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This is a classic strawman. I don't think you're using that word correctly. The person works 80 to 100 hours a week and is miserable is a strawman? That's odd,

This is a classic strawman. I don't think you're using that word correctly. The person works 80 to 100 hours a week and is miserable is a strawman? That's odd, because I've met so many of them. I've been one of them. Which is not to say that there aren't a few people in the world who want nothing more than to work 100 hours a week. If you are one, good luck with that. Most people I know who are aspiring entrepreneurs don't... think everything will be roses after they've made a lot [of] money. Most just want enough money so they never have to worry about it again. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction between these two sentences? And just how much is "enough money that you never have to worry about it again"? I know people with no money who never worry about money, and I know people with pots of money who worry constantly. The worry has very little to do with the amount of money. The worry comes from you. DHH is suggesting that one way to be happy is to get a job you like, work a sustainable number of hours, live within your means, and then stop worrying about it all the time. You've got an education, a skillset, and a salary that is the envy of the world, so what are you so afraid of?

staunch 18y ago
I may be mistaken, but I'm not using the term "strawman" incorrectly. I believe his portrayal of an overly extreme and super naive entrpreneur is intentionally used so that it's easily refuted. How many startup founders feel the work they're doing is so unbearable as to consider it "evil"? > I know people with no money who never worry about money, and I know people with pots of money who worry constantly. This seems really bogus. I know poor people, wealthy people, and ultra rich people. The kinds of things they each worry about are totally different. Sure, they may all technically "worry" about money, but that's where the similarity ends. > You've got an education, a skillset, and a salary that is the envy of the world, so what are you so afraid of? A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Generally any problem that would prevent me from being able to work for an extended period of time. You don't have to be paranoid to worry about this. Unfortunately, it's just not that rare. More personally I'm afraid of having to significantly limit my interests to fall within relatively limited amounts of expendable time and money or to things that are profitable.
- run4yourlives 18y ago
  >A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Generally any problem that would prevent me from being able to work for an extended period of time. Dude, buy some insurance. You can get boatloads of insurance without needing to be mega-rich.
- mechanical_fish 18y ago
  "Strawman" implies a fictional or marginal debating opponent. You may believe that burnout is more rare, or less rare, but it's not fictional. People really do (try) to work 80 to 100 hours a week, it's not really that rare (I have several friends who are doing it right now), and it really does burn people out. Fortunately, burnout is usually cureable. And it's a great learning experience. One learns how to avoid it in the future. A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Insurance. Yes, the insurance market in much of the USA is hideously broken, and so it might cost quite a lot. But I assure you that, for most people, it is easier, cheaper, and surer to get disability insurance than it is to become independently wealthy. (For many people, it's probably easier to become a citizen of a country with a better insurance system than it is to become independently wealthy. I wouldn't recommend that strategy to just anyone, but if that's what it takes to stop worrying...) I'm afraid of having to significantly limit my interests to fall within relatively limited amounts of expendable time and money... Well, some people solve this problem by having no outside interests at all, working 80 to 100 hours a day until they become rich. That's one method. Other people take out insurance: They work a little, but then they play a little. That helps hedge against the prospect that you'll die of a stress-induced heart attack, or succumb to RSI and become disabled, before you get rich. If that happens you'll never get to play at all. Or, if your hobby is "having kids", it gives you a chance to pursue it before you grow too old.

staunch 18y ago

I may be mistaken, but I'm not using the term "strawman" incorrectly. I believe his portrayal of an overly extreme and super naive entrpreneur is intentionally used so that it's easily refuted. How many startup founders feel the work they're doing is so unbearable as to consider it "evil"? > I know people with no money who never worry about money, and I know people with pots of money who worry constantly. This seems really bogus. I know poor people, wealthy people, and ultra rich people. The kinds of things they each worry about are totally different. Sure, they may all technically "worry" about money, but that's where the similarity ends. > You've got an education, a skillset, and a salary that is the envy of the world, so what are you so afraid of? A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Generally any problem that would prevent me from being able to work for an extended period of time. You don't have to be paranoid to worry about this. Unfortunately, it's just not that rare. More personally I'm afraid of having to significantly limit my interests to fall within relatively limited amounts of expendable time and money or to things that are profitable.

run4yourlives 18y ago
>A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Generally any problem that would prevent me from being able to work for an extended period of time. Dude, buy some insurance. You can get boatloads of insurance without needing to be mega-rich.
mechanical_fish 18y ago
"Strawman" implies a fictional or marginal debating opponent. You may believe that burnout is more rare, or less rare, but it's not fictional. People really do (try) to work 80 to 100 hours a week, it's not really that rare (I have several friends who are doing it right now), and it really does burn people out. Fortunately, burnout is usually cureable. And it's a great learning experience. One learns how to avoid it in the future. A serious medical condition with myself, a family member, or a friend. Insurance. Yes, the insurance market in much of the USA is hideously broken, and so it might cost quite a lot. But I assure you that, for most people, it is easier, cheaper, and surer to get disability insurance than it is to become independently wealthy. (For many people, it's probably easier to become a citizen of a country with a better insurance system than it is to become independently wealthy. I wouldn't recommend that strategy to just anyone, but if that's what it takes to stop worrying...) I'm afraid of having to significantly limit my interests to fall within relatively limited amounts of expendable time and money... Well, some people solve this problem by having no outside interests at all, working 80 to 100 hours a day until they become rich. That's one method. Other people take out insurance: They work a little, but then they play a little. That helps hedge against the prospect that you'll die of a stress-induced heart attack, or succumb to RSI and become disabled, before you get rich. If that happens you'll never get to play at all. Or, if your hobby is "having kids", it gives you a chance to pursue it before you grow too old.