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I don't agree with the conclusion because I don't agree with the premise: that most programmers are irreplaceable ninja rockstars that single handedly make thei

I don't agree with the conclusion because I don't agree with the premise: that most programmers are irreplaceable ninja rockstars that single handedly make their employers millions a year. We're talking about average salaries not outliers that have no bearing on what most of us should consider fair pay. I'm saying if you make 100-150k a year, sitting on your ass, doing something you enjoy then perhaps you should feel pretty fortunate. Stop thinking about the few % above you and consider the vast population below you.

gte910h 16y ago
I don't think you understand silicon valley: You basically are retarded to run a business there if you don't need that type of programmer which you're lampooning. Costs are stupidly high. This isn't about average programmers. This is about this tiny pocket filled with overachievers who work stupidly long days for a jackpot and have a very high exposure to running their own businesses. 100k in silicon valley puts you in the top 47% of the people who live there, which means you're in the commute forever or live in a dinky house dialemma. (The average salary there is $96,299). It's one of the few cities in the world worse than where you live for housing, and housing there costs 2x as much for little places (rentals) and 1.4x for buying as Vancouver. How do you enjoy your 4 bedroom home? Oh wait, you can't even afford that where you live (most likely). Now imagine being able to afford 1/2 of what you DO have in housing. So you live in vancouver, should we tell you to stop bitching at $54k? Relative salary is important for purchasing some goods, namely housing. As a person who lives in a city almost as bad in that respect, I'm surprised you don't have a better feel for that.
- rdouble 16y ago
  That's pretty idealistic, borderline naive. There's a huge percentage of working programmers in Silicon Valley who are dead wood. Beyond that, there's loads of good ones who are working on doomed projects.
  - gte910h 16y ago
    Sure there is! Didn't say everyone was making bank deservedly. I said you're stupid to run your business there if you don't need some of the very good ones who flock there, as costs are absurdly high. One great guy can pull a company along if its small enough and the deadwood does little enough harm. (Note I keep saying "there" etc. I live in Atlanta, a much more reasonable cost city for businesses that don't need stupidly good people to really work).

gte910h 16y ago

I don't think you understand silicon valley: You basically are retarded to run a business there if you don't need that type of programmer which you're lampooning. Costs are stupidly high. This isn't about average programmers. This is about this tiny pocket filled with overachievers who work stupidly long days for a jackpot and have a very high exposure to running their own businesses. 100k in silicon valley puts you in the top 47% of the people who live there, which means you're in the commute forever or live in a dinky house dialemma. (The average salary there is $96,299). It's one of the few cities in the world worse than where you live for housing, and housing there costs 2x as much for little places (rentals) and 1.4x for buying as Vancouver. How do you enjoy your 4 bedroom home? Oh wait, you can't even afford that where you live (most likely). Now imagine being able to afford 1/2 of what you DO have in housing. So you live in vancouver, should we tell you to stop bitching at $54k? Relative salary is important for purchasing some goods, namely housing. As a person who lives in a city almost as bad in that respect, I'm surprised you don't have a better feel for that.

rdouble 16y ago
That's pretty idealistic, borderline naive. There's a huge percentage of working programmers in Silicon Valley who are dead wood. Beyond that, there's loads of good ones who are working on doomed projects.
- gte910h 16y ago
  Sure there is! Didn't say everyone was making bank deservedly. I said you're stupid to run your business there if you don't need some of the very good ones who flock there, as costs are absurdly high. One great guy can pull a company along if its small enough and the deadwood does little enough harm. (Note I keep saying "there" etc. I live in Atlanta, a much more reasonable cost city for businesses that don't need stupidly good people to really work).