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Two things about this article (which are really more prominent in the comments and on twitter) bother me. First, and perhaps this is because I am of lower work
by moreoutput 13y ago
Two things about this article (which are really more prominent in the comments and on twitter) bother me.
First, and perhaps this is because I am of lower working-class roots, whats actually wrong with being a plumber? I believe its fairly common to ask good programmers how they view the task -- generally speaking framed as a carpenter, a writer, or a mathematician.
Second is the ending: "Am I paid too much to code? Am I paid too little to write? No: in each case, I’m paid exactly what I should be." which I find important in tone but redundant. Generally speaking in America the idea is you take the pay you agree to -- which to me inherently means "I’m paid exactly what I should be".
- rocky1138 13y ago"What's actually wrong with being a plumber?" Nothing is "wrong" with it, but the skill required to be one is much lower than it is for other vocations. This means that there are more of them and so they are lower paid. The perception in society is one that because of this they have a lower value. From my perspective, people who choose low-skill, low-pay work aren't pushing themselves hard enough. It's great if you're good at it and you are low on money, but if it's your life goal to be a plumber you may be setting the bar too low.
- malyk 13y agoBut what if being a plumber gets you all of the things you want in life? What is this bar you are talking about? Not everyone wants to be or has to be at the absolute top of their potential. There's a huge disconnect between economic value and, well, humanity, frankly. Somehow we've come to worship the economic return of everything over the actual experience of living.
- hackula1 13y agook... he op said there was nothing wrong with it, just that it usually required less skill.