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The 1st part was ridiculous, having bizarre work hours and overly ambitious work loads that require constant over working doesn't distinguish those who go the e

The 1st part was ridiculous, having bizarre work hours and overly ambitious work loads that require constant over working doesn't distinguish those who go the extra mile. It distinguishes those who have the extra time in their life. A single twenty something is going to have far more flexible hours and than a 37 year old man with a wife and two kids one of which has a disability and needs extra care. I would imagine the 37 year old does a lot more in a day than the 20 something although not all of that is at work. While he has less business value he still has a ton of value as a human being and should be treated as such. If we expect our businesses to treat humans just like machine or office appliance than I guess not making that distinction is ok. But if we want to live in a society were we value people and make room for everyone to be successful than this matters. The second part of this is spot on. College doesn't give you everything you need and code schools don't teach you everything you need either.

nostromo 13y ago
I'm tired of the narrative about how everyone over 30 can't work overtime because of their half-dozen special-needs children and their demanding spouse and their massive underwater mortgage and whatever else. I'm over 30. I have more time to work because I'm not dating and partying and backpacking. While trying to elicit sympathy, this narrative actually does more harm than good. Besides, it's just not true, at least with me and my peers. We're more financially stable, harder working, honed, and more focused than we were when we were 20.
- rayiner 13y ago
  I'm about to hit 30, and I concur. Having a wife and kid has made me more disciplined and better at time management. Also, having an infant has made me more tolerant of getting less sleep...
- tenpoundhammer 13y ago
  I wasn't trying to say that people over 30 can't work overtime, I'm saying that their lives are less tolerant to consistent over working. I tend to agree with your assertion of better stability.
- geogra4 13y ago
  >I'm tired of the narrative about how everyone over 30 can't work overtime because of their half-dozen special-needs children and their demanding spouse and their massive underwater mortgage and whatever else. How about those with wives and children would rather spend time with them than at work? Is a work-life balance to be looked down upon? Why should the endless march of capital win at all costs vs human labor?
  - nostromo 13y ago
    That's great! But it's not a function of age. I had more work/life balance in my 20s than I do now. Some people are the opposite. But it's an individual's choice to make, not some sort of natural law as it's often presented.
    - toomuchtodo 13y ago
      I'm pretty certain work/life balance is codified in law, such as, "You pay me X, you get 40 hours a week of my time."
      - geogra4 13y ago
        I wish that was codified in to law. As exempt workers most tech workers don't get that kind of legal protection.
    - mahranch 13y ago
      I actually think it IS a function of age. For example, while you personally have more time in your 30s, it's not true for the majority. An average person in their 30s will have experienced more "life" than someone in their 20s, so the chances are higher that they will have added obligations and responsibilities. Whether it's financial responsibilities or familial responsibilities, ignoring how life usually works out for the average person because your situation is different is a bit selfish. As much as kids in their 20s like to think they have their life planned out step by step, life has a way of throwing a wrench into those plans. I don't think its disingenuous at all to assume that people have less responsibilities in their 20s than in their 30s. A personal anecdote to the contrary doesn't really change that.
- lifeisstillgood 13y ago
  No you had plenty of time to work in your twenties, you just choose to use it dating and partying and backpacking. It is absolutely true that life adds its demands up - family, parents, Ill relations, children with special needs. If you have none of these count yourself lucky.

nostromo 13y ago

I'm tired of the narrative about how everyone over 30 can't work overtime because of their half-dozen special-needs children and their demanding spouse and their massive underwater mortgage and whatever else. I'm over 30. I have more time to work because I'm not dating and partying and backpacking. While trying to elicit sympathy, this narrative actually does more harm than good. Besides, it's just not true, at least with me and my peers. We're more financially stable, harder working, honed, and more focused than we were when we were 20.

rayiner 13y ago
I'm about to hit 30, and I concur. Having a wife and kid has made me more disciplined and better at time management. Also, having an infant has made me more tolerant of getting less sleep...
tenpoundhammer 13y ago
I wasn't trying to say that people over 30 can't work overtime, I'm saying that their lives are less tolerant to consistent over working. I tend to agree with your assertion of better stability.
geogra4 13y ago
>I'm tired of the narrative about how everyone over 30 can't work overtime because of their half-dozen special-needs children and their demanding spouse and their massive underwater mortgage and whatever else. How about those with wives and children would rather spend time with them than at work? Is a work-life balance to be looked down upon? Why should the endless march of capital win at all costs vs human labor?
- nostromo 13y ago
  That's great! But it's not a function of age. I had more work/life balance in my 20s than I do now. Some people are the opposite. But it's an individual's choice to make, not some sort of natural law as it's often presented.
  - toomuchtodo 13y ago
    I'm pretty certain work/life balance is codified in law, such as, "You pay me X, you get 40 hours a week of my time."
    - geogra4 13y ago
      I wish that was codified in to law. As exempt workers most tech workers don't get that kind of legal protection.
  - mahranch 13y ago
    I actually think it IS a function of age. For example, while you personally have more time in your 30s, it's not true for the majority. An average person in their 30s will have experienced more "life" than someone in their 20s, so the chances are higher that they will have added obligations and responsibilities. Whether it's financial responsibilities or familial responsibilities, ignoring how life usually works out for the average person because your situation is different is a bit selfish. As much as kids in their 20s like to think they have their life planned out step by step, life has a way of throwing a wrench into those plans. I don't think its disingenuous at all to assume that people have less responsibilities in their 20s than in their 30s. A personal anecdote to the contrary doesn't really change that.
lifeisstillgood 13y ago
No you had plenty of time to work in your twenties, you just choose to use it dating and partying and backpacking. It is absolutely true that life adds its demands up - family, parents, Ill relations, children with special needs. If you have none of these count yourself lucky.