Comment by throwlaplace | Hacker News Reader

Comment by throwlaplace | Hacker News Reader

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edit: lol as i predicted. no responses just downvotes. is r/fragilehner a subreddit?

I'll surely get sure get downvoted but these kinds of paeans are so self-indulgent: smart privileged person (usually elite educated white guy) decides to pontificate on what makes for a gratifying life, what's important, what's valuable (or whatever other good mouth feel word they've chosen to use for their self-aggrandizing that day). and then follows a list of all of their accomplishments that aren't sufficient anymore according to their new measure. but of course now they're working on some nonsense startup that is sufficient.

What kind of echo chamber of privilege is hn where this kind of advice passes for insightful? It's basically like this: guys if you have a million dollars you shouldn't spend it on ABC you should spend it on XYZ.

Well I've got news for you: most people don't have a choice about what they do so whether they want hard problems or not is completely moot. They do the job that pays them to eat and have shelter and build a family. And yes I'm talking even about software engineers.

You should instead be writing about how grateful you are that you've had all the opportunity you've had and how you're actively working to empower others to have just as much (and not with some bs startup that extracts value).

If you find yourself thinking "I'll surely be down voted for this" you could use the chance to ask yourself if what you want to say is worth saying and if it is, consider how you could get the worthwhile ideas across without being objectionable.

In this case, for example, it seems like you're partly upset by the author's race and gender. Judging people for that, or holding it against them, strikes me as objectionable.

You're right that not everyone has the opportunity to pick what they want to work on, but that's a rather trivial observation and not one really worth making in my view. If someone wrote about performance bicycles, would you scold them for worrying about such irrelevant machines while subsistence farmers struggled to eat, or people in Asia battled the coronavirus? Must all conversations and topics be about the people in the worst position?

Your comment, since you seem to want a reply and not just downvotes, is needlessly antagonistic and doesn't offer any useful insight. You complain about the race and gender of others, startups you don't like, hackernews, startups, and the idea of extracting value. Your core point is obvious to all readers.

>In this case, for example, it seems like you're partly upset by the author's race and gender

I'm not at all upset by either. I'm upset by the narcissism and the perpetuation of it (visavis the traction this post got).

>Judging people for that, or holding it against them, strikes me as objectionable.

Just to be precise I'd like for you to point out to me where I made a value judgment of the author (rather than the article).

>If someone wrote about performance bicycles, would you scold them for worrying about such irrelevant machines while subsistence farmers struggled to eat, or people in Asia battled the coronavirus?

The linked article is advice on how one should live their life. I have engaged directly with the premise and pointed out that "should" is directly a function of "could".

>Your comment, since you seem to want a reply and not just downvotes,

I bring it up only because it's strictly against the rules to use downvote in disagreement. I haven't insulted or inflamed anyone and yet people's reactions are to be offended.

>Your core point is obvious to all readers.

Precisely my challenge is that it is not.

If you would, please repost your original comment a a reply to this one. Someone has flagged it, but I would like to read it.

You can see dead comments by enabling "showdead" in your profile.

Does anyone care about some white dude talking about how lucky and privileged he is?

No.

It is interesting to hear that even the smartest people struggle with what to do. That’s helpful to other people who do have some privilege yet aren’t as fulfilled as they “should be”.

>That’s helpful to other people who do have some privilege yet aren’t as fulfilled as they “should be”.

you're just doubling down on what i'm taking aim at. you want to be more fulfilled despite all of your privilege? go live in a 3rd world country for a couple of years you'll be fulfilled beyond measure when you return. or hell go work as a teacher in a poor urban school district.

That isn’t really how life works. I’ve been through unspeakable pain (literally, no words to describe it), and in the midst of it it felt that if the pain ever ended, I would be thankful for every day — because it was a day without pain. One day the pain had subsided, and at first that was true. But years later, it’s hard not to just take each day the same way as I did before the pain. Knowledge of the worst doesn’t really improve your day to day, although it can put it into perspective.

It’s the same as if a parent died. People don’t become happier after experiencing that kind of sadness, if anything it makes them more sad.

I doubt if everyone in the world who was privileged took a weeklong trip to the most undeveloped, rough living conditions on earth, that much would change long term.

>I doubt if everyone in the world who was privileged took a weeklong trip to the most undeveloped, rough living conditions on earth, that much would change long term.

I said years for a reason. I'm living proof of this having a tremendous effect on outlook, have spent many years living a village in Africa after undergrad.

Your other comments suggest you are in, or are pursuing, a FAANG internship. The target audience of this piece... is you. The wisdom being preached is that although you may be set to acquire wealth, you may find yourself feeling existentially lost nonetheless.

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