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You're assuming that value is measured only in dollars. But surely, someone who is more interested in solving mechanical engineering problems than programming w

by dhosek 5y ago

You're assuming that value is measured only in dollars. But surely, someone who is more interested in solving mechanical engineering problems than programming would be happier with a mechanical engineering job than a programming job, even if the salary is lower. You're assuming that the degree has anything to do with the work. The vast majority of things I've been paid to do in the course of my life have had little to do with the subjects of my degrees. That said, because I have a bachelor's in English and master's in Math Education and Fiction Writing (two separate degrees, not one weird interdisciplinary one), there are fields that I cannot hope to break into. No one will hire me to be their chemist or auto mechanic with my credentials. Programming is probably the easiest field for someone with no paper credentials to get into out of all the highly paid careers.

s5300 5y ago
>But surely, someone who is more interested in solving mechanical engineering problems than programming And this is why I went the way that I did. Unfortunately, I'm from what's practically extreme poverty in the U.S., I'm sure a large amount of Mech and Elec EE's (or engineers in general) aren't exactly from upper class wealth... And, guess what. I'm young, the planet is on fire and only getting worse, and it's beyond obvious that nothing is going to change that within my lifetime. That's a singular of many issues. The only way to insulate yourself from a lifetime of suffering from this is by money, and lots of it. Definitely not with what even senior ME's or EE's make. To imagine a young student would choose to go one route because it's fun or their passion instead of a route that will somewhat secure their future at this point is asinine, and it's going to completely fuck industry over (as if it's not already) when there's a lack of capable engineers in other disciplines than SWE
- polotics 5y ago
  If you're young enough a good Mech eng is much better preparation for the nasty world you reasonably can fear is around the corner 30 to 40 years from now.
- lamontcg 5y ago
  And the way things are going with everything becoming subscription including the recent push to normalize the idea of everyone becoming permanent renters, the actual cost of a middle-class living is outpacing wages for pretty much everyone that makes below SWE-equivalent salaries. The squeezing of the middle class is just slowly ratcheting up a few percent every year.

by dhosek 5y ago

s5300 5y ago

>But surely, someone who is more interested in solving mechanical engineering problems than programming And this is why I went the way that I did. Unfortunately, I'm from what's practically extreme poverty in the U.S., I'm sure a large amount of Mech and Elec EE's (or engineers in general) aren't exactly from upper class wealth... And, guess what. I'm young, the planet is on fire and only getting worse, and it's beyond obvious that nothing is going to change that within my lifetime. That's a singular of many issues. The only way to insulate yourself from a lifetime of suffering from this is by money, and lots of it. Definitely not with what even senior ME's or EE's make. To imagine a young student would choose to go one route because it's fun or their passion instead of a route that will somewhat secure their future at this point is asinine, and it's going to completely fuck industry over (as if it's not already) when there's a lack of capable engineers in other disciplines than SWE

polotics 5y ago
If you're young enough a good Mech eng is much better preparation for the nasty world you reasonably can fear is around the corner 30 to 40 years from now.
lamontcg 5y ago
And the way things are going with everything becoming subscription including the recent push to normalize the idea of everyone becoming permanent renters, the actual cost of a middle-class living is outpacing wages for pretty much everyone that makes below SWE-equivalent salaries. The squeezing of the middle class is just slowly ratcheting up a few percent every year.