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Comment by throwaway012323 | Hacker News Reader

You want an honest answer? Because our profession pays well.

I love programming, and I do it as a hobby, but if it didn't pay well, I wouldn't do it as a job. I would do whatever job I am capable of that pays the most.

I am just beyond lucky that programming pays well, because being poor in this world sucks.

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Why are we at the stage where one needs a throwaway account for such a normal opinion. Society, huh

I don't consider that a normal nor a healthy opinion. I'd choose happiness over money. Sure there is some level of money that's so low I wouldn't be happy but that just again means I'd choose happiness.

Happiness isn't making the most money possible, at least not for most people. Happiness, for most people, is having a life of people, relationships, meaning and a big part of all of that is working with people you love on something you love.

You're likely to spend 80,000hrs working. It would be nice not to just have to endure those 80,000hrs but actually enjoy them.

This is a very individualistic position, to the point of being self-centered. Not everyone sees themselves as the "consumer" of happiness. Sometimes we are in a position where we are producing it for the others. For example, kids can't share the joy of all the interesting projects or cool tech at their parent's job.

But the absence of money or their parent overworking due to low pay can easily affect them.

>I don't consider that a normal nor a healthy opinion. I'd choose happiness over money.

You've never gone hungry.

Do you change jobs often? I hear that's the best way to increase your salary.

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