4 ms·

Very well put. It's crazy to me that I, a software engineer, can earn 10x more from working a very chill 8 hour day in my pyjamas from home writing some softwar

by shafyy 4y ago

Very well put. It's crazy to me that I, a software engineer, can earn 10x more from working a very chill 8 hour day in my pyjamas from home writing some software that's interesting to me but not very important for the world, while my buddy delivers letters and packages for minimum wage on his bike.

redeeman 4y ago
well at the surface level it might seem a bit strange, but when thinking a little bit about it, it makes total sense. your buddy can simply only deliver so many packages and letters in a day, impacting a few hundred people or so. Sure, its valuable, and required, but still. You can write software that millions that each are enriched as much, possibly more than the package delivery your friend does. As such, you simply can command a much higher salary
- shafyy 4y ago
  How many software engineers really write software that is as essential as a working postal service or working food services? Maybe 0.01% of all software engineers? I know that I'm not one of them.
  - taylodl 4y ago
    That's not how the labor market, and markets in general, work
    - shafyy 4y ago
      I know that it's not how they work, that's why we're in this situation we're in. I'm saying it's absurd, and that we need to change something.
      - taylodl 4y ago
        History shows change only comes about via revolution and revolutions are often violent and often leads to undesired changes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm afraid there's no "soft landing" here. Between AI and climate change our future doesn't look so good. Certainly doesn't look peaceful.
nostromo123 4y ago
You're paid more not because what you do is more important, but because many more people can do what your buddy does than what you do.
- shafyy 4y ago
  Sure, I understand the macroeconomic reason. But goes to show that maybe some jobs shouldn't just be paid solely based on supply and demand. We can do it because for my friend it's better than not having a job, but it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do as a society.

by shafyy 4y ago

redeeman 4y ago

well at the surface level it might seem a bit strange, but when thinking a little bit about it, it makes total sense. your buddy can simply only deliver so many packages and letters in a day, impacting a few hundred people or so. Sure, its valuable, and required, but still. You can write software that millions that each are enriched as much, possibly more than the package delivery your friend does. As such, you simply can command a much higher salary

shafyy 4y ago
How many software engineers really write software that is as essential as a working postal service or working food services? Maybe 0.01% of all software engineers? I know that I'm not one of them.
- taylodl 4y ago
  That's not how the labor market, and markets in general, work
  - shafyy 4y ago
    I know that it's not how they work, that's why we're in this situation we're in. I'm saying it's absurd, and that we need to change something.
    - taylodl 4y ago
      History shows change only comes about via revolution and revolutions are often violent and often leads to undesired changes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm afraid there's no "soft landing" here. Between AI and climate change our future doesn't look so good. Certainly doesn't look peaceful.

nostromo123 4y ago

You're paid more not because what you do is more important, but because many more people can do what your buddy does than what you do.

shafyy 4y ago
Sure, I understand the macroeconomic reason. But goes to show that maybe some jobs shouldn't just be paid solely based on supply and demand. We can do it because for my friend it's better than not having a job, but it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do as a society.