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The reason I code outside work is that I have the freedom to tinker around. I also recommend to do that. In my opinion, the more you challenge your knowledge a

by cygned 7y ago

The reason I code outside work is that I have the freedom to tinker around. I also recommend to do that. In my opinion, the more you challenge your knowledge and opinion by trying something new, the better you become at your profession.

Ballas 7y ago
Exactly. Having such a passion for what you do that you want to do it on your own time, creates a positive feedback loop, making the whole experience a lot more enjoyable.
AllegedAlec 7y ago
> I also recommend to do that. In my opinion, the more you challenge your knowledge and opinion by trying something new, the better you become at your profession. Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? If I have projects that I like to work on for myself, then sure, I may do some coding. However, there's no chance in hell I'll give up my free time to improve my value to an employer.
- PaulRobinson 7y ago
  You're free to make that choice, but had you considered the better you become at your profession: a) your side projects will become better and more likely to free you from being a "wage slave"; and b) if you improve your value to your employer you will get better offers and likely able to negotiate either better pay or more PTO or reduced hours without compromising your income? For me - and many others - I think people who enjoy coding are those best suited to working in the profession. If you genuinely feel like you're being asked to do things you resent doing _all the time_, you should ask yourself whether you wouldn't be happier doing something else.
  - AllegedAlec 7y ago
    Programming isn't inherently different from any other profession. We don't expect builders to keep constructing houses in their free time in order to become better at our jobs, so why do we recommend programmers to do this?
    - Hamuko 7y ago
      Pretty sure there are other professions that require the employees to do something outside of the job in order to perform at the job. Firefighters for example need to stay in top physical condition. I imagine that's not possible without some sacrifices outside of your work schedule.
- Drakar1903 7y ago
  >Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? Because if they lead to a higher salary and you can keep your spending habits the same, you have an option of having a stronger safety net, an option to retire at 45 instead of 65, an option to see Java the island and not only Java the programming language.
  - saiya-jin 7y ago
    Apart from that retiring at 45 (more like 60, no problem with that), all those can be had while having tons of free time for other hobbies, adventures, or more importantly family and friends. If you have kids, those years not spent with them will never come back. Nobody dying is proud how hard they worked and how much they increased their market value.
    - thaumasiotes 7y ago
      > Nobody dying is proud how hard they worked and how much they increased their market value. I'm 100% confident that this is false.
  - AllegedAlec 7y ago
    > a stronger safety net I live in a country where a strong safety net is the (current) default. > an option to retire at 45 instead of 65 Retiring early is only a viable option if you do so in good physical and mental health. I'd rather spend my free time keeping myself in both, and retiring at 55. This is still entirely doable; even with the outrageous rent of where I currently live, I'm still able to save a third of my net wages, while not living very frugally.
- Hamuko 7y ago
  >Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? Did you ever get a formal education?

by cygned 7y ago

Ballas 7y ago

Exactly. Having such a passion for what you do that you want to do it on your own time, creates a positive feedback loop, making the whole experience a lot more enjoyable.

AllegedAlec 7y ago

> I also recommend to do that. In my opinion, the more you challenge your knowledge and opinion by trying something new, the better you become at your profession. Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? If I have projects that I like to work on for myself, then sure, I may do some coding. However, there's no chance in hell I'll give up my free time to improve my value to an employer.

PaulRobinson 7y ago
You're free to make that choice, but had you considered the better you become at your profession: a) your side projects will become better and more likely to free you from being a "wage slave"; and b) if you improve your value to your employer you will get better offers and likely able to negotiate either better pay or more PTO or reduced hours without compromising your income? For me - and many others - I think people who enjoy coding are those best suited to working in the profession. If you genuinely feel like you're being asked to do things you resent doing _all the time_, you should ask yourself whether you wouldn't be happier doing something else.
- AllegedAlec 7y ago
  Programming isn't inherently different from any other profession. We don't expect builders to keep constructing houses in their free time in order to become better at our jobs, so why do we recommend programmers to do this?
  - Hamuko 7y ago
    Pretty sure there are other professions that require the employees to do something outside of the job in order to perform at the job. Firefighters for example need to stay in top physical condition. I imagine that's not possible without some sacrifices outside of your work schedule.
Drakar1903 7y ago
>Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? Because if they lead to a higher salary and you can keep your spending habits the same, you have an option of having a stronger safety net, an option to retire at 45 instead of 65, an option to see Java the island and not only Java the programming language.
- saiya-jin 7y ago
  Apart from that retiring at 45 (more like 60, no problem with that), all those can be had while having tons of free time for other hobbies, adventures, or more importantly family and friends. If you have kids, those years not spent with them will never come back. Nobody dying is proud how hard they worked and how much they increased their market value.
  - thaumasiotes 7y ago
    > Nobody dying is proud how hard they worked and how much they increased their market value. I'm 100% confident that this is false.
- AllegedAlec 7y ago
  > a stronger safety net I live in a country where a strong safety net is the (current) default. > an option to retire at 45 instead of 65 Retiring early is only a viable option if you do so in good physical and mental health. I'd rather spend my free time keeping myself in both, and retiring at 55. This is still entirely doable; even with the outrageous rent of where I currently live, I'm still able to save a third of my net wages, while not living very frugally.
Hamuko 7y ago
>Why should I spend my free time to be a better wageslave? Did you ever get a formal education?