America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that to Gen Z

Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by bee_rider on Thursday January 05, 2023 @09:32PM (#34270208)

Definitely don’t want to cheapen the toll that trade work takes on the body, but do want to note that we all do sell our bodies and health one way or another. Heart disease is one of the main killers of Americans and all the office workers sitting in chairs for ~8 hours a day aren’t doing ourselves any favors there…

I mean, yeah, on balance I’d rather be an API plumber than an actual physical plumber — code smells are less nauseating than poop smells — but there are advantages to jobs that keep you moving around.

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by pcthrowaway on Thursday January 05, 2023 @11:43PM (#34271064)

Not to mention RSI, eye problems, and other issues from performance-enhancing drugs lots of tech workers take to stay focused

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by lodovic on Friday January 06, 2023 @01:13AM (#34271581)

Is that a thing? I don't think taking "performance enhancing drugs" is safe or allowed in my country, and I would definitely report coworkers to HR if I would find out they did. It's not fair to compete against someone like that.

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by pcthrowaway on Friday January 06, 2023 @01:55AM (#34271767)

It's absolutely a thing. Rampant in SV from what I hear. Many people get them prescribed (Adderall, Ritalin) for ADD, but it seems like 20-40% of programmers have diagnosed ADD. Others buy from friends who get it prescribed, or on the black market, and they probably don't talk about it at work.

I don't think most employers would fire an employee for taking drugs to improve their performance.

Regardless of safety (and I say this as someone who used to take prescription Adderrall myself) there are negative side effects, and long-term effects.

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by dbfx on Friday January 06, 2023 @05:26AM (#34273096)

SV is not representative of tech workers

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by boppo1 on Friday January 06, 2023 @02:37AM (#34271989)

Adderall prescriptions are easy to get, at least in the US. Good luck reporting that to HR.

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by iakov on Friday January 06, 2023 @11:04AM (#34276288)

Coffeine is the most used one. It is absolutely performance enhancing and really addictive.

Also couldnt help but laugh at you reporting people to HR. That is cute.

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Re:America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that t... by ohthatsnotright on Thursday January 05, 2023 @11:55PM (#34271138)

Code smells are way more nauseating because they're nearly entirely opinion based, whereas an actual odor can be solved to everyone's satisfaction by clearing a clogged main.

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