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> HN turns out to be a very money-centric place In defense of being money centric, we are not talking about yachts and drugs level money. To me, money means bu
by janalsncm 2y ago
> HN turns out to be a very money-centric place
In defense of being money centric, we are not talking about yachts and drugs level money. To me, money means buying a house, starting a family, taking care of my parents, looking after my own health, and overall stability. These are the hallmarks of what used to be a middle class lifestyle in America.
If people are getting PhDs to earn more money long term, these are also not people who intend to live lavishly. It only seems exceptional because almost every other avenue to previously “normal” life has been closed off.
There’s nothing wrong with studying something because you’re interested in it. But for me, it would’ve likely meant foregoing the above.
- interludead 2y agoExactly this. Wanting financial stability isn't the same as being "money-centric" in some greedy or extravagant way. A PhD used to be a reasonable path to a stable career, but for many, it no longer is.
- xp84 2y agoSo insightful. The cost of education skyrocketing, alone, has changed the equation, to where it's a huge risk to take on enough debt to complete an advanced degree. A lot of Millenials and Gen-Z didn't get this memo, and still got overeducated - this could mean any degree in a field that doesn't pay well or doesn't generate many jobs. To the extent the degree wasn't financed it's not that big a deal. At least they got to learn something! Now they'll just have to try to work their way up slowly. But take a person who can't find a job that pays much more than retail, and put them $150,000 in debt... that person is not going to be happy.