3 ms·

Substitute “making music” for “programming” here, as a thought experiment. See how that reads. Just because people keep doing something doesn’t mean it’s all “

Substitute “making music” for “programming” here, as a thought experiment. See how that reads. Just because people keep doing something doesn’t mean it’s all “fine”. People make music in spite of the hardship. All of society benefits from their irrational, self destructive drive for creation. We could show some empathy and at least acknowledge that. Maybe even help find a way to make this beautiful gift they bestow on us less painful? Currently it feels like we’re making them shit roses for us. Maybe let’s help trim the thorns :) Source : I know several musicians first hand, and it’s not “fine”. :/

IntronExon 9y ago
Building things for people to use has always been valued. Making music just had a weird and brief period during which it could be monumentally lucrative. The circumstances have changed, and music is roughly back to being like any other art form in terms of average monetary reward. Music is only “special” because of physical recording creation and distribution. That has ended.
- carapace 9y ago
  > Making music just had a weird and brief period during which it could be monumentally lucrative. As a programmer I sometimes reflect just how lucky I am to be born right at the historical moment when my abilities align with the economic demand. A few decades earlier or later and I'd be lucky to be an accountant or something.
orangecat 9y ago
Substitute “making music” for “programming” here, as a thought experiment. See how that reads. It would still be correct. Low average incomes for musicians and most apps not breaking even is a signal in both cases that the current supply is more than enough, and you should consider other opportunities. People make music in spite of the hardship. All of society benefits from their irrational, self destructive drive for creation. There's a difference between the total and marginal benefit to society. If all musicians spontaneously quit and nobody replaced them, we'd be worse off. But in the actual world, if somebody is deciding whether to pursue a career in music or engineering, the latter probably has a higher expected benefit.

IntronExon 9y ago

Building things for people to use has always been valued. Making music just had a weird and brief period during which it could be monumentally lucrative. The circumstances have changed, and music is roughly back to being like any other art form in terms of average monetary reward. Music is only “special” because of physical recording creation and distribution. That has ended.

carapace 9y ago
> Making music just had a weird and brief period during which it could be monumentally lucrative. As a programmer I sometimes reflect just how lucky I am to be born right at the historical moment when my abilities align with the economic demand. A few decades earlier or later and I'd be lucky to be an accountant or something.

orangecat 9y ago

Substitute “making music” for “programming” here, as a thought experiment. See how that reads. It would still be correct. Low average incomes for musicians and most apps not breaking even is a signal in both cases that the current supply is more than enough, and you should consider other opportunities. People make music in spite of the hardship. All of society benefits from their irrational, self destructive drive for creation. There's a difference between the total and marginal benefit to society. If all musicians spontaneously quit and nobody replaced them, we'd be worse off. But in the actual world, if somebody is deciding whether to pursue a career in music or engineering, the latter probably has a higher expected benefit.