6 ms·

I'm 50 and still programming. Programming is all I know how to do. If that was taken away from me, I would just rot to death. I don't want to be anything else,

by Lendal 7y ago

I'm 50 and still programming. Programming is all I know how to do. If that was taken away from me, I would just rot to death. I don't want to be anything else, and I refuse to be forced to do something I don't want to do. I'll learn to farm and support myself that way. So, is it still preferable for the manager to not hire anyone and let the work sit undone rather than to be forced to work with a detestable "older" worker? Perhaps the government should start giving disability status to people because they are over 40.

inetknght 7y ago
> I'll learn to farm and support myself that way. With the climate apocalypse, that's becoming less and less likely.
- commandlinefan 7y ago
  Actually if everything folds in completely the way the alarmists are telling us it will, being able to grow your own food will be the only thing that will save you.
  - inetknght 7y ago
    Yes. But being able to grow your own food is what's becoming less likely.
- aleister_777 7y ago
  Just like all the other predicted climate apocalypses the past 50 years. For a group that should be good at picking up patterns they sure are slow to pick this one up...
freewilly1040 7y ago
I'm not sure I can think of a harder field to jump into in middle age than farming.
- cw_ds 7y ago
  They probably meant farming on a backyard gardening level, I know plenty of people who got into it in middle age, particularly Mormons who try to be relatively self-sufficient. Not sure about the backyard size needed to actually support yourself though.
mattferderer 7y ago
> I'm 50 and still programming. Programming is all I know how to do. If that was taken away from me, I would just rot to death. Interesting statement. Someone recently told me the biggest problem with US Presidential Candidate Yang's Universal Basic Income plan is that people who have had a successful career in one field their whole life often do not want to learn a new career even if you help them financially while they transition. For reference, the discussion was about winning an election more than solving a problem. It's very interesting to hear the above statement from someone in tech vs a different industry. Reminds me how similar people across all industries are when often some of us tend to feel unique for some silly reason.
- edgarvaldes 7y ago
  >people who have had a successful career in one field their whole life It's not only being successful, but also being happy with the characteristics of software dev work.

by Lendal 7y ago

inetknght 7y ago

> I'll learn to farm and support myself that way. With the climate apocalypse, that's becoming less and less likely.

commandlinefan 7y ago
Actually if everything folds in completely the way the alarmists are telling us it will, being able to grow your own food will be the only thing that will save you.
- inetknght 7y ago
  Yes. But being able to grow your own food is what's becoming less likely.
aleister_777 7y ago
Just like all the other predicted climate apocalypses the past 50 years. For a group that should be good at picking up patterns they sure are slow to pick this one up...

freewilly1040 7y ago

I'm not sure I can think of a harder field to jump into in middle age than farming.

cw_ds 7y ago
They probably meant farming on a backyard gardening level, I know plenty of people who got into it in middle age, particularly Mormons who try to be relatively self-sufficient. Not sure about the backyard size needed to actually support yourself though.

mattferderer 7y ago

> I'm 50 and still programming. Programming is all I know how to do. If that was taken away from me, I would just rot to death. Interesting statement. Someone recently told me the biggest problem with US Presidential Candidate Yang's Universal Basic Income plan is that people who have had a successful career in one field their whole life often do not want to learn a new career even if you help them financially while they transition. For reference, the discussion was about winning an election more than solving a problem. It's very interesting to hear the above statement from someone in tech vs a different industry. Reminds me how similar people across all industries are when often some of us tend to feel unique for some silly reason.

edgarvaldes 7y ago
>people who have had a successful career in one field their whole life It's not only being successful, but also being happy with the characteristics of software dev work.