I just want people to see that there are many paths to a fulfilling, excellent life. In this community, we have so many models of two of those paths--making FU money, or achieving technical mastery--and so few public models of other options, like the patient parent, the spouse to an emotionally-troubled partner, the upstanding community member, etc.

I understand that some people people who attempt one of these goals will fail through lack of effort, intelligence, or luck. But I want to help people not devote their lives to one of these goals just because they don't see the other options or know themselves well enough to see that they're working hard in the wrong direction. I don't judge or disagree with anyone's informed choice, but you can't be informed if you only see two models of success and not other roads to a happy life.

I just thought I'd post a public reminder, and hope a few people find it useful.

(Edited: pretty sure it was clear what I meant, alexeisadeski3, but made it even clearer.)

We need far more discussion of this type in this forum, especially because the "FU money" and "technical master" roles are rare and difficult to achieve. These can be ideal scenarios for people, but we need to discuss that not achieving this feats does not equal failure.

>I do mind people who devote their lives to one of these goals because they don't see the other options or know themselves well enough to see that they're working hard in the wrong direction.

Seems a bit presumptuous to judge how others choose to live their lives...

He's not judging, he's lamenting. Lamenting what he sees to be choices made as a result of a lack of information, which is something we do all the time when it comes to technological decisions. It's not a critique of the choice, but a critique of the context in which it was made.

I pity these poor fools, who thought Exchange was their only option...