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I like the template but I bristle at the notion that being a software engineer is a "privilege." I have spent countless hours training and re-training myself o

by mikece 5y ago

I like the template but I bristle at the notion that being a software engineer is a "privilege." I have spent countless hours training and re-training myself on technologies that change every few years: don't confuse my work ethic and interest in software engineering with some sort of passive privilege that fell into my lap. There are people far smarter than me who either cannot or don't have the perseverance to stay in this industry because it means having a never-ending commitment to learning and starting over (as opposed to having the privilege of getting hired as a manager at a company because of your blood line).

q845712 5y ago
Is it easier if you reframe it as "good fortune"? For instance suppose that you or an immediate loved one suddenly developed a condition which was treatable and tolerable within your current life but took up 10+ hours per week. It sounds like thus far you've had the good fortune to always be able to find the time to continuously learn and re-train. Or if you think back to your earliest contacts with technology, whether someone gave you a book, told you the name of some tech to learn, helped you get access to a computer, etc., I think all of us who are working in tech have had the good fortune to have access to technology and resources that helped us train ourselves but I can imagine having had substantially less access earlier in my life and the deficit that could've left. So I think I've been overall very fortunate, and that's part of what's meant by the word "privilege."
cortesoft 5y ago
It probably depends on how you got into the line of work. I always say I am lucky and privileged because through random chance, I developed an interest in programming as a kid and it became my favorite hobby, long before I chose it as a career. I spent hour and hours at it because it was how I played, and I became good at it because it matched my way of thinking about the world and I spent all my free time doing it. This was luck. I could easily have had gardening as my favorite hobby, or art, or playing music. I would have had a lot harder time turning those into a lucrative career, so in that sense I am lucky. Now, many people came into the field in different ways, so not everyone in the industry is lucky in the same way, but that doesn’t chance the fact that I am personally lucky.
- bitcharmer 5y ago
  There is nothing privileged about being passionate in things that may earn you good money. Luck? Sure Privilege? Definitely not
  - nsv 5y ago
    What is the difference between luck and privilege?
    - bitcharmer 5y ago
      I'm hoping your question isn't serious but just in case you don't know the difference between the two: Luck - success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. Privilege - a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. Hope this is helpful
      - tomp 5y ago
        Well, “interest in programming” sounds to be like a special advantage in the current world; why do you think it’s not a privilege? It might even be genetic! (Not to mention that you also need the privilege of being born relatively smart.)
        bitcharmer 5y ago
        Well if you frame it like that everything and anything can be called privilege. Doesn't make much sense to me.
        tomp 5y ago
        I think of “privilege” as something that persists (e.g. IQ) vs “luck” as something that happens once (e.g. winning the lottery).
      - schwartzworld 5y ago
OgAstorga 5y ago
You are not aware of how extremely lucky you are. I’d advise to get to know people working in other fields to get a grasp.
3minus1 5y ago
A software engineer does not have to deal with surviving on a median personal income of $36K. Or know what it's like to have to stay in a toxic job because it's difficult and risky to find a new one. Or what it's like to suffer health consequences from years of manual labor. And probably a lot of other things I don't realize because I never had to deal with it. I work very hard at my job, but I know I have these blindspots which is why I consider myself privileged.

by mikece 5y ago

q845712 5y ago

Is it easier if you reframe it as "good fortune"? For instance suppose that you or an immediate loved one suddenly developed a condition which was treatable and tolerable within your current life but took up 10+ hours per week. It sounds like thus far you've had the good fortune to always be able to find the time to continuously learn and re-train. Or if you think back to your earliest contacts with technology, whether someone gave you a book, told you the name of some tech to learn, helped you get access to a computer, etc., I think all of us who are working in tech have had the good fortune to have access to technology and resources that helped us train ourselves but I can imagine having had substantially less access earlier in my life and the deficit that could've left. So I think I've been overall very fortunate, and that's part of what's meant by the word "privilege."

cortesoft 5y ago

It probably depends on how you got into the line of work. I always say I am lucky and privileged because through random chance, I developed an interest in programming as a kid and it became my favorite hobby, long before I chose it as a career. I spent hour and hours at it because it was how I played, and I became good at it because it matched my way of thinking about the world and I spent all my free time doing it. This was luck. I could easily have had gardening as my favorite hobby, or art, or playing music. I would have had a lot harder time turning those into a lucrative career, so in that sense I am lucky. Now, many people came into the field in different ways, so not everyone in the industry is lucky in the same way, but that doesn’t chance the fact that I am personally lucky.

bitcharmer 5y ago
There is nothing privileged about being passionate in things that may earn you good money. Luck? Sure Privilege? Definitely not
- nsv 5y ago
  What is the difference between luck and privilege?
  - bitcharmer 5y ago
    I'm hoping your question isn't serious but just in case you don't know the difference between the two: Luck - success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. Privilege - a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. Hope this is helpful
    - tomp 5y ago
      Well, “interest in programming” sounds to be like a special advantage in the current world; why do you think it’s not a privilege? It might even be genetic! (Not to mention that you also need the privilege of being born relatively smart.)
      - bitcharmer 5y ago
        Well if you frame it like that everything and anything can be called privilege. Doesn't make much sense to me.
        tomp 5y ago
        I think of “privilege” as something that persists (e.g. IQ) vs “luck” as something that happens once (e.g. winning the lottery).
    - schwartzworld 5y ago

OgAstorga 5y ago

You are not aware of how extremely lucky you are. I’d advise to get to know people working in other fields to get a grasp.

3minus1 5y ago

A software engineer does not have to deal with surviving on a median personal income of $36K. Or know what it's like to have to stay in a toxic job because it's difficult and risky to find a new one. Or what it's like to suffer health consequences from years of manual labor. And probably a lot of other things I don't realize because I never had to deal with it. I work very hard at my job, but I know I have these blindspots which is why I consider myself privileged.