[1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...
So, basically equalising things a wee bit.
Maybe the bullies should start by apologizing and inviting us to their parties instead of demanding that we give them jobs.
To be clear, I do agree that being middle class and having free time as a teenager is a privilege. What I disagree with is that my choice to spend that time programming instead of partying is a privilege.
They have some nerve. They've already taken over the industry - your average programmer now is someone who picked software as a career path as an adult (starting university), and was not "into tech" as a kid. And now the already marginalized geeks are being called privileged?
If the latter child doesn't end up spending as much time programming as the former child, how much of it do you think was choice?
I absolutely agree with the notion of socioeconomic privilege. For what it's worth, I ended up making more than my (single) mother in my very first CS internship.
helping to level the playing field by giving extra help to those who don't have that step-up
However after some thought, and the rather unpleasant experience of having attempted to discuss and argue this point before, I do not think I can answer in a way that would convince you to change your current viewpoint, rather we would end up arguing opinions.
From my system of morality...
For example, people adopt and use Gauss's law, because they think it's objectively true. Is that the case with your moral system? Is that moral system objectively true or is it a matter of your opinion?
...idea that we all have a right to life, dignity, and knowledge.
...rather we would end up arguing opinions.
Is that moral system objectively true or is it a matter of your opinion?
...
Theory of evolution is an idea ...
A half-baked example would be: If you kill a billion wildflowers, then that has a measurable effect on the surrounding environment, sure. But at the end of the day there is nothing to say whether the effect that had on the environment is good or bad. It is just an event, it happens, there isn't anything deeper here from an objective point of view. Right and wrong only come into it when you have a preference for a particular outcome. So you view this act as good if you have a preference towards the outcome of a city being built, or you view this as bad if you have a preference towards plant life being left intact. Since we all have different preferences for different outcomes, everybody's systems of morality are inherently different -- even if that difference is not pronounced in most cases.
Wait, so morality for you is a difference of opinions?
Kinda like: 'I like chocolate ice cream, you like vanilla ice cream'.
Why do you follow that system of morality and not another one?
Thank you for the answer.
On a more overall point, I'd say that doing such a thing, even if noble and "well-meaning", actually demeans the work of the people that actually created the difference in "step-ups" as you refer to them in the first place.
Some things are given to you by coincidence of birth and location. But other things, the really important ones, are given to you by your upbringing (notably, effort from your parents and family). I will not go beyond telling others what a difference that effort makes. If you never got it yourself, you have a chance to give it to someone else, and not repeat previous mistakes.
Moreso, I think that we have a responsibility to provide that (better conditions) not only to our children, but also to whomever else we can.
I mean if you understand art that you recognize that it's a lot of work even if you aren't an artist. Those that don't know just assume it's as simple as flicking paint on a canvas and charging a fortune.
The same people will assume you can build a website for $100 because they have no knowledge on what the work requires.
[0] - https://xkcd.com/323/