Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis • Hacker News Board

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#21

Post by patio11 » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 4:15 AM UTC

martythemaniak wrote: post #13

branden wrote: post #2

This article is a treasure trove of narcissism and self-pity. I don't mean that to be criticism; I think it's an accurate depiction of the malaise that comes from having nothing truly important to worry about. I recognize a bit of myself in it.

I'm sorry but that is nothing but a bunch of ignorant hand-waving. Whenever something like the quarterlife crisis is brought up, there is a strong current of thinking that goes something like "These people should just get over themselves" Fact is, there are a number of huge factors working against young people these days. Consider the following: - You can't get a decent job without a decent education. It used to be t…

It seems to me that there are two audiences for the quarterlife crisis, and they're largely determined by selection of college major.

If you majored in something in Arts & Sciences which doesn't have a career attached, and then went to grad school in it (maybe a PhD) before figuring out that you have no marketable skills, you are now in your mid-to-late twenties, have a mountain of debt, and have no particular employment prospects.

If you majored something which a profession attached (engineering, foreign language with an eye towards actually using it to do more than order una cerveza por favor, etc), then you probably were employable in your early twenties and almost immediately a member of the middle class, without a crushing debt load.

I wouldn't exactly be the poster-child for "with it" in my father's generation but I came out of college with $20k in debt at the age of 22 with a job offer which paid very modestly, but better than working at a railroad or cereal company, both things my father had done at 22. Those aren't exactly ennui-inducing circumstances.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#22

Post by aristus » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 4:26 AM UTC

arakyd wrote: post #11

mhb wrote: post #9

For a much more entertaining version, rent "Vicky Christina Barcelona" by Woody Allen.

It's funny you say that, because I watched that this weekend, and liked it so much that I got a bunch of his movies. I enjoyed one or two more, then realized that they're all the same: guy gets married, guy is unsatisfied, guy cheats on his wife, guy decides not to leave his wife. That's the way all of his "best" movies go, at least. But you're right, it's the same sort of thing: permanent, vague dissatisfaction with…

Try his movie "Zelig" if you want a meditation on fitting in. :)

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#23

Post by martythemaniak » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 4:51 AM UTC

patio11 wrote: post #21

martythemaniak wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but that is nothing but a bunch of ignorant hand-waving. Whenever something like the quarterlife crisis is brought up, there is a strong current of thinking that goes something like "These people should just get over themselves" Fact is, there are a number of huge factors working against young people these days. Consider the following: - You can't get a decent job without a decent education. It used to be t…

It seems to me that there are two audiences for the quarterlife crisis, and they're largely determined by selection of college major. If you majored in something in Arts & Sciences which doesn't have a career attached, and then went to grad school in it (maybe a PhD) before figuring out that you have no marketable skills, you are now in your mid-to-late twenties, have a mountain of debt, and have no particular employ…

You are partially right, but gainful employment isn't the end-all, be-all. I finished engineering without debt and with plenty of excellent experience, and had no problem finding a great job at a great company. Yet, I can sympathize with much of what the article talks about and see plenty of it in my peers, including those who graduated from engineering with me.

I happened to choose an interesting and well-paying career when I was 17 or so. I certainly don't think it was a choice I made because I was wise, but mostly because of luck and happenance. Most others, I think, did not get so lucky, and now they have to deal not only with that, but with economic policies firmly aligned against them.

The most interesting thing perhaps is how global this phenomenon is. You have the above quarterlife crisis in north america, you have rioting muslim youth France, rioting Greek youth in Greece, massive protests and instability in Iran, the so-called "Mileuristas" in Spain (that is, people living on 1000 euros a month), etc etc.

Dismissing all of this with a simple wave of the hand about the whining of young people shows a complete lack of understanding.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#24

Post by mannicken » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 5:08 AM UTC

physcab wrote: post #10

This article is the story of my life right now. I am 25. I am living the quarter life crisis. What makes this article hilarious though is that it is so true . Yes, its a selfish, narcissistic feeling. But in my defense it was how I survived college. Society pressures you to think selfishly because when you are in undergrad all you think about is "I need to get a high GPA to get into a good grad school" or "I need goo…

I agree. Earning money and respect pretty much by definition requires you to think about others. Reduced to bare fundamentals, to make money you need to think about what other people want and give it to to them because money is a very abstract paper definition of "what people want from each other".

People think "oh, to earn money I have to go to college" or "I have to go get a job". The more important point is: people don't fucking give a shit about whether you want to college or not. If you can give them nice software, food, pornography, or luxury items so they can show off they _will want_ to pay you a lot of money.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#25

Post by gnaritas » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 6:23 AM UTC

martythemaniak wrote: post #13

branden wrote: post #2

This article is a treasure trove of narcissism and self-pity. I don't mean that to be criticism; I think it's an accurate depiction of the malaise that comes from having nothing truly important to worry about. I recognize a bit of myself in it.

I'm sorry but that is nothing but a bunch of ignorant hand-waving. Whenever something like the quarterlife crisis is brought up, there is a strong current of thinking that goes something like "These people should just get over themselves" Fact is, there are a number of huge factors working against young people these days. Consider the following: - You can't get a decent job without a decent education. It used to be t…

> You can't get a decent job without a decent education.

So, what makes you think a decent job is a right, because it isn't. Most people don't go to college, most people get low paying and/or manual labor or service jobs. Welcome to the real world.

> Kids these days are finishing school much later than their parents, and they don't have a choice.

They have every choice, they can choose to not bury themselves in debt to go to a school they can't afford. If you can't afford college, don't go.

> the cost of school is sky-rocketting, as it debt.

See above.

> there aren't very many quality, well paying jobs available to young people.

Have there ever been? Really? C'mon, young people have always started at the bottom of the ladder and been shit on, overworked, and taken advantage of; that's how the system works, it isn't anything new.

Seriously, this all sounds like a bunch of rich white kid whining about how hard their life is (despite being full of choices most people don't even have)... you people should just get over yourselves, most people have it much harder. Most people don't go to college, most people hate their jobs, most people make shit wages and have little hope of ever making it.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#26

Post by whatusername » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 6:47 AM UTC

gnaritas wrote: post #25

martythemaniak wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but that is nothing but a bunch of ignorant hand-waving. Whenever something like the quarterlife crisis is brought up, there is a strong current of thinking that goes something like "These people should just get over themselves" Fact is, there are a number of huge factors working against young people these days. Consider the following: - You can't get a decent job without a decent education. It used to be t…

> You can't get a decent job without a decent education. So, what makes you think a decent job is a right, because it isn't. Most people don't go to college, most people get low paying and/or manual labor or service jobs. Welcome to the real world. > Kids these days are finishing school much later than their parents, and they don't have a choice. They have every choice, they can choose to not bury themselves in debt…

I think the point is comparison to parents/grandparents. Most of our parents never went to college - but could still have Dad work a blue-collar job - and still have a nice (small) house in the suburbs with a picket fence.

I think part of the issue/trend is the fact that this generation might end up worse off than their parents.. that hasn't happened all that much historically (that I can think of at least)

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#27

Post by pushingbits » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:01 AM UTC

martythemaniak wrote: post #23

patio11 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to me that there are two audiences for the quarterlife crisis, and they're largely determined by selection of college major. If you majored in something in Arts & Sciences which doesn't have a career attached, and then went to grad school in it (maybe a PhD) before figuring out that you have no marketable skills, you are now in your mid-to-late twenties, have a mountain of debt, and have no particular employ…

You are partially right, but gainful employment isn't the end-all, be-all. I finished engineering without debt and with plenty of excellent experience, and had no problem finding a great job at a great company. Yet, I can sympathize with much of what the article talks about and see plenty of it in my peers, including those who graduated from engineering with me. I happened to choose an interesting and well-paying car…

The only similiarities between the Quarterlife Crisis people the article talks about and rioting muslims in France or protesters in Iran is that they are young and unhappy. The reasons for their discontent are completely different.

This is hardly a global phenomenon. You can maybe see a weaker version of it in other developed western countries. But even young people in Europe... well, they don't have the debt when graduating from college and they also don't have the "You're special!" sense of entitlement. At least not to the extent that suburbanite Americans do.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#28

Post by ShardPhoenix » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:16 AM UTC

heed wrote: post #16

martythemaniak wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but that is nothing but a bunch of ignorant hand-waving. Whenever something like the quarterlife crisis is brought up, there is a strong current of thinking that goes something like "These people should just get over themselves" Fact is, there are a number of huge factors working against young people these days. Consider the following: - You can't get a decent job without a decent education. It used to be t…

Not just that, but there is so much social pressure and expectation that pushes you along through highschool, through college without much promotion toward the alternatives. Never once did I think or hear that I didn't have to go to college, that I could learn some sort of trade or technical skill instead. I blindly followed my nicely laid out path with little objection, and in a way feel robbed, though realize it ul…

The fact that someone else has it worse doesn't make your feelings any less real.

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#29

Post by JanezStupar » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:43 AM UTC

pushingbits wrote: post #27

martythemaniak wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are partially right, but gainful employment isn't the end-all, be-all. I finished engineering without debt and with plenty of excellent experience, and had no problem finding a great job at a great company. Yet, I can sympathize with much of what the article talks about and see plenty of it in my peers, including those who graduated from engineering with me. I happened to choose an interesting and well-paying car…

The only similiarities between the Quarterlife Crisis people the article talks about and rioting muslims in France or protesters in Iran is that they are young and unhappy. The reasons for their discontent are completely different. This is hardly a global phenomenon. You can maybe see a weaker version of it in other developed western countries. But even young people in Europe... well, they don't have the debt when gr…

Maybe that proves it has nothing to do with "You're special" meme OR debt.

I'm 26 year old from central Europe. And these feelings are all to familiar with me - especially from observing what's going on with my peers.

What I see is that generation of our parents - the boomers took all and everything they could - it feels like they didn't leave anything to us. Except the task of cleaning up leftovers of their broken dreams. Picking up their debts - their broken pension system, etc.

It seems to me that boomers are "the entitled generation" and our generation will be know as - the useless generation. In my country the unemployment amongst young 20 - 30 is 30% of all unemployed - quite a lot well educated. Why? Because you can't get job without experience and vice versa. While boomers created system that educated us and hold positions of power while bitching how unfair the system is to their children.

To say I'm a computer engineer without debt and with good career prospects. But not enough income to support family solo - my GF is one of those educated young people who cant get work. Meaning we obviously aren't going to do anything about improving our demographic situation anytime soon.

So we either have the option of living blue collar class lifestyle (thus negating our effort in education) OR screwing over the society.

:)

Re: Welcome to Your Quarter Life Crisis

#30

Post by justin » Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:47 AM UTC

shaunxcode wrote: post #19

Guess I'm even more glad that I dropped out of high school, started hacking, played in bands, lived/worked in europe for a few years, came back to the states and now work full time from home for clients and my own start up. Maybe I hit my quarter life crisis in 9th grade but I realized what my culture offered me after school was over appealed about as much sitting in school waiting for it to be over.... Maybe all the…

Congrats