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Comment by hailk | Hacker News Reader

Side project is still a continuation of what you do for 8 hours everyday. Other activities are not. If your job was to hike everyday and then someone proposed side-hiking when you are back from your main hiking activity, I'm sure you would say "I'd rather just spend some time writing code".

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And what about cooks? Do they also overwork in their free time when they make their own food?

Yes actually. Based on some of the Quora answers I've read, they don't enjoy cooking after coming home. But since cooking is an unavoidable activity (unlike a side project, you can't procrastinate with hunger) they might have to.

https://www.quora.com/How-often-do-chefs-cook-at-home

They are humans, of course they like and dislike doing things. However, that doesn't define work. You can also dislike your work. Still, you are paid for it.

When I'm done for the day I don't want to sit in front of a computer any longer. I can understand why a cook would come home and just throw down a microwave meal. The issue here isn't getting paid, it's doing the same when you get home. My current employer won't renew my contract because I oppose this mentality, it's toxic and making me debate leaving IT altogether. He considers me lazy for that. Is some balance really too much to ask?

> My current employer won't renew my contract because I oppose this mentality

That's crazy. Everyone should be free to do whatever they want in their own free time.

>it's doing the same when you get home

That's what my colleague answered me when I asked him "why don't you have side projects?". Everyone should be able to choose whatever they want to do with their own free time.

I don't consider a side project as "the same thing I do at work", and I don't consider myself special.

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