5 ms·

What would be better advice for a 17 year old?

by wy35 26d ago

Ampersander 26d ago
Stay in school, get good grades.
PretzelPirate 26d ago
Learn math
pjerem 26d ago
Throw the computer and the smartphone out of the window. Or more reasonably, the same old thing : use Linux, hack a little, why not learn programming basics. But learn to own your technology, fight against centralization of technology. The same old RMS story. IDK where the tech industry is going, if there will be jobs anymore or not, but what I'm sure (and what have been the case for the last 10-15 years anyway) is that for most tech jobs, having good technical knowledge beyond the basics is pretty useless and will probably not be recognized. If you can, stay a computer geek if that's your thing, but don't make it your career choice, the Eldorado is behind us.
- nomel 24d ago
  As someone who very much enjoys self learning, I can't comprehend what you wrote. It doesn't make any sense. In fact, I don't believe you've played in the same sandbox at all. > why not learn programming basics Do you think implementing an LLM from scratch would not require programming!? A generic project based goal like this is the best approach to self learning, because you fight your way to it, picking up what you need to know on the way. And, once it's all working, and you get your first meaningful sign of success (in this case, some tokens out), after your long path, you fucking celebrate!
vlyan 26d ago
"it doesn't matter what you choose to study because no job is safe from being outsourced overseas, handed over to an indentured servant, or made redundant by a machine. you will spend your whole life surviving while the cannibalistic pedophiles who own everything invent new ways to make you own nothing. be frugal, don't get married, don't have children, do everything you can to stay healthy and independent, and you just might live a reasonably comfortable life."
- floro 26d ago
  Most reasonable advice I've seen under this post. Having graduated in 2025 I've experienced the horror of competing with infinitely many third worlders in my small country, who will gladly take 1/3 my pay and be serfs. I really hope we get another hiring boom like in 2020 when I decided to study CS. Otherwise my career will be very rough. I love it and can't imagine doing anything else.
  - MaxHoppersGhost 26d ago
    Horrible. Which country is this? Canada maybe?
    - floro 26d ago
      Switzerland. I graduated from ETH Zürich.
  - throwaway1183 25d ago
    awwww…… so cute…… who would have guessed when first world were enjoying their heyday as they were colonizing the world, and teaching everyone and their mother to learn English. Kinda sad now you have to compete with serfs from thirls world. chu chu chu. so cute. shouldn’t have robbed others then. a richer world for you comes at poorer world for someone. we are playing infinite game in finite world.
    - floro 25d ago
      > shouldn’t have robbed others then. a richer world for you comes at poorer world for someone. we are playing infinite game in finite world. Young people are not responsible for the crimes of their ancestors centuries ago.
      - throwaway1183 25d ago
        say that to visa laws that were designed by your ancestors that carry around the world. Say the same to currency arbitrage, freedom of mobility and everything that you enjoy for granted in protected walls. The reason remote worker can out compete you is because of this currency arbitrage you designed. Your pennies goes a long way in this so called third world. Your one day dinner at nice place is a months salary for family of 4. Seriously, if you can’t compete globally, then you don’t deserve your privilege of being born in rich world. Stop labelling other humans as serf when your entire wealth was built on shaky foundations. You == not you the person, but the government and laws.
rglover 26d ago
Stay away from the internet and learn how to build a local business instead.
Staross 25d ago
Implement a linear regression or Bayes' theorem.
carbondrone 25d ago
Be first to invent and patent the "$15 dollar, battery-less, flying carbon capture drone" and save the world from global warning. What? You want me to tell kids not to be ambitious?

What would be better advice for a 17 year old?

by wy35 26d ago

What would be better advice for a 17 year old?

Ampersander 26d ago

Stay in school, get good grades.

PretzelPirate 26d ago

Learn math

pjerem 26d ago

Throw the computer and the smartphone out of the window. Or more reasonably, the same old thing : use Linux, hack a little, why not learn programming basics. But learn to own your technology, fight against centralization of technology. The same old RMS story. IDK where the tech industry is going, if there will be jobs anymore or not, but what I'm sure (and what have been the case for the last 10-15 years anyway) is that for most tech jobs, having good technical knowledge beyond the basics is pretty useless and will probably not be recognized. If you can, stay a computer geek if that's your thing, but don't make it your career choice, the Eldorado is behind us.

nomel 24d ago
As someone who very much enjoys self learning, I can't comprehend what you wrote. It doesn't make any sense. In fact, I don't believe you've played in the same sandbox at all. > why not learn programming basics Do you think implementing an LLM from scratch would not require programming!? A generic project based goal like this is the best approach to self learning, because you fight your way to it, picking up what you need to know on the way. And, once it's all working, and you get your first meaningful sign of success (in this case, some tokens out), after your long path, you fucking celebrate!

vlyan 26d ago

"it doesn't matter what you choose to study because no job is safe from being outsourced overseas, handed over to an indentured servant, or made redundant by a machine. you will spend your whole life surviving while the cannibalistic pedophiles who own everything invent new ways to make you own nothing. be frugal, don't get married, don't have children, do everything you can to stay healthy and independent, and you just might live a reasonably comfortable life."

floro 26d ago
Most reasonable advice I've seen under this post. Having graduated in 2025 I've experienced the horror of competing with infinitely many third worlders in my small country, who will gladly take 1/3 my pay and be serfs. I really hope we get another hiring boom like in 2020 when I decided to study CS. Otherwise my career will be very rough. I love it and can't imagine doing anything else.
- MaxHoppersGhost 26d ago
  Horrible. Which country is this? Canada maybe?
  - floro 26d ago
    Switzerland. I graduated from ETH Zürich.
- throwaway1183 25d ago
  awwww…… so cute…… who would have guessed when first world were enjoying their heyday as they were colonizing the world, and teaching everyone and their mother to learn English. Kinda sad now you have to compete with serfs from thirls world. chu chu chu. so cute. shouldn’t have robbed others then. a richer world for you comes at poorer world for someone. we are playing infinite game in finite world.
  - floro 25d ago
    > shouldn’t have robbed others then. a richer world for you comes at poorer world for someone. we are playing infinite game in finite world. Young people are not responsible for the crimes of their ancestors centuries ago.
    - throwaway1183 25d ago
      say that to visa laws that were designed by your ancestors that carry around the world. Say the same to currency arbitrage, freedom of mobility and everything that you enjoy for granted in protected walls. The reason remote worker can out compete you is because of this currency arbitrage you designed. Your pennies goes a long way in this so called third world. Your one day dinner at nice place is a months salary for family of 4. Seriously, if you can’t compete globally, then you don’t deserve your privilege of being born in rich world. Stop labelling other humans as serf when your entire wealth was built on shaky foundations. You == not you the person, but the government and laws.

rglover 26d ago

Stay away from the internet and learn how to build a local business instead.

Staross 25d ago

Implement a linear regression or Bayes' theorem.

carbondrone 25d ago

Be first to invent and patent the "$15 dollar, battery-less, flying carbon capture drone" and save the world from global warning. What? You want me to tell kids not to be ambitious?