5 ms·

> They’re probably just trying to cash in on your youth and optimism. It is the nature of optimistic youth that they rarely notice. And when they do, they qui

> They’re probably just trying to cash in on your youth and optimism. It is the nature of optimistic youth that they rarely notice. And when they do, they quickly become old codgers (like the person typing this comment.)

Jach 14y ago
I don't think you're giving enough credit to the optimistic youth! They notice all right, most of them just don't care enough because all they really want to do is programming, motherfucker. After X years in the industry their passion might fade (and possibly their skill if they stop coding altogether), but it's not naïvety that gives rise to the occasional optimistic youth who gets screwed.
- edwinnathaniel 14y ago
  I think you're giving more credit than youth deserved. Almost all youth are exactly like that: naive.
  - jrockway 14y ago
    Conclusion: the only thing in life worth doing is telling kids to get off your lawn.
paulhauggis 14y ago
"They’re probably just trying to cash in on your youth and optimism." I find this about most companies, especially in silicon valley. Just look at Google or Facebook. They get 20 somethings right out of college and work them to the bone on a salary (IE: you don't get paid any extra). Sure, you can go home at 5, but you most likely won't get a promotion when everyone around you is working until 7 or 8.
- drumdance 14y ago
  IME your description of twenty-somethings as cannon fodder is more common on Wall Street and at IT consulting firms than Silicon Valley. For example, everything I've read is that Facebook does not overwork their employees in the course of normal business. http://www.quora.com/Facebook-Inc-company/What-are-the-average-working-hours-per-day-for-a-Facebook-engineer http://www.quora.com/Facebook-Inc-company/What-are-the-avera... In the very early days of a startup (< 50 employees), people often work crazy hours. But everything I've seen suggests that once you start to scale, crazy hours are less common except when deadlines loom.
  - paulhauggis 14y ago
    "more common on Wall Street" It's common with both. "For example, everything I've read is that Facebook does not overwork their employees in the course of normal business." This isn't what I've heard at all..from people working there now. These companies don't say you are required to work past 40 hours. However, it's part of the culture. This is most likely because they hire right out of college and the employees have no obligations, which allow them to make work their life.

Jach 14y ago

I don't think you're giving enough credit to the optimistic youth! They notice all right, most of them just don't care enough because all they really want to do is programming, motherfucker. After X years in the industry their passion might fade (and possibly their skill if they stop coding altogether), but it's not naïvety that gives rise to the occasional optimistic youth who gets screwed.

edwinnathaniel 14y ago
I think you're giving more credit than youth deserved. Almost all youth are exactly like that: naive.
- jrockway 14y ago
  Conclusion: the only thing in life worth doing is telling kids to get off your lawn.

paulhauggis 14y ago

"They’re probably just trying to cash in on your youth and optimism." I find this about most companies, especially in silicon valley. Just look at Google or Facebook. They get 20 somethings right out of college and work them to the bone on a salary (IE: you don't get paid any extra). Sure, you can go home at 5, but you most likely won't get a promotion when everyone around you is working until 7 or 8.

drumdance 14y ago
IME your description of twenty-somethings as cannon fodder is more common on Wall Street and at IT consulting firms than Silicon Valley. For example, everything I've read is that Facebook does not overwork their employees in the course of normal business. http://www.quora.com/Facebook-Inc-company/What-are-the-average-working-hours-per-day-for-a-Facebook-engineer http://www.quora.com/Facebook-Inc-company/What-are-the-avera... In the very early days of a startup (< 50 employees), people often work crazy hours. But everything I've seen suggests that once you start to scale, crazy hours are less common except when deadlines loom.
- paulhauggis 14y ago
  "more common on Wall Street" It's common with both. "For example, everything I've read is that Facebook does not overwork their employees in the course of normal business." This isn't what I've heard at all..from people working there now. These companies don't say you are required to work past 40 hours. However, it's part of the culture. This is most likely because they hire right out of college and the employees have no obligations, which allow them to make work their life.