Hacker News Reader

Comment by jarpschop | Hacker News Reader

Sorry for asking the pessimistic question, by no means do i intend to be a troll, but don't you think that it is irresponsible bringing children in to a world where you can't even take the free evenings after working 8+ hours and giving your best? (because you need to "stay competitive or something"). The developer culture of living to work (instead of the other way around) and being totally cool about it is something that still surprises me. I understand that you like coding (me too), but not having time to do anything else (not even raise a kid, watching a movie, reading a book or just resting) appears to you as something completely normal. I simply don't get that ideology (i mean, is like a type of slavery where the slave's hobby is precisely and just what he/she does for work). I say it as someone studying computer engineering.

View on HN

In my experience, if you're a good engineer, it is fairly straightforward to work to live. It is not particularly challenging.

The problem is that you are, over time, shown powerful tools and processes capable of perceptibly increasing the rate of human technological progress. For many people, pursuing this goal is irresistible, and this is when you transition to living to work -- when you know that you are personally capable of moving humanity forward.

I can see the allure in that, but perhaps this is a false vision used to exploit people, similar to the "American Dream". Are you sure you're moving humanity forward? I can see those working in medicine, food, etc. helping people, but many of this technology is aimed at purposes that are detrimental to humans or at best conveniences that still contribute to climate change.

I'm a big Star Trek fan. The alien races in Star Trek are metaphors for different factions of Homo sapiens.

Given that context, I view Star Trek as a reasonably plausible view of future humanity. The Star Trek universe certainly has problems, and is regularly threatened with existential crises. There are many new terrible things in it, but there are also many new beautiful things. It's sort of a greatly expanded version of life as it is today; the inhabited universe is larger, more diverse, and as a direct result, there are, on the whole, more options and more possibilities.

So here's the question: Given the option, would you choose to live in today's universe, or the Star Trek universe?

You don't get to choose which individual you are in either scenario, it's a dice roll. You could end up a North Korean peasant or an Albert Einstein (or pick your own role model). You could end up an admired Federation leader or a Borg drone.

But, if you could choose the present day or the Star Trek universe, which would it be?

I'm also a huge Star Trek fan, and I think that would be a very interesting world to live in. How about we get there without destroying the planet and working so much?

You kinda sound like you're not a parent.

Many developers don't live to work. Those who do may not be great parents; or aren't interested in it at all. It's not hard to do; and still stay relevant and current.

In fact, I could care less about it. I actively despise computers from 5pm - 8am.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com