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Comment by dangus | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, every ex-Googler “riding off into the sunset” blog post like this is pretty annoying.

What’s even worse is when they do things like this post where there are little jokes about how it’s a financial burden to change careers or take a break rather than acknowledging how they have no risk of running out of money. Going to art school is the worst financial decision ever, tee hee! Yeah man, imagine what it must be like with student loans.

Great for OP for working at the right place at the right time and winning the proverbial lottery. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take away from it other than “must be nice.”

Going to a pricey private school as a hobby/retirement activity must be real fun.

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>What’s even worse is when they do things like this post where there are little jokes about how it’s a financial burden to change careers or take a break rather than acknowledging how they have no risk of running out of money.

I mean, I didn't read it like this. It is absolutely a horrible financial decision to quit a top position at google to go back to school and then try to be a comic (one of the hardest jobs to get paid anything for). I didn't take "bad financial decision" as "fatal decision that will land him on the streets".

>I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take away from it other than “must be nice.”

It's just a dude with a blog who clearly has engaged readers making a big update to his life (that may indirectly affect some readers who are involved in AOSP). I didn't take it as some pity party.

But my personal take is that it's okay to not spend your life minmaxing finances. and it's okay (if it's in your power) to "restart" your career, or make a lateral move. If you want to have a more cynical take: At some point money is made to be used and he has so much money that more money is less important than a true passion. If you ever make that much, consider it ass well.

Yeah, he presumably put away a nice nest egg working at Google. It's not in any way wrong to remind others that, if they're lucky enough to be in a similar position, they don't necessarily need to work until "normal" retirement time if they/their families don't want that.

Personally, I feel like I got a bit greedy and could probably have called it quits a year or three back and been happier for it. I partly blame COVID for disrupting what might have otherwise been a better transition.

I agree that I’d spend my own money doing similar stuff if I had the means, I just wouldn’t be humble bragging on a blog for my “engaged readers” (is that what they call stans these days?) and downplaying my wealth while doing so.

Right there in the post the guy is trying to tell us how tough this endeavor is financially but we all logically know that isn’t true at all.

> worst financial decision I ever hope to make.

Imagine a rich guy buying a Porsche telling you that it’s the worst financial decision they’ve ever made with a chuckle. We’d all call that a dick move. Guess what costs more than a Porsche? That’s right, full price tuition at DePaul with Second City comedy lessons. Just like how Chris Rock got his start, right?

Hopefully his cool project management and tech industry comedy routine is amazing and makes his median income audience that can’t afford to purchase basic housing anymore roll on the floor laughing.

Well that's why he didn't mention anything about money in the blog outside of "I know comedy makes less money than tech". That wasn't the focus nor takeaway.

And I don't really see how it's a humblebrag. Is recalling your career and accomplishments as you depart a company after 14 years a "humblebrag"? Would it be a humblebrag if he said he was retiring instead? Is having a blog in and of itself that talks about yourself bragging?

I think you're reading into things that either aren't there or weren't intended. He has an audience, he's leaving in midst of a downturn, and he's gonna be bombarded with questions and theories of layoffs if he said nothing. If nothing else, this blog is a firsthand account of what happened and why he won't be aroind the AOSP much. Hes even tongue in cheek about the lack of drama:

>For those brave souls who read this far looking for inside dirt on why I’m really leaving… I’m sorry to leave you so very unsatisfied. The company, the job, the people, and the work were great. But just in case there are any news site bots searching for possible clickbait stories, here’s a headline just for you: “Googler Quits to Do Something Very Different!”

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