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This points to the bigger issue of people tying their value and identity to their livelihood. There is way too much clout, ego and identity chasing going on in

This points to the bigger issue of people tying their value and identity to their livelihood. There is way too much clout, ego and identity chasing going on in all informational fields. If you instead identified as a parent, as a hobbyist programmer, as a rock climber, as a learner, as a meditator, in essence as anything that is not directly tied to your occupation, you don't have anything to worry or be sad about. This is hard, capitalism has forced us to identify with occupations, and then when it gets automated you feel a loss. But it's inevitable that this will need to be the outcome, so the sooner you start building an identity outside of your livelihood the sooner you will feel at peace.

gh0stcat 25d ago
Funny enough, it was what programming had turned into just before the onset of rapid AI adoption that drove me to find my identity and meaning outside of the hobby and work. It took me a long time! I'm only now feeling more confident about it and it's been years. Definitely worthwhile though.
Analemma_ 25d ago
This is true as far as it goes but it's very difficult to do that when you're also anxious about material deprivation from losing your job. It's hard enough to construct a new source of self-identity when you're secure, doing it amid the thread of deprivation is even worse (and no, I don't trust the "it'll be ok even if there are mass layoffs because something something UBI" claims, that flies against everything we know about how elites have behaved for all of civilization)
ungovernableCat 25d ago
>you don't have anything to worry or be sad about Except you know, if you lose your occupation feeding the kids and paying for a roof over their head becomes a bit difficult.
- augment_me 25d ago
  Income loss is a different question, it's not about your identity, which is what the post is about.
  - ungovernableCat 25d ago
    The author does say it's a potential threat to his career and income so clearly he would have something to worry about even if his identity was built on something else. I agree with you though, the foundation of your identity shouldn't be your career. It's a very fragile thing in today's world.

gh0stcat 25d ago

Funny enough, it was what programming had turned into just before the onset of rapid AI adoption that drove me to find my identity and meaning outside of the hobby and work. It took me a long time! I'm only now feeling more confident about it and it's been years. Definitely worthwhile though.

Analemma_ 25d ago

This is true as far as it goes but it's very difficult to do that when you're also anxious about material deprivation from losing your job. It's hard enough to construct a new source of self-identity when you're secure, doing it amid the thread of deprivation is even worse (and no, I don't trust the "it'll be ok even if there are mass layoffs because something something UBI" claims, that flies against everything we know about how elites have behaved for all of civilization)

ungovernableCat 25d ago

>you don't have anything to worry or be sad about Except you know, if you lose your occupation feeding the kids and paying for a roof over their head becomes a bit difficult.

augment_me 25d ago
Income loss is a different question, it's not about your identity, which is what the post is about.
- ungovernableCat 25d ago
  The author does say it's a potential threat to his career and income so clearly he would have something to worry about even if his identity was built on something else. I agree with you though, the foundation of your identity shouldn't be your career. It's a very fragile thing in today's world.