4 ms·

It’s moments that I read articles like this that make me wonder why I’m putting so much energy into making a better SPA or trying to engineer solutions to faste

It’s moments that I read articles like this that make me wonder why I’m putting so much energy into making a better SPA or trying to engineer solutions to faster more performant web animations. I feel like I’m not using any of my technical acumen to advance human civilization but instead to line my own coffers and those of the corporation I work for. With that said, it is always good to keep in mind just how fragile civilization as a whole can be to things like global catastrophic events, as this article highlighted these are events that could have happened but did not, thankfully, however if they did the world would be very different today

beckman466 5y ago
> I feel like I’m not using any of my technical acumen to advance human civilization What would you rather be working on?
- no_wizard 5y ago
  I’m not saying I’m going to crack some crazy software problem like general AI or something, but theoretically I’d love to be working on something that pushes renewable energy forward. In what capacity I don’t know. I’m pretty convinced we are overlooking geothermal energy in the USA at least. I often wonder if we could both relieve potentially dangerous pressure bellowing Yellowstone while simultaneously harnessing its geothermal energy for example But alas, I think the reality is I lack the expertise to even talk about this with any authority
  - finfinfin 5y ago
    Not saying you should but it is possible to gain a pretty respectable level of knowledge in almost any area within just a couple of years. Take online classes or even complete a fully online MS program. There are many examples of engineers and entrepreneurs who started in CS and then transitioned to more personally meaningful areas. (that’s my plan anyway!)
basmango 5y ago
Those two things are very different in terms of difficulty. That is why you aren't doing them.
cardosof 5y ago
I share the same thoughts - and I hope one day we reach a level of automation/AI/cheap energy that everyone gets "for free" some sort of living allowance to pursue their own objectives in science or art.
whateveracct 5y ago
I mean .. do you enjoy the work? I write Haskell, I make computer games, I make web apps. Mostly because it's fun and satisfying. I'm also quite good at it and it comes easily to me. I remember when I decided to go into engineering, a peer of mine from high school said "whateveracct, you're top of your class. Why aren't you going into medicine in order to do something more Worthwhile with your life?" Stuck with me ever since. I was repulsed by the mindset but I couldn't word why at the time. I later realized that it smelled of a deeply nihilistic (as in Nietzsche's ideas) view of the world. Ressentiment comes to mind. Spending my conscious hours working with computers is a less nihilistic use of my time. I am not deferring this life's happiness and agency in order to "have made an impact" when my life is over and useless to me. If you want more philosophy, consider Plato's Republic. An ideal society doesn't necessarily have everyone doing Most Important and Dire Work. It doesn't even have them doing what they're most "skilled" at! Instead, it has everyone living in alignment with their souls' desires and preferences. (e.g. A frail person with a Warrior's Soul should be a soldier before a strong person with an Artisan's Soul.)
- amelius 5y ago
  > I later realized that it smelled of a deeply nihilistic (as in Nietzsche's ideas) view of the world. Who says you can't enjoy work in a different field, e.g. medicine? Perhaps you can even combine those skills with computer programming. E.g. build an exoskeleton that makes partially paralyzed people walk again.
- no_wizard 5y ago
  Yes, I genuinely do enjoy the work and I derive happiness in my field, in fact I want to do more not less to drive the field forward. That does not mean I don’t sometimes feel the guilt of not being apart of something that drives humanity forward, though, even if all I could contribute was working the website that raises awareness instead! I just know what I’m capable of, but the reality vs the ideal is the philosophical struggle here for me. I instead try to make conscious investments to try and move things forward and make personal choices consciously to issues like this as best as I reasonably can. I still feel guilty sometimes I’m not working on something like raising the perception of the safety of nuclear energy ya know
stank345 5y ago
I know how you feel. You might be interested in the 80,000 hours podcast as a way to gain a better understanding of the problems humanity faces: https://80000hours.org/podcast/ https://80000hours.org/podcast/ In terms of what to _do_ about it as a software developer, I'm still trying to figure that one out. I currently work at a BCorp which tends to make me feel better about the work I'm doing which at a minimum isn't doing harm to the world. You could try looking for a meaningful job at https://techjobsforgood.com/ https://techjobsforgood.com/
Swizec 5y ago
Easiest solution to this is finding a company that can put your skills towards something that advances humanity. If no such company exists in your view, you can make one. SPAs and code are tools. You can use them for all sorts of endeavours.

beckman466 5y ago

> I feel like I’m not using any of my technical acumen to advance human civilization What would you rather be working on?

no_wizard 5y ago
I’m not saying I’m going to crack some crazy software problem like general AI or something, but theoretically I’d love to be working on something that pushes renewable energy forward. In what capacity I don’t know. I’m pretty convinced we are overlooking geothermal energy in the USA at least. I often wonder if we could both relieve potentially dangerous pressure bellowing Yellowstone while simultaneously harnessing its geothermal energy for example But alas, I think the reality is I lack the expertise to even talk about this with any authority
- finfinfin 5y ago
  Not saying you should but it is possible to gain a pretty respectable level of knowledge in almost any area within just a couple of years. Take online classes or even complete a fully online MS program. There are many examples of engineers and entrepreneurs who started in CS and then transitioned to more personally meaningful areas. (that’s my plan anyway!)

basmango 5y ago

Those two things are very different in terms of difficulty. That is why you aren't doing them.

cardosof 5y ago

I share the same thoughts - and I hope one day we reach a level of automation/AI/cheap energy that everyone gets "for free" some sort of living allowance to pursue their own objectives in science or art.

whateveracct 5y ago

I mean .. do you enjoy the work? I write Haskell, I make computer games, I make web apps. Mostly because it's fun and satisfying. I'm also quite good at it and it comes easily to me. I remember when I decided to go into engineering, a peer of mine from high school said "whateveracct, you're top of your class. Why aren't you going into medicine in order to do something more Worthwhile with your life?" Stuck with me ever since. I was repulsed by the mindset but I couldn't word why at the time. I later realized that it smelled of a deeply nihilistic (as in Nietzsche's ideas) view of the world. Ressentiment comes to mind. Spending my conscious hours working with computers is a less nihilistic use of my time. I am not deferring this life's happiness and agency in order to "have made an impact" when my life is over and useless to me. If you want more philosophy, consider Plato's Republic. An ideal society doesn't necessarily have everyone doing Most Important and Dire Work. It doesn't even have them doing what they're most "skilled" at! Instead, it has everyone living in alignment with their souls' desires and preferences. (e.g. A frail person with a Warrior's Soul should be a soldier before a strong person with an Artisan's Soul.)

amelius 5y ago
> I later realized that it smelled of a deeply nihilistic (as in Nietzsche's ideas) view of the world. Who says you can't enjoy work in a different field, e.g. medicine? Perhaps you can even combine those skills with computer programming. E.g. build an exoskeleton that makes partially paralyzed people walk again.
no_wizard 5y ago
Yes, I genuinely do enjoy the work and I derive happiness in my field, in fact I want to do more not less to drive the field forward. That does not mean I don’t sometimes feel the guilt of not being apart of something that drives humanity forward, though, even if all I could contribute was working the website that raises awareness instead! I just know what I’m capable of, but the reality vs the ideal is the philosophical struggle here for me. I instead try to make conscious investments to try and move things forward and make personal choices consciously to issues like this as best as I reasonably can. I still feel guilty sometimes I’m not working on something like raising the perception of the safety of nuclear energy ya know

stank345 5y ago

I know how you feel. You might be interested in the 80,000 hours podcast as a way to gain a better understanding of the problems humanity faces: https://80000hours.org/podcast/ https://80000hours.org/podcast/ In terms of what to _do_ about it as a software developer, I'm still trying to figure that one out. I currently work at a BCorp which tends to make me feel better about the work I'm doing which at a minimum isn't doing harm to the world. You could try looking for a meaningful job at https://techjobsforgood.com/ https://techjobsforgood.com/

Swizec 5y ago

Easiest solution to this is finding a company that can put your skills towards something that advances humanity. If no such company exists in your view, you can make one. SPAs and code are tools. You can use them for all sorts of endeavours.