The fact you got downvoted is very amusing and, ironically, perfect evidence of what you're describing. The problem is there's no HN equivalent for tech people

The fact you got downvoted is very amusing and, ironically, perfect evidence of what you're describing. The problem is there's no HN equivalent for tech people in Europe. So they're stuck here, hanging out with a bunch of Americans bragging about how big their salaries are and how Americans in tech are all getting fabulously rich (and they actually are). Imagine the level of resentment that creates! You're just as competent an engineer, yet instead of financial freedom in <10 years, you get stuck making 1/5th as much in a lifer "IT" job at some lame industrial company running on autopilot just because you were born in the wrong country. So what do you do? Take a risk and build something of your own? Nahhh. Too much work. It's much easier to rationalize the discomfort away by recasting yourself as the hero of the story. "Sure, I have to ask my government for permission to retire at 70 (hopefully), but that's because I'm actually the morally superior one! Those American tech innovations are all evil, and the people who use them are getting duped by a bunch of conmen! LLMs are worthless, I don't need their latest tech fads anyways!" ...And so on, and so on.