"I've recently quit a job that required a 2 hour+ commute (4-5 hour total)."
The job did not require that. This individual chose to live in an exurb.
The job did not require that. This individual chose to live in an exurb.
1. They live in one city, and received a job in another. 2 hours would be Philadelphia to DC or NYC for example. But they can't get a more local job (those don't exist, they can't land them, etc.)
2. They can't move for some reason. Their partner can't get another job. Their children are in a school and they don't want to move them until they graduate. Their parents are family are nearby and they must be near them, medical issues are possible, elderly, etc.
3. They just really love where they live
4. They Can't afford to live.
3. is an argument against empathy. they made their choice to prioritize where they are living over commute. That's exactly OP's point.
1. again, if they choose not to relocate then the commute is their responsibility not the job's fault.
2. is the main point i now have a lot of sympathy for now that I have kids. Kids benefit from continuity and uprooting your whole life for one of the partner's jobs is somewhat selfish.
But even in that situation, I feel like the onus is still on the person - they are choosing their kids over their commute. The commute isn't for the job. The commute is for the kids.
Modifying one of those (ideally the job half) to eliminate that commute is a great choice if available.
I don't think so. I know many people who for example wanted to keep their children in the same school so commute for a new job. I don't know anyone who commutes through two hours of suburbs. Where is that even possible? Los Angeles maybe?
> I'm making a point.
Well what is it?
My point is that you are not entitled to both your McMansion enclave and your cushy software engineering position at Big Corp. Denser development (in the U.S.) is necessary and would be achieved if people were willing to pay for it and vote for it.
Instead, they do the worst possible thing, which is imagine they can live a pseudo-bucolic existence and not be members of the urban center, or at least old growth dense suburbs, that actually support the jobs they want to have.
Is this pathology uniquely American? No, but arguably we invented it and have taken it to the most extreme level.
That's still totally unrealistic in the modern economy. I get it. All of you that have kids and a settled life want to flip the table and make yourselves as unavailable as possible. No more mentorship of younger engineers and new team members. No more face to face planning and strategy. No more conferences, after-work networking, etc.
It's selfish. You're going to be proven wrong by those who are willing to show up, collaborate, and innovate. We're going to run circles around you and leave your failing businesses in the dust.
!remindme 1 decade.