4 ms·

Sometimes it’s nice for hobbies to remain hobbies

formerphotoj 1y ago
Exactly this. The need to make money from a thing may well eliminate the value one derives from the thing, and even add negatives such as stress, etc.
- tehlike 1y ago
  Not really. I do software both as a hobby, and as a career.
cortesoft 1y ago
I believed this, which is what made me avoid computer science in college; I wanted to avoid ruining my favorite hobby. After a few years post graduation, where I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and I floundered to find a career, I decided to give software development a try, and risk ruining my favorite hobby. Definitely the best decision I could have made. Now people pay me a lot of money to do the thing I love to do the most... what's not to love? 20 years later, it I still my favorite hobby, and they keep paying me to do it.
- p1necone 1y ago
  I think it heavily depends on who you're working for. If they get out of the way and let you do the thing you love how you want to do it you'll get good results for you and them. If they treat you like a cog in a machine and assume they need to carrot and stick you into doing things because you might not really want to be there, you'll be miserable.
  - cortesoft 1y ago
    I have worked a few places at many different positions over an 18 year career so far. I have enjoyed the programming part of all the jobs. I don’t really care the problem, I just like using computers to solve problems.
- justusthane 1y ago
  Sure, of course. Sometimes it works out to follow your passion into a career. I was objecting to the apparent premise that that’s _always_ what you should do.
- 8n4vidtmkvmk 1y ago
  My first software job I enjoyed. My 2nd/current job I enjoy everything except the actual work. Too much beuracracy, but it hasn't ruined my love for the craft yet. Oh well, I'm building some other skills I didn't know I had in me.
- tehlike 1y ago
  It was my hobby. Then I did computer science, and now I'm at a faang, make more money in a year than my parents in their lifetime probably.
sea-gold 1y ago
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/25225/ways-to-ruin-a-hobby https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/25225/ways-to-ru...
abrookewood 1y ago
100%. I am absolutely certain that I do not have a viable career as a professional surfer ... no matter how much I wish it wasn't true.
- tehlike 1y ago
  Eh. Software engineers are in demand, and surfers decidedly are not.

Exactly this. The need to make money from a thing may well eliminate the value one derives from the thing, and even add negatives such as stress, etc.

tehlike 1y ago
Not really. I do software both as a hobby, and as a career.

cortesoft 1y ago

I believed this, which is what made me avoid computer science in college; I wanted to avoid ruining my favorite hobby. After a few years post graduation, where I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and I floundered to find a career, I decided to give software development a try, and risk ruining my favorite hobby. Definitely the best decision I could have made. Now people pay me a lot of money to do the thing I love to do the most... what's not to love? 20 years later, it I still my favorite hobby, and they keep paying me to do it.

p1necone 1y ago
I think it heavily depends on who you're working for. If they get out of the way and let you do the thing you love how you want to do it you'll get good results for you and them. If they treat you like a cog in a machine and assume they need to carrot and stick you into doing things because you might not really want to be there, you'll be miserable.
- cortesoft 1y ago
  I have worked a few places at many different positions over an 18 year career so far. I have enjoyed the programming part of all the jobs. I don’t really care the problem, I just like using computers to solve problems.
justusthane 1y ago
Sure, of course. Sometimes it works out to follow your passion into a career. I was objecting to the apparent premise that that’s _always_ what you should do.
8n4vidtmkvmk 1y ago
My first software job I enjoyed. My 2nd/current job I enjoy everything except the actual work. Too much beuracracy, but it hasn't ruined my love for the craft yet. Oh well, I'm building some other skills I didn't know I had in me.
tehlike 1y ago
It was my hobby. Then I did computer science, and now I'm at a faang, make more money in a year than my parents in their lifetime probably.

sea-gold 1y ago

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/25225/ways-to-ruin-a-hobby https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/25225/ways-to-ru...

abrookewood 1y ago

100%. I am absolutely certain that I do not have a viable career as a professional surfer ... no matter how much I wish it wasn't true.

tehlike 1y ago
Eh. Software engineers are in demand, and surfers decidedly are not.