Hacker News Reader

Comment by mawadev | Hacker News Reader

I find it funny how businesses can induce fear in people who think they are losing their jobs to ai. Then they lay people off anyway and make the remaining ones do the work of multiple roles. It is a kind of deadlock coming from stagnation, like how can you be motivated to use AI and make up for its mistakes by working overtime?

View on HN

Everyone who could be considered a role model in my life has been “laid off” (fired) at least once. These are successful people. They’re all millionaires (not just the retired ones). We need to get over the fear and stigma of getting fired. It means nothing except your boss didn’t like you.

I think you are focusing on the survivorship bias in role models, as those successful people in your life who you view as role models are more visible to you (the younger person) because they succeeded.

You wouldn't pick someone who ended up a Uber driver, because they dont look to you as someone from your field to model your future on.

Ultimately, getting fired can drastically change your life. Either for the betterment or detriment to their lives.

I look at all the “role model” esque people in my life - they’ve all been fired from a job at least once. There are also plenty of people I know who I wouldn’t consider role model esque who are simply lousy employees (and probably get fired many more times than the “role model” types). I say role model types simply to mean “people who you would be surprised to learn were fired from their job”.

> We need to get over the fear [..] of getting fired.

You're speaking from a position of privilege.

Sure, a considerable number of people (If not a majority) here on Hacker News are decent earners and likely have enough savings to ride out a job loss for at least a few months.

But I recall my days while I was working a fast food job. If I lost my job, unless I found a new one within two weeks, I'd be homeless. When your paychecks are just barely covering the cost of living and saving is impossible, then getting fired is a genuine fear. It means losing the roof over your head and the food from the table.

Stigma meaning others judging you for being fired. High level “no one” wants to hire someone who was fired from their last job. I’m just saying in my experience everyone gets fired sooner or later, regardless of their abilities, job performance, social skills, et. Al.

>We need to get over the fear and stigma of getting fired. It means nothing except your boss didn’t like you.

It also means (in the US) you lose access to your healthcare.

> " It means nothing except your boss didn’t like you."

And in some cases, especially in our industry, that the funding ran out.

I never said anything about a role model, I said people having to do multiple roles in one. But I kind of agree with you, if your boss doesn't like you, you can literally build rockets to the moon and get laid off :^)

These days it is much harsher, if you are not socially accepted or liked, you are out of luck, your skill doesn't matter in their eyes, until... it does again

Reply on news.ycombinator.com