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Good for you! Too many people are in it for the money and pure self interest. Now, I like the money our profession pays, it’s great - but I’d by doing somethi

by TX81Z 3y ago

Good for you! Too many people are in it for the money and pure self interest. Now, I like the money our profession pays, it’s great - but I’d by doing something with computers either way, so what a blessing to get rewarded financially as well. Also, as an erstwhile professor who was at a top 3 program, a motivated and curious student is the best. If you had finished college you’d have done well with your attitude.

jpbastyr 3y ago
I really don't think there's a problem with doing a job just for the money and going home, everyone needs to eat at the end of the day
- chefandy 3y ago
  Right. In my experience, in nearly any professional discipline, words like 'passionate' and 'hungry' are often management euphemisms for 'has trouble drawing boundaries with work, and cares more about getting it done than work/life balance and their own wellbeing.' I think most of us get nerd sniped and spend half the night working on something every now and then, but that's not something any employer is entitled to.
paulcole 3y ago
> Too many people are in it for the money What? It’s a job. You yourself say the financial rewards are a blessing. Sounds like you’re in it for the money, too. If you’re not, your boss might OK a 20 or 30% salary decrease should you request it.
- epylar 3y ago
  It is possible to be involved in something for various reasons, but it does not mean that one should willingly forego a benefit. "In it for the money" implies that the primary motivation is high pay, whereas "not in it for the money" indicates a strong preference for the type of work and a willingness to accept lower pay if market rates were to decrease.
  - paulcole 3y ago
    That's awfully convenient lol
- makapuf 3y ago
  Replace programmer with dentist, trading or lawyer, how many work on it by passion ? On evenings unpaid side projects? For guitarists, or artists its not the same (hint: which pays generally more?) , so I would say programmer is a middle ground, from cobol bank programmer to gamedev
  - paulcole 3y ago
    I'm not following this comment at all. > On evenings unpaid side projects? I'd bet you've got a very skewed view of how people who make their living programming do this outside of learning something to help them get a better job.
moonchrome 3y ago
I feel the opposite. I've been programming for fun since 13 and have a similar experience as op - where I did my own projects for ~10 years before I got a job. I always hated professional programming. It's boring, problems I'm solving are technically trivial. Most of the real problem is tied to a domain I give 0 shits about and am so bored by that I have to force myself to stay focused. Things I build have practically no value to me, and often no value to anyone except that someone decided to allocate a budget that way. I would never work on these projects if it didn't pay well. I would prefer craft work if it paid the same. I'm not complaining though ! I live very comfortably, I came from extreme poverty and I don't see any realistic alternative path that would end me in a better situation. But I think expecting people to do most programming jobs out of passion is not realistic. If you're really good maybe you'll land in a role that gets you doing something technically innovating that also pays well but I'd say that's top few % of devs, most of us are in the dredges where enthusiastic people are a detriment (worst projects I've seen were a result of someone trying to be too clever for their own good, not lacking skill)

by TX81Z 3y ago

jpbastyr 3y ago

I really don't think there's a problem with doing a job just for the money and going home, everyone needs to eat at the end of the day

chefandy 3y ago
Right. In my experience, in nearly any professional discipline, words like 'passionate' and 'hungry' are often management euphemisms for 'has trouble drawing boundaries with work, and cares more about getting it done than work/life balance and their own wellbeing.' I think most of us get nerd sniped and spend half the night working on something every now and then, but that's not something any employer is entitled to.

paulcole 3y ago

> Too many people are in it for the money What? It’s a job. You yourself say the financial rewards are a blessing. Sounds like you’re in it for the money, too. If you’re not, your boss might OK a 20 or 30% salary decrease should you request it.

epylar 3y ago
It is possible to be involved in something for various reasons, but it does not mean that one should willingly forego a benefit. "In it for the money" implies that the primary motivation is high pay, whereas "not in it for the money" indicates a strong preference for the type of work and a willingness to accept lower pay if market rates were to decrease.
- paulcole 3y ago
  That's awfully convenient lol
makapuf 3y ago
Replace programmer with dentist, trading or lawyer, how many work on it by passion ? On evenings unpaid side projects? For guitarists, or artists its not the same (hint: which pays generally more?) , so I would say programmer is a middle ground, from cobol bank programmer to gamedev
- paulcole 3y ago
  I'm not following this comment at all. > On evenings unpaid side projects? I'd bet you've got a very skewed view of how people who make their living programming do this outside of learning something to help them get a better job.

moonchrome 3y ago

I feel the opposite. I've been programming for fun since 13 and have a similar experience as op - where I did my own projects for ~10 years before I got a job. I always hated professional programming. It's boring, problems I'm solving are technically trivial. Most of the real problem is tied to a domain I give 0 shits about and am so bored by that I have to force myself to stay focused. Things I build have practically no value to me, and often no value to anyone except that someone decided to allocate a budget that way. I would never work on these projects if it didn't pay well. I would prefer craft work if it paid the same. I'm not complaining though ! I live very comfortably, I came from extreme poverty and I don't see any realistic alternative path that would end me in a better situation. But I think expecting people to do most programming jobs out of passion is not realistic. If you're really good maybe you'll land in a role that gets you doing something technically innovating that also pays well but I'd say that's top few % of devs, most of us are in the dredges where enthusiastic people are a detriment (worst projects I've seen were a result of someone trying to be too clever for their own good, not lacking skill)