3 ms·

According to the 'scientists' of the field, we are the entitlement generation, raised by hippies who broke all the rules and taught us to do the same, for the b

According to the 'scientists' of the field, we are the entitlement generation, raised by hippies who broke all the rules and taught us to do the same, for the betterment of our own well-being, putting ourselves above the demands of others. Perhaps this is what the OP, and the rest of this generation, is feeling: A constant nagging feeling that we are not getting everything we should be from life and that we are succumbing to societal pressures, letting ourselves become slaves to the Man for a measly paycheck every month? A lot of studies have pointed to this phenomenon, f.ex. that students these days expect nothing less than the perfect job where they will completely realize themselves and be very comfortable financially at the same time. I know that I have some of that feeling too, which is why I sit night and day in front of this screen and keyboard hacking away at my escape plan from the life of a corporate drone. I do sometimes wonder if I'd be happier and healthier taking a reality check of my ambitions, and what will happen to me if I fail and have to clip the ID badge back on and check in Monday morning at BigCo.

manmal 14y ago
We are also living in the longest period of peace ever (at least that's what everybody says?), and our everyday consists of first-world-problems, which are far more complex than the problems our ancestors had, and where success is nearly impossible to measure. You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). That was far more difficult to find 50 years ago - with our skillset (I assume the average HN reader), we would have been heroes in our local communities - teachers, engineers, perhaps inventors. There was so much low-hanging fruit for people with brains. We are not suppressed like our hippie parents, but suppressed by our own expectations, which I consider far worse. We no longer play against 10-100 people in our field of expertise (locally), but against millions of people (globally).
- marvin 14y ago
  A lecturer once told us "it's no longer sufficient to be the best in town at what you do...you have to be the best in the world". Maybe an exaggeration, but it's got some truth to it. We don't have the existential problems that our grandparents had, but the problems we do have are much more complex. Remarkably, it was my grandfather that pointed this out to me. He'd seen both world wars and was a really smart guy. But he'd never gotten any formal education, and was very far removed from the constant struggle to get ahead that most people today face.
- zcvosdfdgj 14y ago
  You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). I'm guessing you're pretty young. Here's a tip: If someone knows something you don't, it's not a reflection on you. It just means they spent time to learn something different than what you learned. Don't worry: there are things you know that they don't. The world is too big for you to know everything. Learn what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are, so you can see how others can help you. Believe me, when you and the guy who knows cryptography both appreciate what each brings to the table, you can create something great.
thatusertwo 14y ago
Thats probably part of it, I've always feared having to get a job at a big co. But at the same time, I'm not expecting to be a millionaire (although it would be nice), my basic goal is just to be able to work in a sustainable way, ie work for myself and be able to pay the bills.

manmal 14y ago

We are also living in the longest period of peace ever (at least that's what everybody says?), and our everyday consists of first-world-problems, which are far more complex than the problems our ancestors had, and where success is nearly impossible to measure. You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). That was far more difficult to find 50 years ago - with our skillset (I assume the average HN reader), we would have been heroes in our local communities - teachers, engineers, perhaps inventors. There was so much low-hanging fruit for people with brains. We are not suppressed like our hippie parents, but suppressed by our own expectations, which I consider far worse. We no longer play against 10-100 people in our field of expertise (locally), but against millions of people (globally).

marvin 14y ago
A lecturer once told us "it's no longer sufficient to be the best in town at what you do...you have to be the best in the world". Maybe an exaggeration, but it's got some truth to it. We don't have the existential problems that our grandparents had, but the problems we do have are much more complex. Remarkably, it was my grandfather that pointed this out to me. He'd seen both world wars and was a really smart guy. But he'd never gotten any formal education, and was very far removed from the constant struggle to get ahead that most people today face.
zcvosdfdgj 14y ago
You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). I'm guessing you're pretty young. Here's a tip: If someone knows something you don't, it's not a reflection on you. It just means they spent time to learn something different than what you learned. Don't worry: there are things you know that they don't. The world is too big for you to know everything. Learn what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are, so you can see how others can help you. Believe me, when you and the guy who knows cryptography both appreciate what each brings to the table, you can create something great.

thatusertwo 14y ago

Thats probably part of it, I've always feared having to get a job at a big co. But at the same time, I'm not expecting to be a millionaire (although it would be nice), my basic goal is just to be able to work in a sustainable way, ie work for myself and be able to pay the bills.