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> What am I trying to say? I have a programming addiction? (Maybe.) I think all of us do, to some degree. You have to to endure hours on end staring at a glowi

> What am I trying to say? I have a programming addiction? (Maybe.) I think all of us do, to some degree. You have to to endure hours on end staring at a glowing screen and banging your head against a mechanical keyboard.

ummonk 3y ago
Not necessarily. At least for those of us from Asian cultures, it's not that unusual to sacrifice and do something you hate or at least are ambivalent towards because it's a well paying stable career.
- tambourine_man 3y ago
  I love programming. More each day and I’ve done it for decades. But I think everyone who enjoys the process of squeezing their thoughts through the rigors of a machine is at least a little bit funny in the head. I love it, but it’s bonkers.
nawgz 3y ago
I don’t really follow you. This roughly implies everyone is addicted to their jobs…
- arealaccount 3y ago
  Or more like the paycheck is an enabler for an unhealthy escape
  - nawgz 3y ago
    Seems like an extremely unrealistic representation of people's motivations to work, to me.
  - johannes1234321 3y ago
    There is a group who focusses on the paycheck. In my experience they often aren't the better ones. For many there however is also some intrinsic motivation in doing something "worthwhile" or "challenging" For me money is a necessity, but not the goal. I could do jobs I care less about for more money (which of course makes my boss happy, that I don't change)
- tambourine_man 3y ago
  Most people are. Even stuff you might not like, such as pressure, can be addictive. I know I’ve felt “withdraw” symptoms on extended holidays after intense work sprints. And I consider myself a lazy bastard.
  - nawgz 3y ago
    Haha, I don't think you should try to generalize your emotions - "withdrawal" symptoms on vacation could easily just be your stressed out body finally resting, or one of many other emotions. None of what you have said tracks for me. I can shut off work in a minute and I feel glorious when I do it; it's purely a practical thing. I will stop the minute I can, which I seem to be about 30% of the way to
    - tambourine_man 3y ago
      Not generalizing my emotions, there’s even a term for it: workaholic. It’s a thing. You may not experience it, but your “I can stop whenever I want” kind of phrase doesn’t help you make your point.
      - nawgz 3y ago
        This whole conversation is a ridiculous stretch - you just misquoted me to imply I’m a workaholic, and implied everyone else is too. Enough.
        tambourine_man 3y ago
        I think I might have hit a nerve. Not my intention, sorry.
        nawgz 3y ago
        Let me be crystal clear: most people fucking hate working. Bosses are the worst, the money is the sole reason to do it, and we’d all be happier working way less. The idea people are “addicted” to working under a capitalist society is absurd; we are forced like prisoners, not free to make the choice ourselves. Or maybe you consider being unhoused and underfed “freedom”. The “nerve” you’ve hit is that I hate people excusing our disgusting lack of free time in a post scarcity society. Enjoy your job though, prick
scarface74 3y ago
I’ve been programming professionally for over 25 years. I have not written a line of code for “fun” since I graduated from college.
- tambourine_man 3y ago
  But did you have fun while being payed to write those lines? I hope so.
  - scarface74 3y ago
    It’s not fun or not fun. It’s a necessity like going to the bathroom. It’s the easiest method I have to support my addiction to food and shelter.
  - kharak 3y ago
    Not OP, but not really. I do not hate it, but enjoyment is not something I get out of coding. It has gotten better over the years, as I have become a better programmer. Liking what you are good at is natural, after all. Still, I failed to find a career where what I enjoy is tied to what I am getting paid for. I am pretty sure that is the case for most people around the world. Life can be good regardless (and is for me), but actually enjoying what you are doing professionally, that is a cheat code for living well.
- pmarreck 3y ago
  This makes me sad. Do you mean you coded for fun before graduating and not since, or ever? Like you never coded a little game or a shell function to make your commandline usage easier or anything like that just for your own use, for fun? Honestly it’s a double edged sword to like coding because then you get opinions about languages. I could never be a mercenary in anything though. If I didn’t like coding I’d be a destitute individual.
  - scarface74 3y ago
    Why would I? I spent from 1996 (when I graduated) -2012 as a part time fitness instructor, active runner and a weightlifter. I spent from 1996-2002 and 2006-2012 hanging out with friends and dating (I was married from 2002-2006. From 2012-2022 I spent my time with family (got remarried in 2012). By the end of 2022, my wife and I had gotten rid of everything that wouldn’t fit into three suitcases and decided to be “hybrid digital nomads” where we stay in our “vacation home” from October - early February and we fly around to different cities in the US for the other 7 months. I’ve also taken back up running. There is so much more to life than pecking on a computer during my free time. Software development is a means to an end - nothing more.

ummonk 3y ago

Not necessarily. At least for those of us from Asian cultures, it's not that unusual to sacrifice and do something you hate or at least are ambivalent towards because it's a well paying stable career.

tambourine_man 3y ago
I love programming. More each day and I’ve done it for decades. But I think everyone who enjoys the process of squeezing their thoughts through the rigors of a machine is at least a little bit funny in the head. I love it, but it’s bonkers.

nawgz 3y ago

I don’t really follow you. This roughly implies everyone is addicted to their jobs…

arealaccount 3y ago
Or more like the paycheck is an enabler for an unhealthy escape
- nawgz 3y ago
  Seems like an extremely unrealistic representation of people's motivations to work, to me.
- johannes1234321 3y ago
  There is a group who focusses on the paycheck. In my experience they often aren't the better ones. For many there however is also some intrinsic motivation in doing something "worthwhile" or "challenging" For me money is a necessity, but not the goal. I could do jobs I care less about for more money (which of course makes my boss happy, that I don't change)
tambourine_man 3y ago
Most people are. Even stuff you might not like, such as pressure, can be addictive. I know I’ve felt “withdraw” symptoms on extended holidays after intense work sprints. And I consider myself a lazy bastard.
- nawgz 3y ago
  Haha, I don't think you should try to generalize your emotions - "withdrawal" symptoms on vacation could easily just be your stressed out body finally resting, or one of many other emotions. None of what you have said tracks for me. I can shut off work in a minute and I feel glorious when I do it; it's purely a practical thing. I will stop the minute I can, which I seem to be about 30% of the way to
  - tambourine_man 3y ago
    Not generalizing my emotions, there’s even a term for it: workaholic. It’s a thing. You may not experience it, but your “I can stop whenever I want” kind of phrase doesn’t help you make your point.
    - nawgz 3y ago
      This whole conversation is a ridiculous stretch - you just misquoted me to imply I’m a workaholic, and implied everyone else is too. Enough.
      - tambourine_man 3y ago
        I think I might have hit a nerve. Not my intention, sorry.
        nawgz 3y ago
        Let me be crystal clear: most people fucking hate working. Bosses are the worst, the money is the sole reason to do it, and we’d all be happier working way less. The idea people are “addicted” to working under a capitalist society is absurd; we are forced like prisoners, not free to make the choice ourselves. Or maybe you consider being unhoused and underfed “freedom”. The “nerve” you’ve hit is that I hate people excusing our disgusting lack of free time in a post scarcity society. Enjoy your job though, prick

scarface74 3y ago

I’ve been programming professionally for over 25 years. I have not written a line of code for “fun” since I graduated from college.

tambourine_man 3y ago
But did you have fun while being payed to write those lines? I hope so.
- scarface74 3y ago
  It’s not fun or not fun. It’s a necessity like going to the bathroom. It’s the easiest method I have to support my addiction to food and shelter.
- kharak 3y ago
  Not OP, but not really. I do not hate it, but enjoyment is not something I get out of coding. It has gotten better over the years, as I have become a better programmer. Liking what you are good at is natural, after all. Still, I failed to find a career where what I enjoy is tied to what I am getting paid for. I am pretty sure that is the case for most people around the world. Life can be good regardless (and is for me), but actually enjoying what you are doing professionally, that is a cheat code for living well.
pmarreck 3y ago
This makes me sad. Do you mean you coded for fun before graduating and not since, or ever? Like you never coded a little game or a shell function to make your commandline usage easier or anything like that just for your own use, for fun? Honestly it’s a double edged sword to like coding because then you get opinions about languages. I could never be a mercenary in anything though. If I didn’t like coding I’d be a destitute individual.
- scarface74 3y ago
  Why would I? I spent from 1996 (when I graduated) -2012 as a part time fitness instructor, active runner and a weightlifter. I spent from 1996-2002 and 2006-2012 hanging out with friends and dating (I was married from 2002-2006. From 2012-2022 I spent my time with family (got remarried in 2012). By the end of 2022, my wife and I had gotten rid of everything that wouldn’t fit into three suitcases and decided to be “hybrid digital nomads” where we stay in our “vacation home” from October - early February and we fly around to different cities in the US for the other 7 months. I’ve also taken back up running. There is so much more to life than pecking on a computer during my free time. Software development is a means to an end - nothing more.