masgis

For clarity I’m not here to talk negatively about this post or about Randy, but more to think about two perspectives - how Randy probably felt and how his followers felt, versus someone like my mom’s perspective. RIP Randy.

I remember watching this in graduate school in 2008. I was in the same discipline as Randy and know some of his former students. I showed this to my mom who is was nurse and she really disliked it. I think because she felt he had a lot of advice and confidence but the output of his work was so abstract compared to her profession. Over time I’m noticing I appreciate my mom’s opinion on this more - not that I dislike Randy or his work - but more that I think academics and technologists are prone to think highly of themselves when there are hard working people helping people directly or even saving lives every day… Just a thought for discussion I suppose.

Bret Victor speaks so idealistically it's difficult to disagree with his vision, but in reality he's a radicalized, scrappy cult leader. His ideas sound super cool but they're impractical - that's why nobody can make them work. We're delusional for worshiping him.

https://christophlocher.com/notes/ethnographic-research-on-d...

I agree that there is nothing wrong with choosing to stay away from senior positions, and in fact there are many benefits to what you're doing. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the "Gervais Principle", but it's a fun theory to think about related to this. I'm sure HN has brought it up before, but it's relevant here. https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-...

The idea is that the mid-level "clueless" are the ones who choose to climb a corporate hierarchy, while the non-senior "losers" (not social losers, but the people who struck bad financial bargains) are able to give up capitalist striving for a stable life. As a "loser" you can move between different jobs more easily, stay happy, and avoid politics and unnecessary responsibility. Here's an excerpt from that article that resonates with me:

"The Losers like to feel good about their lives. They are the happiness seekers, rather than will-to-power players, and enter and exit reactively, in response to the meta-Darwinian trends in the economy. But they have no more loyalty to the firm than the Sociopaths. They do have a loyalty to individual people, and a commitment to finding fulfillment through work when they can, and coasting when they cannot."

I actually find the "loser" to be the most interesting and useful person at most companies.

Anyway, that's my two cents.