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100% this. I had a government job, could have worked my way to a nice pension and everything... but I realized a few years in that my mental health probably wo

100% this. I had a government job, could have worked my way to a nice pension and everything... but I realized a few years in that my mental health probably would not survive the slog. Half the average day (easily) was totally eaten up by small talk, surfing the web and/or making personal journal entries. Another quarter of the day was meetings, often with snacks. I took long lunches. There were days when I did probably less than hour of actual work. And all the while I kept thinking, "why was I happier when I had my nose to the grind in the private sector?" Most people need to feel useful on some level or they lose motivation and their brains go sour. There are exceptions to this rule, and those people should definitely dedicate their lives to finding a cushy office job. I would literally rather drive rideshare, and I have. [Not since March 12th, though-- fortunately my S.O. is able to cover bills until I can go back to driving and/or try to find a software job worth showing up for again.]

mercer 6y ago
Perhaps a side-note, but my most of my experience is the private sector. While the government jobs I've experienced were mostly 'the same' in all the bad ways, at least the pressure seemed a bit lower. I just wanted to point that out, because I find it extremely frustrating to discuss these matters with various friends who are all in agreement, but then somehow believe this is just a government thing, and as a result seem to be drinking more and more of the 'corporations and the free market optimize this shit away and socialism is bad' kool-aid. Which strikes me as both a simplistic and ineffective conclusion to draw, if we're thinking about better ways to do things. Oversimplifying, but in my experience the private sector, at scale, is often just as inefficient and bullshitty and mind-numbing and depressing as a government entity, just with less job protection, higher pressure, and perhaps often less of a meaningful societal value, however inefficiently achieved. And perhaps worst of all, you get managers/bosses who are not just content to do an okay job at their current position, but actively employ a ruthlessness and ambition that makes their stupidity all the more problematic.
- slfnflctd 6y ago
  > in my experience the private sector, at scale, is often just as inefficient and bullshitty and mind-numbing and depressing as a government entity, just with less job protection, higher pressure, and perhaps often less of a meaningful societal value This is a great point. Having worked at several large companies in addition to both state and federal government agencies, I mostly agree. I hated not being efficient in government work, but at least there was less B.S. pressure and some sense of 'greater good' decoupled from profit incentives (although there were definitely still budget constraints).

mercer 6y ago

Perhaps a side-note, but my most of my experience is the private sector. While the government jobs I've experienced were mostly 'the same' in all the bad ways, at least the pressure seemed a bit lower. I just wanted to point that out, because I find it extremely frustrating to discuss these matters with various friends who are all in agreement, but then somehow believe this is just a government thing, and as a result seem to be drinking more and more of the 'corporations and the free market optimize this shit away and socialism is bad' kool-aid. Which strikes me as both a simplistic and ineffective conclusion to draw, if we're thinking about better ways to do things. Oversimplifying, but in my experience the private sector, at scale, is often just as inefficient and bullshitty and mind-numbing and depressing as a government entity, just with less job protection, higher pressure, and perhaps often less of a meaningful societal value, however inefficiently achieved. And perhaps worst of all, you get managers/bosses who are not just content to do an okay job at their current position, but actively employ a ruthlessness and ambition that makes their stupidity all the more problematic.

slfnflctd 6y ago
> in my experience the private sector, at scale, is often just as inefficient and bullshitty and mind-numbing and depressing as a government entity, just with less job protection, higher pressure, and perhaps often less of a meaningful societal value This is a great point. Having worked at several large companies in addition to both state and federal government agencies, I mostly agree. I hated not being efficient in government work, but at least there was less B.S. pressure and some sense of 'greater good' decoupled from profit incentives (although there were definitely still budget constraints).