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I resent that. The difference between pure privilege and entitlement is that, when you are entitled, you expect your privilege and don't acknowledge what you sh

I resent that. The difference between pure privilege and entitlement is that, when you are entitled, you expect your privilege and don't acknowledge what you should be reciprocating for it. That's what made me react so strongly to this comment. I think we should have more gratitude for our privilege.

username90 6y ago
> I think we should have more gratitude for our privilege. The company hired you because you make them money. As soon as the company feels you are a bad deal they will fire you. Why shouldn't you do the same to them? Feeling gratitude about a shitty job will just make shitty jobs more common, that isn't good for anyone.
Cederfjard 6y ago
Sure, maybe to other people in the world who are not as privileged, but help keep society tick anyway. We can be grateful to them that their toil is allowing us to spend our time doing this. But like the sibling comment said, employment is a business transaction, even if it’s usually heavily lopsided in favor of the employer. Typically it’s an organization owned and run by people who are even more privileged than us, and that don’t have any qualms about applying pressure in the other direction when they can (see the working conditions of most of the aforementioned ”other people in the world”). Of course we should be respectful and strive to do our best and provide value commensurate with our compensation. But if the market is such that people can take a pick and go to companies that let them have more fun while doing so, I think that’s great. It’s a pretty calvinistic mindset to see it otherwise.
ratww 6y ago
Having the opportunity to change jobs because you might be happier, more fulfilled or better paid somewhere else is neither privilege nor entitlement. It's pretty much a sacred right. Every single job should be like this. The decision to "coddle" and "engage" engineers is made by companies. It's their choice, and their strategy. I would even argue that this is not even close to what engineers prefer: most would definitely choose a raise, or decreased number of hours over the "happiness" thing.

username90 6y ago

> I think we should have more gratitude for our privilege. The company hired you because you make them money. As soon as the company feels you are a bad deal they will fire you. Why shouldn't you do the same to them? Feeling gratitude about a shitty job will just make shitty jobs more common, that isn't good for anyone.

Cederfjard 6y ago

Sure, maybe to other people in the world who are not as privileged, but help keep society tick anyway. We can be grateful to them that their toil is allowing us to spend our time doing this. But like the sibling comment said, employment is a business transaction, even if it’s usually heavily lopsided in favor of the employer. Typically it’s an organization owned and run by people who are even more privileged than us, and that don’t have any qualms about applying pressure in the other direction when they can (see the working conditions of most of the aforementioned ”other people in the world”). Of course we should be respectful and strive to do our best and provide value commensurate with our compensation. But if the market is such that people can take a pick and go to companies that let them have more fun while doing so, I think that’s great. It’s a pretty calvinistic mindset to see it otherwise.

ratww 6y ago

Having the opportunity to change jobs because you might be happier, more fulfilled or better paid somewhere else is neither privilege nor entitlement. It's pretty much a sacred right. Every single job should be like this. The decision to "coddle" and "engage" engineers is made by companies. It's their choice, and their strategy. I would even argue that this is not even close to what engineers prefer: most would definitely choose a raise, or decreased number of hours over the "happiness" thing.