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Honestly my whole career has been a series of these. Growing up no one in my family had a professional job. Most of them didn't even work. So while I knew that

Honestly my whole career has been a series of these. Growing up no one in my family had a professional job. Most of them didn't even work. So while I knew that in theory I could get a CS degree and have a software career, it wasn't something I really felt in my bones. Even after I got the degree I did not feel confident that one of "us" could get a job like one of "them", especially when you're raised with that working class crab mentality. Later on, it was getting my first self employed contract. I had dreamed about going solo, but always doubted I could pull off. Then it was getting my invoice paid by a director of an overseas company I had never met. Something I knew was possible but felt like utopian science fiction when I read it on HN. So as cheesy as it sounds - my career has changed my life forever. The realisation that I didn't have to struggle to make ends meet, and that I was in the drivers seat of my own life.

albrewer 4y ago
> raised with that working class crab mentality Man, I thought I was the only one that described it like this, but apparently it's so common it has its own Wikipedia page[0]. The entire fucking region I lived in was too busy acting like crabs in a bucket instead of building something better for everyone. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality
- CalRobert 4y ago
  Also called tall poppy syndrome
kickaha 4y ago
Golly, brother. I feel you all the way down to my toes. My parents just openly, declaratively resent my leaving misery behind for a rewarding and financially secure career. Wanna hear the super effed up part? I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND their feelings! Like so many other modalities of code-switching I’ve learned, with just a little concentration I can go back and forth: having my kids do better than me is the main objective in life [VWOOP!!] the worst misfortune that can befall a parent.

albrewer 4y ago

> raised with that working class crab mentality Man, I thought I was the only one that described it like this, but apparently it's so common it has its own Wikipedia page[0]. The entire fucking region I lived in was too busy acting like crabs in a bucket instead of building something better for everyone. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality

CalRobert 4y ago
Also called tall poppy syndrome

kickaha 4y ago

Golly, brother. I feel you all the way down to my toes. My parents just openly, declaratively resent my leaving misery behind for a rewarding and financially secure career. Wanna hear the super effed up part? I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND their feelings! Like so many other modalities of code-switching I’ve learned, with just a little concentration I can go back and forth: having my kids do better than me is the main objective in life [VWOOP!!] the worst misfortune that can befall a parent.