4 ms·

I fear unemployment like I fear the plague. Honestly I don't get anyone that would even jokingly refer to something like "funemployment". In fact, the very wo

by 300bps 13y ago

I fear unemployment like I fear the plague. Honestly I don't get anyone that would even jokingly refer to something like "funemployment". In fact, the very word brings up every negative stereotype about unemployed people such that I would hesitate to hire anyone that ever used it. I've been employed constantly - literally without a day's break - since I was 14. That's 27 years of continuous employment but I still fear unemployment tremendously.

jarek 13y ago
It's just words. Some will call it "personal projects" or "stealth exploratory startup" or ""consulting,"" some will call it "funemployment."
jmduke 13y ago
I think this is a generational thing. I'm 21 and I've been employed constantly since I was 14 as well (if you stretch your definition of 'employed' to include 'Wordpress monkey and high school helpdesk attendant), and the advantage of that is if I were suddenly fired or laid off, I don't have to live in paralyzing fear since I already have around half a year's worth of living expenses saved up. That doesn't mean I'd spend six months goofing around -- I'm a workaholic and I derive an unhealthy amount of value from my day-to-day work -- but I wouldn't be crushed or anything.
- adambard 13y ago
  I think it's a symptom of being a member of an in-demand profession. I don't know of many other professions that employ as many recruiters as this one. It's easy not to fear unemployment with this many unsolicited offers in your inbox. It can't possibly last though, so if you're a developer right now (as is the OP), you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to enjoy it.
ChuckMcM 13y ago
Not sure why you were voted down, it is perfectly understandable to fear being unemployed. But it's a bad thing when it paralyses you. What is perhaps most surprising is that I have observed that people are often a better employees if they are less afraid of losing their job.
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mkramlich 13y ago
Some insight: it's possible to be productive outside a job. It's possible to make money outside a job. It's possible to earn money, save it, and live off it for certain periods, then earn more again later. It's possible to build income-producing assets outside a job. It's possible to learn new skills, etc., outside a job. Some people are overflowing with ideas for projects and some also have the willpower to put their own nose to the grindstone to get them done and ship, so don't need a job to accomplish things. They might only need a job to earn money, especially have a steady paycheck to expect regularly. The opposite of "having a job" is not "doing nothing" or "rotting away" or "being a parasite", etc. Also, some people are just happier with a less externally structured daily life, and with the power to direct their own daily choices. Seeking greater happiness is quite rational. Obviously it's wise to make sure one has the money one needs. But in a high-paying field like software development, and especially if you exercise willpower to keep a lot of your mandatory life costs low, it's quite possible to intentionally have periods of "unemployment" and yet still be in the black financially, and get a hell of a lot of productive stuff done. Often, more productive, because not held back by bureaucracy or legacy systems, and your stuff doesn't have to go into an NDA or back office black hole. Funemployment. This is why that term is often used.
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by 300bps 13y ago

jarek 13y ago

It's just words. Some will call it "personal projects" or "stealth exploratory startup" or ""consulting,"" some will call it "funemployment."

jmduke 13y ago

I think this is a generational thing. I'm 21 and I've been employed constantly since I was 14 as well (if you stretch your definition of 'employed' to include 'Wordpress monkey and high school helpdesk attendant), and the advantage of that is if I were suddenly fired or laid off, I don't have to live in paralyzing fear since I already have around half a year's worth of living expenses saved up. That doesn't mean I'd spend six months goofing around -- I'm a workaholic and I derive an unhealthy amount of value from my day-to-day work -- but I wouldn't be crushed or anything.

adambard 13y ago
I think it's a symptom of being a member of an in-demand profession. I don't know of many other professions that employ as many recruiters as this one. It's easy not to fear unemployment with this many unsolicited offers in your inbox. It can't possibly last though, so if you're a developer right now (as is the OP), you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to enjoy it.

ChuckMcM 13y ago

Not sure why you were voted down, it is perfectly understandable to fear being unemployed. But it's a bad thing when it paralyses you. What is perhaps most surprising is that I have observed that people are often a better employees if they are less afraid of losing their job.

deleted 13y ago

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mkramlich 13y ago

Some insight: it's possible to be productive outside a job. It's possible to make money outside a job. It's possible to earn money, save it, and live off it for certain periods, then earn more again later. It's possible to build income-producing assets outside a job. It's possible to learn new skills, etc., outside a job. Some people are overflowing with ideas for projects and some also have the willpower to put their own nose to the grindstone to get them done and ship, so don't need a job to accomplish things. They might only need a job to earn money, especially have a steady paycheck to expect regularly. The opposite of "having a job" is not "doing nothing" or "rotting away" or "being a parasite", etc. Also, some people are just happier with a less externally structured daily life, and with the power to direct their own daily choices. Seeking greater happiness is quite rational. Obviously it's wise to make sure one has the money one needs. But in a high-paying field like software development, and especially if you exercise willpower to keep a lot of your mandatory life costs low, it's quite possible to intentionally have periods of "unemployment" and yet still be in the black financially, and get a hell of a lot of productive stuff done. Often, more productive, because not held back by bureaucracy or legacy systems, and your stuff doesn't have to go into an NDA or back office black hole. Funemployment. This is why that term is often used.

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