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Older people are wiser. Young people quite often don't believe this, but that is because they don't know what they don't know yet. Problem is, wisdom isn't nec

Older people are wiser. Young people quite often don't believe this, but that is because they don't know what they don't know yet. Problem is, wisdom isn't necessarily a valuable commodity in rank and file. For instance, after many years and lots of faces a person starts learning how to work systems and people. Sometimes this takes the place of actually contributing. An older person who isn't management but who has well practiced political skills and extensive experience working systems for their own benefit is a bit dangerous to have around. Particularly if they aren't fully "on board" (and who is after seeing 20 years of nonsense?). And doubly so if they don't have good work habits or contribution ethics. Young people in general have more energy and more stamina. They are faster. I think this is biological fact. Quite often they do foolish things, but this is probably overcome by the increased capacity to do. The flexibility. The lack of jadedness. The ability to get excited. The ability to be directed. There's a reason the military only accepts younger people. And there's a reason you have to be a certain age to be president of the U.S. I don't think we should pretend everything is equal between ages. It manifestly isn't. But I do think for a certain definition of "old" a person can perform most programming tasks at an equal or greater level than the average younger programmer (if they are dedicated and so inclined and have the experience). But if it's hype and rah rah and running all around and back and forth (which is not to knock these things, sometimes it is what's needed), ya, a younger person is better for that. Over 40 myself. Pretty sure I'm a far better employee than I was in my 20's but also I wouldn't put up with a fraction of the crap and silly I put up with in my 20's. So I think there's probably different "best spots" for the place one is. As far as Google, I don't know. They sure are a fat target lately. Every aggrieved group under the sun appears to have the knives out hoping for their pound of flesh. Which is a cost of getting big and rich it appears. I just hope the measures they take or are forced to take don't negatively impact their products. Because I don't really care who they hire so long as the search is good.

misja111 9y ago
> Over 40 myself. Pretty sure I'm a far better employee than I was in my 20's but also I wouldn't put up with a fraction of the crap and silly I put up with in my 20's. I think you are making many good points, but I personally see this one differently. I'm over 40 too, but I'm actually accepting more crap than when I was in my 20's. That's because I have learned to realize that no company is perfect, no human being is infallible and so there is a certain unavoidable amount of crap everywhere.
jaclaz 9y ago
>Young people in general have more energy and more stamina. They are faster. I think this is biological fact. Quite often they do foolish things, but this is probably overcome by the increased capacity to do. The flexibility. The lack of jadedness. The ability to get excited. The ability to be directed. >There's a reason the military only accepts younger people. Sure, they are of course more fit and superior in anything "physical" (which is actually a large part of what a soldier has to do), more resistant to fatigue, long hours, etc. and usually much less prone to (say) ilnesses, backpain, or any other even slightly imparing condition BUT - not so casually - they are introduced in a very rigid schema with a set of very narrow rules and usually with a sergeant major shouting at them as soon as they even think to do anything minimally outside the said rules. From the outside it seems to me like putting together a bunch of people in the early twenties with no or little rules and no strict supervision/discipline, while undoubtedly a "creative" environment tends to resemble more a uni fraternity than a business place. I am just guessing, of course, but if you are over 40 and you started working 20 years ago or more you most probably started working in a place where there was a "dress code", some strict work times, a manager twice or more your age that would tell you what to do (but also possibly help you advising how to do it), some more experienced colleagues , etc., in other words some form of "forced" discipline and of mentoring. And now I will introduce (being over fifty myself, so somehow self-qualified for it) another concept, seniority does NOT mean in itself experience, experience is the SUM of seniority with the attitude to learn, discuss and extract useful lessons from all the things that happened during the (many) previous years and be capable of adapt what was learned to changes that inevitably happen ove the years (be those changes in Law, society or technical matters). I know quite a few people my age that notwithstanding having worked (often with some financial/personal success) for many years, learned nothing, i.e. are nowhere "wiser" than they were when young. Experience leads to be wiser, seniority leads to just being older.
- shados 9y ago
  > I know quite a few people my age that notwithstanding having worked (often with some financial/personal success) for many years, learned nothing, i.e. are nowhere "wiser" than they were when young. That's a pretty big deal. Someone straight out of school has expectations matching someone straight out of school. Someone with 20 years of experience has expectations matching someone with 20 years of experience. However, someone straight out of school is, usually, straight out of school. Someone with 20 years of experience..might have done nothing of value for 10 of those 20 years. Might not have kept up with technology. Might have poor quality experience. Might be bored with the profession, etc. So very few people straight out of school are unfit for the job. A much higher percentage of people with a lot of experience would be unfit for a job (unless they're willing to take a few step back, at which point, why not take someone of the same level who is going forward instead of backward?)

misja111 9y ago

> Over 40 myself. Pretty sure I'm a far better employee than I was in my 20's but also I wouldn't put up with a fraction of the crap and silly I put up with in my 20's. I think you are making many good points, but I personally see this one differently. I'm over 40 too, but I'm actually accepting more crap than when I was in my 20's. That's because I have learned to realize that no company is perfect, no human being is infallible and so there is a certain unavoidable amount of crap everywhere.

jaclaz 9y ago

>Young people in general have more energy and more stamina. They are faster. I think this is biological fact. Quite often they do foolish things, but this is probably overcome by the increased capacity to do. The flexibility. The lack of jadedness. The ability to get excited. The ability to be directed. >There's a reason the military only accepts younger people. Sure, they are of course more fit and superior in anything "physical" (which is actually a large part of what a soldier has to do), more resistant to fatigue, long hours, etc. and usually much less prone to (say) ilnesses, backpain, or any other even slightly imparing condition BUT - not so casually - they are introduced in a very rigid schema with a set of very narrow rules and usually with a sergeant major shouting at them as soon as they even think to do anything minimally outside the said rules. From the outside it seems to me like putting together a bunch of people in the early twenties with no or little rules and no strict supervision/discipline, while undoubtedly a "creative" environment tends to resemble more a uni fraternity than a business place. I am just guessing, of course, but if you are over 40 and you started working 20 years ago or more you most probably started working in a place where there was a "dress code", some strict work times, a manager twice or more your age that would tell you what to do (but also possibly help you advising how to do it), some more experienced colleagues , etc., in other words some form of "forced" discipline and of mentoring. And now I will introduce (being over fifty myself, so somehow self-qualified for it) another concept, seniority does NOT mean in itself experience, experience is the SUM of seniority with the attitude to learn, discuss and extract useful lessons from all the things that happened during the (many) previous years and be capable of adapt what was learned to changes that inevitably happen ove the years (be those changes in Law, society or technical matters). I know quite a few people my age that notwithstanding having worked (often with some financial/personal success) for many years, learned nothing, i.e. are nowhere "wiser" than they were when young. Experience leads to be wiser, seniority leads to just being older.

shados 9y ago
> I know quite a few people my age that notwithstanding having worked (often with some financial/personal success) for many years, learned nothing, i.e. are nowhere "wiser" than they were when young. That's a pretty big deal. Someone straight out of school has expectations matching someone straight out of school. Someone with 20 years of experience has expectations matching someone with 20 years of experience. However, someone straight out of school is, usually, straight out of school. Someone with 20 years of experience..might have done nothing of value for 10 of those 20 years. Might not have kept up with technology. Might have poor quality experience. Might be bored with the profession, etc. So very few people straight out of school are unfit for the job. A much higher percentage of people with a lot of experience would be unfit for a job (unless they're willing to take a few step back, at which point, why not take someone of the same level who is going forward instead of backward?)