3 ms·

I understand your points and your frustration, but regarding point 1. you can't reasonably wait for the system to change in your region (especially with the cur

by panta 9y ago

I understand your points and your frustration, but regarding point 1. you can't reasonably wait for the system to change in your region (especially with the current administration) (btw I don't know how feasible - but have you considered moving to a more friendly place?), for 2. probably many here on hn can be better discerning, for 3. if someone decides to help, he does it to increase your chances of success and without expecting any guarantee, that would be silly. Regarding the "teaching how to fish", maybe you could tell something more on what your inclinations and abilities are (if any, but almost everybody has some abilities in a form or another). This way maybe someone here finds a good match for some remote work suitable to you.

hestipod 9y ago
I am not sure I could even sell what I realistically have very well. My previous career and education are so long ago nothing is relevant now and my CV is dead. As far as tech skills I am above average compared to my general age group/cohort, but likely nothing compared to HN types. I use Linux but not well. Very minor command line knowledge I don't know any programming languages and attempts to learn them have not gone well. I have LineageOS on my phone so can at least follow directions to install ROMs. Not a complete idiot, but not at all an expert. I am interested in privacy and use encryption when possible. I gravitate toward underdogs and people in need and if I won the Powerball (unlikely as I don't play) I would spend my life as a philanthropist helping those in need. I like SciFi and Space stuff, read a lot, love maps. Something beneficial like the tanker monitoring online I mentioned above would suit me. I have often joked being a professional Wikipedia or Memory Alpha reader would be perfect for me. I like clean, organized and minimal environments in general irl and online. There are a number of THINGS I could imagine myself being able to do and also enjoying...but I don't see any realistic path to doing so for a paycheck within my limits. I don't know if there is anything out there I am just not aware of that could work as well. Maybe I COULD learn to code with time and help but at first glance it's not something I find passion for. I would never make it in a normal high paced startup etc. I need stability but flexibility in anything I would do. I don't have the strength or energy to be in a "dynamic environment". I have hand issues along with many other broken bits so am not a very fast typist. Sorry for the scatter. Trying to think of relevant things to remote or tech work. I really don't know at this point...and this post itself is on the 3rd or 4th page by now so not likely many would even see my comment if there WAS someone out there with a good plan.
- panta 9y ago
  If I may ask, what your previous career/education was about? Maybe they are not very relevant, but they are definitely better than nothing and could be a common interest with a potential employer. The fact that you are a bit technically minded is a good starting point, especially together with the willingness to learn. You love maps, so you could for example learn a bit of python (it's easy and quick to jumpstart, I promise) and use it to play with cartography. Give a look to [Kartograph](http://kartograph.org http://kartograph.org), [TileMill](https://tilemill-project.github.io/tilemill/ https://tilemill-project.github.io/tilemill/), [Leaflet](http://leafletjs.com http://leafletjs.com), [OpenLayers](http://openlayers.org http://openlayers.org). There is also this interesting list of [Essential Python Geospatial Libraries](http://spatialdemography.org/essential-python-geospatial-libraries/ http://spatialdemography.org/essential-python-geospatial-lib...). This will not guarantee a job, but it would be an interesting skill set for which probably there is demand. I'm not in this field, but in case I could give you some pointers for the Python part.
  - hestipod 9y ago
    I don't want to give details in public but it isn't something I could or would want to be involved in again for many reasons. The skills were specialized and honestly irrelevant to anything I could do online. I am starting from scratch. I appreciate and understand your view but the "self learn a marketable skill" has never worked. I cannot compete with young, healthy people who are grinding away. Without some miracle/kindness/bespoke option I am lost. It's not negativity or cynicism even though it sounds so...its just truth proven over time. Even this post which initially gave me a tiny boost of hope thinking someone might do as you said and see it and have a solution is so far off the front few pages nobody but you will continue to see it. Just learning to fish for a "special kind of fish that may or may not be available and I have to compete with better, stronger fishermen for" won't work. I'd need someone to teach me to fish and give me the opportunity to fish within my limits. That's honestly a pipe dream.
    - panta 9y ago
      You have to start somewhere. If you start saying it won't work, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if you start something not too unreasonable saying that you can do it, it can be a self-fulfilling prophecy too, but a positive one. Being positive and optimist is free, and can go a long way... (of course you need to put in also some work, but not necessarily an extenuating amount).
hestipod 9y ago
Too late to edit my reply but as far as moving I most definitely want to and have been trying to find a way. I lived in Europe before and things were much better for me, but at this stage unless I can earn and find a way to legitimize once there it's hopeless as well.

by panta 9y ago

hestipod 9y ago

I am not sure I could even sell what I realistically have very well. My previous career and education are so long ago nothing is relevant now and my CV is dead. As far as tech skills I am above average compared to my general age group/cohort, but likely nothing compared to HN types. I use Linux but not well. Very minor command line knowledge I don't know any programming languages and attempts to learn them have not gone well. I have LineageOS on my phone so can at least follow directions to install ROMs. Not a complete idiot, but not at all an expert. I am interested in privacy and use encryption when possible. I gravitate toward underdogs and people in need and if I won the Powerball (unlikely as I don't play) I would spend my life as a philanthropist helping those in need. I like SciFi and Space stuff, read a lot, love maps. Something beneficial like the tanker monitoring online I mentioned above would suit me. I have often joked being a professional Wikipedia or Memory Alpha reader would be perfect for me. I like clean, organized and minimal environments in general irl and online. There are a number of THINGS I could imagine myself being able to do and also enjoying...but I don't see any realistic path to doing so for a paycheck within my limits. I don't know if there is anything out there I am just not aware of that could work as well. Maybe I COULD learn to code with time and help but at first glance it's not something I find passion for. I would never make it in a normal high paced startup etc. I need stability but flexibility in anything I would do. I don't have the strength or energy to be in a "dynamic environment". I have hand issues along with many other broken bits so am not a very fast typist. Sorry for the scatter. Trying to think of relevant things to remote or tech work. I really don't know at this point...and this post itself is on the 3rd or 4th page by now so not likely many would even see my comment if there WAS someone out there with a good plan.

panta 9y ago
If I may ask, what your previous career/education was about? Maybe they are not very relevant, but they are definitely better than nothing and could be a common interest with a potential employer. The fact that you are a bit technically minded is a good starting point, especially together with the willingness to learn. You love maps, so you could for example learn a bit of python (it's easy and quick to jumpstart, I promise) and use it to play with cartography. Give a look to [Kartograph](http://kartograph.org http://kartograph.org), [TileMill](https://tilemill-project.github.io/tilemill/ https://tilemill-project.github.io/tilemill/), [Leaflet](http://leafletjs.com http://leafletjs.com), [OpenLayers](http://openlayers.org http://openlayers.org). There is also this interesting list of [Essential Python Geospatial Libraries](http://spatialdemography.org/essential-python-geospatial-libraries/ http://spatialdemography.org/essential-python-geospatial-lib...). This will not guarantee a job, but it would be an interesting skill set for which probably there is demand. I'm not in this field, but in case I could give you some pointers for the Python part.
- hestipod 9y ago
  I don't want to give details in public but it isn't something I could or would want to be involved in again for many reasons. The skills were specialized and honestly irrelevant to anything I could do online. I am starting from scratch. I appreciate and understand your view but the "self learn a marketable skill" has never worked. I cannot compete with young, healthy people who are grinding away. Without some miracle/kindness/bespoke option I am lost. It's not negativity or cynicism even though it sounds so...its just truth proven over time. Even this post which initially gave me a tiny boost of hope thinking someone might do as you said and see it and have a solution is so far off the front few pages nobody but you will continue to see it. Just learning to fish for a "special kind of fish that may or may not be available and I have to compete with better, stronger fishermen for" won't work. I'd need someone to teach me to fish and give me the opportunity to fish within my limits. That's honestly a pipe dream.
  - panta 9y ago
    You have to start somewhere. If you start saying it won't work, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if you start something not too unreasonable saying that you can do it, it can be a self-fulfilling prophecy too, but a positive one. Being positive and optimist is free, and can go a long way... (of course you need to put in also some work, but not necessarily an extenuating amount).

hestipod 9y ago

Too late to edit my reply but as far as moving I most definitely want to and have been trying to find a way. I lived in Europe before and things were much better for me, but at this stage unless I can earn and find a way to legitimize once there it's hopeless as well.