5 ms·

Bloviating presentation of anecdata. This problem may be getting worse, or better: there's no real evidence here, just scaremongery.

hwstar 11y ago
There's lots of evidence, and older engineers are very vulnerable. If you are an engineer over 55 who gets let go, you'd better have investments and rental income, or you'll lose everything.
- umeshunni 11y ago
  Can you share the evidence?
  - hwstar 11y ago
    https://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-silicon-valleys-ageism-means/ https://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-silicon... https://newrepublic.com/article/117088/silicons-valleys-brutal-ageism https://newrepublic.com/article/117088/silicons-valleys-brut... http://fortune.com/2014/06/19/tech-job-ads-discrimination/ http://fortune.com/2014/06/19/tech-job-ads-discrimination/
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - DenisM 11y ago
      That's some good stuff, thank you for sharing. I'm now inclined to agree that ageism is very likely, and deserves a formal inquiry.
- DenisM 11y ago
  Some factual data would certainly improve this conversation.
- WalterSear 11y ago
  That's neither here nor there: the article had none.
aklemm 11y ago
Anecdotes have value. Stories have value. Opinions can have value. Evidence is not a condition that necessarily drives change. Your total dismissal of the piece seems misguided.
- BookmarkSaver 11y ago
  There are over 300 million people in this country alone. The fact that anecdotes about ageism exist means almost literally nothing. There needs to be actual data that there is a problem. Several people just won over $100 million in the lottery. Just because you know one of them doesn't make your anecdote about lottery players a valid basis for writing an article encouraging readers to try the lottery. Without evidence, without actual data, attempting to make an argument about a societal trend is less than useless, it is just empty rhetoric that only exists to distract from actual discussions that might have a chance of encouraging positive change. "Anecdotes" and "stories" and "opinions" might have value, but in this context they can only be used to illustrate a point. Not as the basis for making that point. Total dismissal is warranted. This guy isn't a family member or friend venting to you, this is a guy publishing an op-ed on a big website. It requires either solid logic or data. He provides neither.
  - aklemm 11y ago
    It's in the opinion section where it belongs. You're setting a standard so high for public discourse that it's essential worthless (I'll get you a source for that asap.)
- SerLava 11y ago
  "Ageism: A Worsening Epidemic" can only be interpreted as an assertion that the incidence of ageism is increasing. Anecdotes can have value, but they have no value in confirming this assertion.
ternaryoperator 11y ago
Honestly, go to Google HQ at lunch time and count the number of people you see with mostly gray hair. It's scary how few there you see.
- WalterSear 11y ago
  It's a pity the author didn't think to confer with you before writing the article.

hwstar 11y ago

There's lots of evidence, and older engineers are very vulnerable. If you are an engineer over 55 who gets let go, you'd better have investments and rental income, or you'll lose everything.

umeshunni 11y ago
Can you share the evidence?
- hwstar 11y ago
  https://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-silicon-valleys-ageism-means/ https://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/what-silicon... https://newrepublic.com/article/117088/silicons-valleys-brutal-ageism https://newrepublic.com/article/117088/silicons-valleys-brut... http://fortune.com/2014/06/19/tech-job-ads-discrimination/ http://fortune.com/2014/06/19/tech-job-ads-discrimination/
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - DenisM 11y ago
    That's some good stuff, thank you for sharing. I'm now inclined to agree that ageism is very likely, and deserves a formal inquiry.
DenisM 11y ago
Some factual data would certainly improve this conversation.
WalterSear 11y ago
That's neither here nor there: the article had none.

aklemm 11y ago

Anecdotes have value. Stories have value. Opinions can have value. Evidence is not a condition that necessarily drives change. Your total dismissal of the piece seems misguided.

BookmarkSaver 11y ago
There are over 300 million people in this country alone. The fact that anecdotes about ageism exist means almost literally nothing. There needs to be actual data that there is a problem. Several people just won over $100 million in the lottery. Just because you know one of them doesn't make your anecdote about lottery players a valid basis for writing an article encouraging readers to try the lottery. Without evidence, without actual data, attempting to make an argument about a societal trend is less than useless, it is just empty rhetoric that only exists to distract from actual discussions that might have a chance of encouraging positive change. "Anecdotes" and "stories" and "opinions" might have value, but in this context they can only be used to illustrate a point. Not as the basis for making that point. Total dismissal is warranted. This guy isn't a family member or friend venting to you, this is a guy publishing an op-ed on a big website. It requires either solid logic or data. He provides neither.
- aklemm 11y ago
  It's in the opinion section where it belongs. You're setting a standard so high for public discourse that it's essential worthless (I'll get you a source for that asap.)
SerLava 11y ago
"Ageism: A Worsening Epidemic" can only be interpreted as an assertion that the incidence of ageism is increasing. Anecdotes can have value, but they have no value in confirming this assertion.

ternaryoperator 11y ago

Honestly, go to Google HQ at lunch time and count the number of people you see with mostly gray hair. It's scary how few there you see.

WalterSear 11y ago
It's a pity the author didn't think to confer with you before writing the article.