This is true, but if it's an implied deficiency in the original post, I disagree. Both here and at the blog, there have been many defensive comments along the l

This is true, but if it's an implied deficiency in the original post, I disagree. Both here and at the blog, there have been many defensive comments along the lines of "well, maybe they're happy with their lives and we shouldn't judge them". The author specifically addressed that in the very first paragraph: > When you talk to them, you will realize that even they want to go somewhere, be someone and do remarkable things. The post should be read in that context. There are a tremendous number of smart people leading mediocre lives, not because of choice, but because of bad decision making. There is a gap between where they are and where they wish they were. They want something better, where better is defined strictly in terms of their own desires, but they can't make better happen. And the follow-on points laid out by the author are among the most common roadblocks these folks encounter.