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I clearly recall some California startup-minded engineers, pre-smart phones, who were shocked to see their European employers go home at 5pm or so. They gossipe

I clearly recall some California startup-minded engineers, pre-smart phones, who were shocked to see their European employers go home at 5pm or so. They gossiped about it and called them names for it behind their backs.

ryandrake 3y ago
I bet Chinese people who have normalized the 996[1] work system also gossip and snicker about the "lazy" Americans who eat dinner at home and take two back-to-back days off every week. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/996_working_hour_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/996_working_hour_system
- shrimp_emoji 3y ago
  You'd bet wrong. It's not normalized at all. Everyone who does it hates it. It's decried everywhere it's practiced, and there have been protests against it. It's also illegal under the Chinese constitution (but the government turns a blind eye to it due to the workaround that it's not officially "required" -- merely "encouraged" by companies). Asians don't have a super power of working harder/longer than other races.
  - azemetre 3y ago
    Apparently there is a major backlash against 996 as well, colloquially known as "let it rot." [1] You can only be dealt a losing hand at life for so long before you actively give up or try to implement radical, often major societal, change. I think what's more troubling is how common this sentiment is across the world. Somewhat related, but it reminds of a sketch on "I Think You Should Leave" [2] where the main character is happy when he thought he was about to be eaten by a fictional monster and wouldn't have to go to work. (whole sketch is good, along with the entire show, but have the timestamp to the quote) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1pwyCl5ymE#t=1m26s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1pwyCl5ymE#t=1m26s
  - mistrial9 3y ago
    California immigrant Chinese children had Saturday school all day, in addition to five days a week public school; that was before 2000.
JohnClark1337 3y ago
A lot of startup-minded engineers are younger, fresh out of college with the single goal of excelling in their field. They work and work until one day they finally get tired of the grind and/or find life and responsibilities outside of work. You also have the workaholics, but that's another issue.

ryandrake 3y ago

I bet Chinese people who have normalized the 996[1] work system also gossip and snicker about the "lazy" Americans who eat dinner at home and take two back-to-back days off every week. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/996_working_hour_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/996_working_hour_system

shrimp_emoji 3y ago
You'd bet wrong. It's not normalized at all. Everyone who does it hates it. It's decried everywhere it's practiced, and there have been protests against it. It's also illegal under the Chinese constitution (but the government turns a blind eye to it due to the workaround that it's not officially "required" -- merely "encouraged" by companies). Asians don't have a super power of working harder/longer than other races.
- azemetre 3y ago
  Apparently there is a major backlash against 996 as well, colloquially known as "let it rot." [1] You can only be dealt a losing hand at life for so long before you actively give up or try to implement radical, often major societal, change. I think what's more troubling is how common this sentiment is across the world. Somewhat related, but it reminds of a sketch on "I Think You Should Leave" [2] where the main character is happy when he thought he was about to be eaten by a fictional monster and wouldn't have to go to work. (whole sketch is good, along with the entire show, but have the timestamp to the quote) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1pwyCl5ymE#t=1m26s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1pwyCl5ymE#t=1m26s
- mistrial9 3y ago
  California immigrant Chinese children had Saturday school all day, in addition to five days a week public school; that was before 2000.

JohnClark1337 3y ago

A lot of startup-minded engineers are younger, fresh out of college with the single goal of excelling in their field. They work and work until one day they finally get tired of the grind and/or find life and responsibilities outside of work. You also have the workaholics, but that's another issue.