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This resonates for me: > Whenever I tell civilians that I’m a web designer I get the sense that they place me in that other category It's hurtful when insti
by nonrandomstring 4y ago
This resonates for me:
> Whenever I tell civilians that I’m a web designer I get the sense
that they place me in that other category
It's hurtful when institutions, ideals and identities that you've
aligned yourself with turn rotten, and sully you by implication. I
went through a patch of never telling anyone I once worked at BBC,
even though it's a great institution and I loved my work and
colleagues there, because who would leave you alone with their kids!?
Recently I've stopped saying I'm a "computer" scientist/techie except
to other techies. Random strangers at parties just assume you're up to
something nefarious. A writer maybe, who happens to be a computer
guy. I get most warmth and connection from identifying as a
"hacker". Most people then immediately raise the ethical question of
whose "side" I am on. The good guys, of course. I feel for web
designers, because I don't see much good left about the modern "web"
to stand up for.
- amelius 4y ago"Programmer" is the new "banker".
- NoGravitas 4y ago:s/b/w/
- xmonkee 4y agoI left banking to become a programmer because it was so smutty. FML my life.
- cyberbanjo 4y agoI think that if I had written the book in the past decade, perhaps Bateman would have been working in Silicon Valley, living in Cupertino with excursions into San Francisco or down to Big Sur to the Post Ranch Inn and palling around with Zuckerberg and dining at the French Laundry, or lunching with Reed Hastings at Manresa in Los Gatos, wearing a Yeezy hoodie and teasing girls on Tinder. -- Bret Easton Ellis (2016) https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a4954/american-psycho-today/ https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a...
- nonrandomstring 4y agoNice. There's some other tasty nuggets in that piece; "...disgusted with the values then and what it meant to be a man - a successful man - but where else was I going to go? ... The rage I felt over what was being extolled as success." Tones of Palahniuk maybe. Inside every Linus Torvalds or Richard Stallman is a painfully socialised, sublimated Zuckerberg that could burst out in moment of weakness.
- jcrawfordor 4y agoAn anecdote that I often tell as a joke, but is true: When I lived in San Francisco I worked in IT for a bank. I quickly learned that when people asked me what I did, it was safer to say "I'm in banking" than "I work in IT." This was even true not long after the Wells Fargo scandal, and in SF people would probably be most likely to assume I worked for them! Say what you will about the banks, at least they're the evil people know, I guess.
- duxup 4y agoThings I don't tell people, unless they ask specifics and I'm comfortable with them. 1. I'm a web dev (I say programmer unless they ask specifics). 2. I went to a bootcamp. 3. My age. Even technical folks, other programmers, make too many assumptions. Even other web devs who work at company X and can't imagine doing anything outside their processes are a pain to talk to.
- ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago> 3. My age. Can't hide that. I have noticeably gray hair, and a few sags and bags. I look my age. That brings on a huge prejudice, from my fellow travelers in tech. Despite being very respectful of women, people of color, gender identification, etc., they have absolutely no hesitation in calling me "OK boomer," and assuming that I don't have any idea of what I'm doing, in today's tech scene. It used to absolutely infuriate me, but I've learned to accept it, as I am no longer looking for work, and have come to realize that I'm just not wanted. I won't go, where I'm not wanted. I stopped attending meetups, because I was getting tired of the "circle of avoidance," and people (even other "boomers") avoiding eye contact, etc. Just for the record, I work harder, these days, than I ever did, and I learn something new every day. Otherwise, I have plenty of hooks for others to sneer at, and I've had them all my career (I started as a self-taught EE, and have been self-taught for over 30 years, in software -that is "even worse" than a bootcamp; I'm also very open, friendly, and non-competitive, which elicits contempt). Also, for the record, I believe in Integrity, Honor, Honesty, Kindness, and Open-mindedness, which also elicits contempt. People think Honorable folks are stupid and naive.
- duxup 4y agoYeah I used to be able to hide it and just now, can't. Hair showing too :(
- nonrandomstring 4y ago> assuming that I don't have any idea of what I'm doing, in today's tech scene. They don't assume that. They fear that you do. Today's "tech scene" is very much "just keep moving and don't ask any awkward questions." Old people bring inconveniences like wisdom, depth of knowledge and experience of how things can go wrong, caution and so on. That's not welcome at the kids party.