5 ms·

I think the issue is more that we have a skill that powers the world, but 95% of us are just business subordinates-- not professionals like doctors or professor

I think the issue is more that we have a skill that powers the world, but 95% of us are just business subordinates-- not professionals like doctors or professors, not even unionized-- and the 5% who have good jobs at any given time still live under the threat of an unforeseen issue (AI winter, financial crash wiping out the quant jobs, age discrimination, "Series A crunches") putting them back into the EnterpriseJavaDrone purgatory. It's not "isolation". The software industry is a very depressing place. The pay (while not great) is solidly OK, but the status is low and the job security's abysmal. Most software engineers have a skill that can do so much and end up having to use it to do so little.

larrys 13y ago
Will also add that (for lack of a better way to put it and sorry if this offends) "penis envy". That is reading about the money that is made by others and their success and also seeing how others in the group react to that success with generally fawning reverence. With, as you have said, no particular reinforcement (by peers, friends and family or neighbors) for anything in particular that you do day to day.
benched 13y ago
Wow. I could not have stated better exactly how I feel about my career, and what I perceive to be my prospects after 15 years of being 'performance review successful' in this industry. And to those who can't resist giving unsolicited advice like, "It's all you, your choices, and your attitude!" - I've heard that one.
- Sven7 13y ago
  just stay away from impressionable minds
kungpooey 13y ago
I quit two very decent jobs last year. I've burned out hard after 11 years as a professional developer, mostly due to the outlook, more culture crap, more "unrequired" socializing on personal time to 'fit in', more pay than I need, less free time than I desire and no companies in sight that want to truly negotiate away from the norm of 20-ish year old suckers buying into the open offices and cultish companies. I'm trying to invest the next few years in my own startup idea(s), if I can't be my own boss, then I'm heading toward another industry.

larrys 13y ago

Will also add that (for lack of a better way to put it and sorry if this offends) "penis envy". That is reading about the money that is made by others and their success and also seeing how others in the group react to that success with generally fawning reverence. With, as you have said, no particular reinforcement (by peers, friends and family or neighbors) for anything in particular that you do day to day.

benched 13y ago

Wow. I could not have stated better exactly how I feel about my career, and what I perceive to be my prospects after 15 years of being 'performance review successful' in this industry. And to those who can't resist giving unsolicited advice like, "It's all you, your choices, and your attitude!" - I've heard that one.

Sven7 13y ago
just stay away from impressionable minds

kungpooey 13y ago

I quit two very decent jobs last year. I've burned out hard after 11 years as a professional developer, mostly due to the outlook, more culture crap, more "unrequired" socializing on personal time to 'fit in', more pay than I need, less free time than I desire and no companies in sight that want to truly negotiate away from the norm of 20-ish year old suckers buying into the open offices and cultish companies. I'm trying to invest the next few years in my own startup idea(s), if I can't be my own boss, then I'm heading toward another industry.