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if old people (and therefore, old ideas, old prejudices) never die then there is no room for new. This is a profoundly ageist viewpoint that sadly is very comm

if old people (and therefore, old ideas, old prejudices) never die then there is no room for new. This is a profoundly ageist viewpoint that sadly is very common in our industry. That’s why 40-somethings are laid off so 20-somethings can reinvent the wheel yet again in the shitty “framework” that’s fashionable this week. In every other industry, medicine, law, science you name it, experience is prized.

teruakohatu 6y ago
I think the op is arguing against having immortal 200 year old cyborgs running the world, not putting 40 year olds out to pasture.
- ben_w 6y ago
  If I had 50 years experience as a business leader, 50 more as a software developer, another 50 as a UI/UX designer, and 50 as a digital security consultant, I would be more valuable than 4 people who had 50 years each, because what would be meeting between the four would be instant and complete awareness of all issues and without communication ambiguity for me. Certainly there would be need of a different economic model in a mortality-optional world so that young people who have yet to celebrate their first centennial can thrive, but that was also true when industry replaced feudalism and people started to stay in school until 21 (YMMV) instead of starting families the moment puberty hit.
  - tsimionescu 6y ago
    If you had last practiced software development between 100 and 50 years ago, and spent the last 50 years doing business leadership, I don't think you'd necessarily have as much value in a software development meeting as someone who just finished 20 years of software development. Even more frighteningly, you would likely be very convinced of your knowledge in software development, and would have the gravitas to silence any opposition to your ideas. Note: just to be clear, since text sometimes misses tone, I'm using a rhetorical 'you', not trying in any way to accuse you personally of the attitude described above!
    - ben_w 6y ago
      Fantastically well demonstrated point, and good footnote. While I personally do make an effort to know the limits of my skill, I have absolutely witnessed many who don’t.
enkid 6y ago
Ironically, there was a relatively recent study showing young doctors have better outcomes than old doctors. [0] [0] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-older-age-patient-mortality/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-older-age-patient-morta...

teruakohatu 6y ago

I think the op is arguing against having immortal 200 year old cyborgs running the world, not putting 40 year olds out to pasture.

ben_w 6y ago
If I had 50 years experience as a business leader, 50 more as a software developer, another 50 as a UI/UX designer, and 50 as a digital security consultant, I would be more valuable than 4 people who had 50 years each, because what would be meeting between the four would be instant and complete awareness of all issues and without communication ambiguity for me. Certainly there would be need of a different economic model in a mortality-optional world so that young people who have yet to celebrate their first centennial can thrive, but that was also true when industry replaced feudalism and people started to stay in school until 21 (YMMV) instead of starting families the moment puberty hit.
- tsimionescu 6y ago
  If you had last practiced software development between 100 and 50 years ago, and spent the last 50 years doing business leadership, I don't think you'd necessarily have as much value in a software development meeting as someone who just finished 20 years of software development. Even more frighteningly, you would likely be very convinced of your knowledge in software development, and would have the gravitas to silence any opposition to your ideas. Note: just to be clear, since text sometimes misses tone, I'm using a rhetorical 'you', not trying in any way to accuse you personally of the attitude described above!
  - ben_w 6y ago
    Fantastically well demonstrated point, and good footnote. While I personally do make an effort to know the limits of my skill, I have absolutely witnessed many who don’t.

enkid 6y ago

Ironically, there was a relatively recent study showing young doctors have better outcomes than old doctors. [0] [0] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-older-age-patient-mortality/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-older-age-patient-morta...