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I work there but there's no way I'm saying so on my usual HN account. I'm just in it for the interesting technical challenges and the paycheck, and I've no inte

I work there but there's no way I'm saying so on my usual HN account. I'm just in it for the interesting technical challenges and the paycheck, and I've no interest whatsoever in defending my employer in whatever PR nightmare they've become embroiled in, yet again. Even pseudonymously. Still, it's a great place to work for in many ways, and while a lot of the criticisms from outside somewhat exaggerate and misrepresent things a bit, I kind of agree with a lot of them too. A few years back I worked for Microsoft and felt quite similarly when they got bad press for whatever. To be honest, I don't get why some people go out of their way to cheerlead for their employers. Not that it happens here much, but when it does, it's quite sad to see such naïve fealty. Personally I prefer the mercenary state of mind when it comes to employment, it's good to keep a healthy work-life attitude.

rafiki6 5y ago
> "To be honest, I don't get why some people go out of their way to cheerlead for their employers. It's quite sad to see such naïve fealty. I have a good life outside of work and prefer the mercenary state of mind when it comes to employment." I've thought a lot about this, and I think it has to do with the innate human desire to belong to a tribe. I also think that's why army's will tend to recruit people on the younger side of adulthood, but also why companies that require a lot of hard work and long hours will do the same. Younger adults with less life experience (the under 25s), generally speaking (obviously there are always exceptions), will tend to be the target audience for companies and armies simply because they are much more likely to develop some form of loyalty/tribalism. I also think a part of it is due to the fact that most humans are still developing their worldview at that point, and so if you get them at this stage, you're much more likely to mold them to buy into your vision.
givemeethekeys 5y ago
> To be honest, I don't get why some people go out of their way to cheerlead for their employers Imagine for a second that you felt passionately about internet social networking - all the possibilities it represents and all the problems it solves. And, you then discovered that there was a company solving social networking problems and they pay really well. And, they hire you, pay you well for the kind of work that you want to do. Then, maybe you'll cheerlead for your employer. You could also choose to work for some other company that's doing amazing work and perhaps doesn't pay as well but is better aligned with your values.
- anon_fber 5y ago
  I see what you mean, though I think that one doesn't necessarily follow from the other. A person can feel proud of their work and the impact it has, without succumbing to what is essentially corporate patriotism. On shared values, I think it's wise to be skeptical of a company's declarations of their values, especially the tech giants. It's typically just a veneer over their actual values of making the largest profits possible and dominating whichever market they enter.
  - bradlys 5y ago
    Shared values at any company I’ve been at (5-5000+) have always been bullshit. It’s always just internal marketing.

rafiki6 5y ago

> "To be honest, I don't get why some people go out of their way to cheerlead for their employers. It's quite sad to see such naïve fealty. I have a good life outside of work and prefer the mercenary state of mind when it comes to employment." I've thought a lot about this, and I think it has to do with the innate human desire to belong to a tribe. I also think that's why army's will tend to recruit people on the younger side of adulthood, but also why companies that require a lot of hard work and long hours will do the same. Younger adults with less life experience (the under 25s), generally speaking (obviously there are always exceptions), will tend to be the target audience for companies and armies simply because they are much more likely to develop some form of loyalty/tribalism. I also think a part of it is due to the fact that most humans are still developing their worldview at that point, and so if you get them at this stage, you're much more likely to mold them to buy into your vision.

givemeethekeys 5y ago

> To be honest, I don't get why some people go out of their way to cheerlead for their employers Imagine for a second that you felt passionately about internet social networking - all the possibilities it represents and all the problems it solves. And, you then discovered that there was a company solving social networking problems and they pay really well. And, they hire you, pay you well for the kind of work that you want to do. Then, maybe you'll cheerlead for your employer. You could also choose to work for some other company that's doing amazing work and perhaps doesn't pay as well but is better aligned with your values.

anon_fber 5y ago
I see what you mean, though I think that one doesn't necessarily follow from the other. A person can feel proud of their work and the impact it has, without succumbing to what is essentially corporate patriotism. On shared values, I think it's wise to be skeptical of a company's declarations of their values, especially the tech giants. It's typically just a veneer over their actual values of making the largest profits possible and dominating whichever market they enter.
- bradlys 5y ago
  Shared values at any company I’ve been at (5-5000+) have always been bullshit. It’s always just internal marketing.