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It's a little disappointing to see so many developers--maybe on average the most comfortable job in the world right now--prioritizing comforts like compensation

It's a little disappointing to see so many developers--maybe on average the most comfortable job in the world right now--prioritizing comforts like compensation, using their favorite languages, or remote work, over helping to improve the world. Over 45% of men prioritized one of the above three, whereas a mere 6.5% prioritized "How widely used or impactful the product or service I'd be working on is." Revealingly, "How much impact I could have by working there" isn't even an option. Sounds like the survey authors didn't even consider that people might actively care about improving the world. So many developers have comfort to spare! Maybe spend a little bit more optimization power on trying to accomplish something important?

s_dev 9y ago
>prioritizing comforts like compensation, using their favorite languages, or remote work, over helping to improve the world. Compensation isn't a comfort -- it's more like payment which is necessary. Not really something a developer could forgo. Regarding languages -- why would they not want to leverage their knowledge to get more compensation?
- calcifer 9y ago
  > Compensation isn't a comfort Sure it is. If you can "be fine" with $X, but are looking for a job that pays $Y (where $Y>$X), then that's seeking comfort.
  - crispyporkbites 9y ago
    $X directly relates to when I retire, so I see a high salary as buying time and freedom
lozenge 9y ago
How have you had an impact? I'm curious because when I looked, the impact I could have through my job (at the cost of 2,000 hours a year) seemed quite small, and the impact of donating high. I'm aware the topic has been covered in great detail, eg by the organization 80,000 hours. You are happy doing something because of its impact, but to expect everybody else to seems very presumptive. Edit: just noticed who you are ha ha

s_dev 9y ago

>prioritizing comforts like compensation, using their favorite languages, or remote work, over helping to improve the world. Compensation isn't a comfort -- it's more like payment which is necessary. Not really something a developer could forgo. Regarding languages -- why would they not want to leverage their knowledge to get more compensation?

calcifer 9y ago
> Compensation isn't a comfort Sure it is. If you can "be fine" with $X, but are looking for a job that pays $Y (where $Y>$X), then that's seeking comfort.
- crispyporkbites 9y ago
  $X directly relates to when I retire, so I see a high salary as buying time and freedom

lozenge 9y ago

How have you had an impact? I'm curious because when I looked, the impact I could have through my job (at the cost of 2,000 hours a year) seemed quite small, and the impact of donating high. I'm aware the topic has been covered in great detail, eg by the organization 80,000 hours. You are happy doing something because of its impact, but to expect everybody else to seems very presumptive. Edit: just noticed who you are ha ha