Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help • Hacker News Board

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#581

Post by cabernal » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:25 PM UTC

Zenbit_UX wrote: post #571

kasey_junk wrote: post #563

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More likely selection bias for people that comment on threads like these. I’ve worked in finance and vc backed tech for my whole career. I don’t agree with any of the sentiments expressed in the threads like these. I’ve got friends from every job I’ve had in the last 20 years who I still see routinely including some of my best friends.

Sure, I think many of us can claim the same but the difference is you probably weren't the CEO or the boss like in OPs story. I think that changes things drastically. A boss can delude themselves into thinking employees are their friends, some even go so far as to claim employees as family. I generally stay away from small companies that pull this shit. This blurring of lines complicates every aspect of your job and…

Yeah... companies that harp on the "family" sentiment are either being disingenuous or naive given that they can get rid of you at the flip of a coin without remorse.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#582

Post by chasd00 » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:28 PM UTC

1234letshaveatw wrote: post #579

dgudkov wrote: post #488

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds so American to me. I grew up in Eastern Europe and general attitude towards work, life, and friendship is so much different. Some of the best friendships I've made were at the companies I worked for. I've seen cases where people make so good friendships at work that it even makes them postpone switching jobs to move up the career ladder. Work is not everything in your life. Work is important for sure, but…

I have often observed outsiders making sweeping generalizations regarding the shortcomings of the USA based off of a few internet postings. So many of my friends and neighbors came here voluntarily- They seem happy, but deep down they must be filled with so much remorse!

true. the USA is very big and diverse. no matter what you're looking for, good or bad, you can find it here.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#583

Post by Voxoff » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:31 PM UTC

__throwawy1234 wrote: post #129

_bxg1 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what happened to you to make you so cynical, and I honestly pity you for it, but I think this is the exact opposite of what someone in the OP's position needs to hear. It's well and good that you've found a zen way of looking at things despite how bleak you seem to find the whole world, but not everyone can manage such a radical mindset shift and don't need to have their faith in humanity eagerly torched…

Honestly, it's not cynicism, although it used to be until I really thought things through. It's just the truth. I have a great life, I have truly been blessed, and I am very thankful. But to me the glass is already broken. Things may come, things may go, the only thing I control is me, and I am at peace.

Ah I'm so glad you posted this! I've been trying to articulate a rejection of cycnism so it's perfect to have the opposite case presented!

I know it is semantics but it's important. You say "it's not cynicism", "it's just the truth". Cynicism is the belief that everyone is almost entirely self-interested. It squeezes out the possibility of altruism and generosity. Its sort of irrelevant whether it's the truth. So you are cynical.

Love that you've found some joy out of being at peace with your worldview.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#584

Post by lucideer » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:31 PM UTC

Well aware of the irony of posting this comment on YCombinator's HackerNews, but... sounds very much like the title of this should really be "Extremely disillusioned with capitalism. Please help"

There's very little in the content of the gist that's specific to software or technology. This isn't sectoral it's just about for-profit businesses.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#585

Post by Thorentis » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:31 PM UTC

jholman wrote: post #368

pault wrote: post #359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GP is talking about pre-WWII civilization, not medieval serfdom.

@Theorentis said "a few hundred years ago", not "up until WWII". I mean, @Theorentis is correct, in a way, about what's good about less-industrialized societies. Though it was more true of medieval serfs and classical societies than it was of "a few hundred years ago". But also @jacobulus is correct about the down-sides. And when you say "pre-WWII", that makes me think of 1850-1950, which I suggest is, overall, liter…

I did indeed have medieval serfs and particular feudal society in mind in my comment, and meant 500-600 years ago by "a few". I probbaly should have said "several".

The feudal system is often given a bad wrap, but after reading "The Servile State" (a critique of modern capitalism) I actually think we have much to learn from it that we have lost.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#586

Post by Thorentis » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:33 PM UTC

badpun wrote: post #554

bigDinosaur wrote: post #446

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The past was fairly horrible, of course, but we've definitely lost elements of it which were good. For example, commerce where both parties know and care about each other on some level like you might find in a farmers market or similar. Remnants still exist, but the mass market replacement, supermarkets, are missing a lot that was once better in the past. We've certainly vastly exceeded any previous material lifestyl…

> For example, commerce where both parties know and care about each other on some level like you might find in a farmers market or similar. There are farmers market around my area and my impression is that, if anything, people selling there can be more dishonest than the big chain stores - i.e. they will try selling a batch of bad apples, because they're not wealthy and they just need the money. Whereas big chains ha…

I think that's because at a farmers market you're still trading with somebody completely foreign to you. Pre-industrial societies were smaller, and based around tighter knit communities. Much harder to rip somebody off if they live 3 houses down and look after your kids twice a week, compared to some random person off the street.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#587

Post by xiaolingxiao » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:34 PM UTC

dgudkov wrote: post #488

xiaolingxiao wrote: post #39

I have also experience close to burnout and recovered multiple times, in the process I have lost very precious relationships, and entire years were spent in darkness. I also have friends who have been in tech for close to ten years, and are close to burning out though they would never admit to such. This is the nature of the beast, all things that appear glamorous on the outside ( Hollywood, Finance, Tech, many nonpr…

This sounds so American to me. I grew up in Eastern Europe and general attitude towards work, life, and friendship is so much different. Some of the best friendships I've made were at the companies I worked for. I've seen cases where people make so good friendships at work that it even makes them postpone switching jobs to move up the career ladder. Work is not everything in your life. Work is important for sure, but…

OP for the comment here. I'd just like to add that this advice is specific to article OP who was running a business. As an owner/operator, he/she is tasked with the responsibility to allocate capital/resources in an effective way (morality of capitalism notwithstanding, in the current system once you take the job, it's no longer about you). It's one thing to use love and passion as rhetoric, but as an employee I would prefer the person up top made rational decisions, and maintained some distance with each employee. What often happens is that for every employee the boss befriends, many are on the losing side of it.

I think a lot of people are generalizing the comment to people in all positions. I've befriended many people I worked with over the years, but I was not the one paying them, giving or denying them opportunities. I also really loved what I did, but I was not the one making sure it had exchange value on the market. Friendship, "passion", etc are really luxuries the OP wanted in this position, but really could not afford in large quantities.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#588

Post by astrea » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:38 PM UTC

tallgiraffe wrote: post #383

firecall wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been there, and am still recovering from burn out and a nervous breakdown. Corporates can be hell for me. I used to just want to drive my car into a tree on the way to work. I was so dead inside. Just nothing going on. I'm working from home now. But i'm still burnt out and recovering. I have no creativity. Things that should be straightforward seem pointless and repetitive. When I sit down at my computer I'm fil…

This whole thread, and your comment in particular, resonates. At the very least, knowing this might be the unspoken norm, rather than a personal challenge, that alone helps a ton.

Yeah I will say that this thread has been very validating as I haven't found anyone in my peer group who (at least admits to) feeling the same. What's the cure here? Obviously we could all use some therapy and/or meditation, but then what? To me it seems like we'd still be stuck in the same trap, just with better coping mechanisms.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#589

Post by orestarod » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:38 PM UTC

Aeolun wrote: post #533

sudosysgen wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why you should simply strike. 10% of the US population striking would exert immense power and make the ruling class crumble.

10% of the US population is currently unintendedly striking. I don’t see the ruling class crumble yet.

They are unemployed, not striking. Being unemployed means they are not needed by a corporation, thus them not working does not damage the profit of any corporation by disrupting its function. But when you are employed in a corporation and run its functions, then you can strike and exert pressure by disrupting its flow.

Re: Extremely disillusioned with technology. Please help

#590

Post by beshrkayali » Tue, May 05, 2020, 1:40 PM UTC

Lots of comments, not sure if anyone said this already.

If you're disillusioned because of the current Orwellian state the world is in (everything tracking you, hard locked in into ecosystems, etc...) Please know that this is not technology, technology has always been and will always be great. It's the business model that fucked us.