4 ms·

Certainly depression in tech is real and people suffering deserve help (and can hopefully get it given their station in life). But when you strive for hyper-am

by rsobers 12y ago

Certainly depression in tech is real and people suffering deserve help (and can hopefully get it given their station in life). But when you strive for hyper-ambitious outcomes, whether it be selling your company for $2B, trying to change the world, or training to become a world champion fighter, you're likely going to suffer some injuries that you might not fully recover from. I feel for all the people who are depressed AND struggling to find their next meal--working in fast food or in factories, being treated as if they were less-than-human. I find it super-hard to get worked up when we founders and startup employees get to have health insurance, good salaries, free food and education, and a chance to win the lottery.

keithpeter 12y ago
You have perspective People who are suffering from clinical depression may not have. The pain will be the same irrespective of their position in society. I know what you mean, many of my (adult) students are doing a couple of minimum wage jobs, looking after children and/or parents and trying to study. Not easy.
- lutusp 12y ago
  > You have perspective. People who are suffering from clinical depression may not have. You're using "perspective" in an unclear way here, as though it means optimism or a long view. In fact, studies show that depressed people often have better, more accurate, perceptions of reality than non-depressed people. This state of being even has an associated theory or school of thought: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism Quote: "Although depressed individuals are thought to have a negative cognitive bias that results in recurrent, negative automatic thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and dysfunctional world beliefs,[2][3][4] depressive realism argues not only that this negativity may reflect a more accurate appraisal of the world but also that non-depressed individuals’ appraisals are positively biased." If this idea turns out to have scientific merit (which it doesn't at the moment), I would find that depressing.
yupmetoo 12y ago
So you're saying its not a real problem because startup people have resources?

by rsobers 12y ago

keithpeter 12y ago

You have perspective People who are suffering from clinical depression may not have. The pain will be the same irrespective of their position in society. I know what you mean, many of my (adult) students are doing a couple of minimum wage jobs, looking after children and/or parents and trying to study. Not easy.

lutusp 12y ago
> You have perspective. People who are suffering from clinical depression may not have. You're using "perspective" in an unclear way here, as though it means optimism or a long view. In fact, studies show that depressed people often have better, more accurate, perceptions of reality than non-depressed people. This state of being even has an associated theory or school of thought: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism Quote: "Although depressed individuals are thought to have a negative cognitive bias that results in recurrent, negative automatic thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and dysfunctional world beliefs,[2][3][4] depressive realism argues not only that this negativity may reflect a more accurate appraisal of the world but also that non-depressed individuals’ appraisals are positively biased." If this idea turns out to have scientific merit (which it doesn't at the moment), I would find that depressing.

yupmetoo 12y ago

So you're saying its not a real problem because startup people have resources?