Not Just Any Old Geek

Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by drvdevd on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @06:33AM (#12596631)

I've been into programming most of my life, but actually didn't get started professionally until my mid-to-late 20s. This gave me a unique view of said propaganda. It certainly lives everywhere including outside SV. I've been able to quickly recognize it being applied and thus desire other, better forms of compensation.

I think this is a skill we should strive to teach younger programmers, because if properly applied across the entire industry, we can raise standards across the market.

Just because they're willing to working 1.5-2X the hours doesn't mean they should be. Your time is valuable no matter how old you are

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by daemonk on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @06:42AM (#12596671)

Yeah definitely. I actually work in academia (I guess I wasn't very qualified to speak about SV). But it's the same shtick everywhere. Passion has become an euphemism for soft corporate brain-washing.

I am reminded of this blog article by an ad executive before his death where he raised similar points about his industry:

http://www.lindsredding.com/2012/03/11/a-overdue-lesson-in-p...

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by superJimmy64 on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @07:18AM (#12596817)

>(You don’t have to drive creative folk like most workers. They drive themselves. Just wind ’em up and let ’em go.)

Great link: Very, VERY insightful.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by drvdevd on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @07:38AM (#12596901)

Agreed. What an excellent read! Highly recommended.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by emodendroket on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @09:28AM (#12597423)

I always like to think of passion in the classical meaning (like "the passion of Christ") when I read crap about being passionate at work.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by js8 on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @07:26AM (#12596845)

> Your time is valuable no matter how old you are

I disagree, but maybe that would explain it, your time is actually more valuable (for you) as you grow older.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by tobltobs on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @09:12AM (#12597325)

The time between 20-35 is the most valuable time in your life imho. You will regret wasting this time for some death marches for a startup which promise you a lot of bullshit.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by js8 on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @10:25AM (#12597852)

Of course you will regret it! Because, as I said, your time becomes more valuable as you get older. You're confusing good advice and empirical observation of reality.

Anyway, let me add to my previous comment. It cuts both ways. If someone hires somebody who doesn't think their time is valuable, they are fooling themselves too. Perhaps this person will spend 2 hours on ping-pong and 2 hours on Facebook out of their 12 hour shifts, because they do not value their time as much yet.

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Re:Not Just Any Old Geek by emodendroket on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @09:29AM (#12597427)

Really? You think your time is without value? What a strange position.

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