when things change. It's the temporal equivalent of never leaving your home town. Very provincial. Then one day change comes and they're all shocked pikachu face.
Would you fault those who've had outstanding 20+ year programming careers for not anticipating the change?
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#25> He told me more than once why he chose us over other offers. We were a B2B SaaS company that helped healthcare technology companies bring safer products to market faster. That mission mattered to him [..] Mate, come on. Modern corporate hellscape America forces people say stuff like this. He wanted the job because you pay him MONEY which is required to EAT and not DIE OF ILLNESS, because employment is tied to if yo…
100%
I'm not sure when all this mission nonsense came in, but it's daft when you see it parroted around something as beige as SaaS. It's fine to want to make something good and make some money from it, but you don't have to pretend it's some kind of moral quest.
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#26Claude, generate an article that will get to HN front page. Make no mistakes.
Jokes on them, I just used Safari's summary feature. Even the title was enough for me to get the point.
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#27Its okay to be a tradesman. You don't have to join a cult and save the world. Work is hard and unpleasant. That's okay.
I dont think it is okay. If you spending 8-12h per week then you it needs to mean something. If you dont care, you are throwing away majority of your life without meaning.
It means I need the money and the employer needs the work.
I don’t think it’s okay either, but we were kind of spoiled that we enjoyed doing something that was in high demand. This isn’t the case for most jobs.
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
I dont think it is okay. If you spending 8-12h per week then you it needs to mean something. If you dont care, you are throwing away majority of your life without meaning.
You're making money, just don't think about it and you'll be fine. Retire when you feel like it and do whatever
You can't retire without wealth and switching to the trades is not going to get you wealth in the time people are talking about (i.e. 10 to 15 years until retirement)
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#29Those who pay no attention to history are surprised when things change. It's the temporal equivalent of never leaving your home town. Very provincial. Then one day change comes and they're all shocked pikachu face.
You're not wrong, Walter...
Re: Why software engineers are grieving
#30Those who pay no attention to history are surprised when things change. It's the temporal equivalent of never leaving your home town. Very provincial. Then one day change comes and they're all shocked pikachu face.
People saw change coming, they just don't have the ability to do anything about it.