I've always read "passionate" in job posts as "excited about learning better methods, technologies, and tools" and "not satisfied with the status quo, and conti

I've always read "passionate" in job posts as "excited about learning better methods, technologies, and tools" and "not satisfied with the status quo, and continually making things better." Neither of these require an insane commitment outside work, or necessarily makes you easier to take advantage of. People who have "paid their dues" by going to school and learning one language, and then never update their skills unless forced to do exist, and working with them sucks. You're always fighting a "but such and such already works!" attitude. Programming by flipping switches on computers made using vacuum tubes worked. Thankfully someone wasn't satisfied and wanted something better.