I Quit. | Hacker News Reader

I Quit.

bensw.com

43 pointsbensw20 comments

After first reading this, I pictured a typical Google software engineer, perhaps a Stanford grad who had been on the Google+ team for 3 years.

A bit of digging tells me this is not the case. Ben Swartz appears to be a Product Quality Associate: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/benjamin-swartz/32/988/285

As a former Googler, I'm not 100% sure what the role is, but it appears to carry a $54k salary (http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Google-Product-Quality-Assoc...) and is essentially what boils down to product support via phone/email/forum (http://www.quora.com/Google/What-is-an-Associate-at-Google).

I hope the above does not come across as snotty or arrogant, but rather an accurate framing of Ben's role at Google, because it is far from the default (that I pictured, at least)

I think this extra information adds quite a bit of context into the sentiment expressed in the original posting.

Context is EVERYTHING.

I have a feeling this was a particularly cathartic post to write.

That being said, I have no idea who Ben is or what the (I'm sure personal) context is behind this post. Ben, if you're there: I'd love to hear some more details behind your choice (what were you asked to shut your mouth about?) and what your next steps are (entrepreneurship? freelancing?).

Either way, best of luck. Not enough people do what makes them happy.

OK. Why did you quit?

Looks like he didn't like the lack of control he had over his job. He seems like the kind of person who would much rather work on their own projects than someone else's.

If your life is not awesome, make it so. You are the only one who can do it; no one else can do it for you.

Congrats! Your next move will be the right one.

Google seems to be up to some pretty weird stuff lately, was it that? gaaawn' tell us!

If you're miserable at a job, quitting is never a bad option. If you're smart, hardworking, and willing to relocate you'll have no problems.

>If you're smart, hardworking, and willing to relocate you'll be able to continue your life as a wage-slave and never acquire any true influence in this world.

Agreed.

Okay. So, where's the point being made? You obviously want the attention, and I think you've got it. Tell us what's going on.

> "If you don't like it, leave" > > I didn't just leave Google. > > I quit.

Congrats on the decision, it is hard to make the jump, even when in a state of comfortable dissatisfaction. But the content of the post does nothing to illustrate (to anyone who's not the OP) the difference between "leave" and "quit".

Putting the under/over on people not knowing who this is and making silly comments at 14.5.

"Ben Schwartz (born September 15, 1981)[2] is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is perhaps best known for portraying a fictional version of himself..."

Oh wait, no? Well, his twitter links to some Magic the Gathering site. Oh, he's a "Product Quality Associate" at Google (thanks LinkedIn!)

Wait, why do I care?

Except that this is Ben Swartz, not Ben Schwartz.

Oh my gosh! You're right! I should have known that from the ample context provided in the post and linked page!

Aaron Swartz's brother. What constitutes a silly comment if one did not know that, vs. if one did? Genuinely curious.

I have no problem saying I have no idea who this is. But I have no silly comment.

I don't know who he is, you can add me to the count.

Now, will someone fill me in on the details?

Right. So who is it?

"better known as aaronsw's brother"

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