I feel similar cognitive dissonance every time I compare myself to people I know outside of tech. Pretty much without exception, they work harder jobs than me or my colleagues with worse hours and for a fraction of the income. I don't think my observation is tied to the housing market, other than it being a vehicle to expedite the wealth gap.
What makes it harder? Could they do your job? Or do they miss the bar for doing the level of knowledge work that you do?
This "they work harder" cliche is really tired. They might work hard but they're easily replaced. You are likely not, and even more likely, they wouldn't be able to do your job. If you really feel so bad, donate some of your money to them, otherwise it's just empty virtue signaling.
yes i think most of the population can sub into most tech work. honestly a bootcamp will make most people ready to perform at an acceptable level for your average FAANG swe role. admittedly the interview process is a tougher experience and keeps many people out but does not reflect the actual work.
your being tired of this "cliche" does not make it untrue and this response is as lazy as "if you have any criticism of the current climate why don't you just leave". wah.
there are other ways to help people than just giving them money, like by getting them into tech. i have done this for a number of friends and they're thriving, despite initial reservations.
I don't know if I would call it offensive, maybe misguided? Naive?
Most of the population could not sub into most tech work. I know this because a large portion of the population can hardly even use tech, beyond the lowest hanging fruit like social media and other ultra-refined experiences. You have a high opinion of the average person and that's fine but it will stick out in conversations like this.
Your attempts to get them into tech are great! That'll test whether they're capable of doing the work, get them out of the "harder" work if they are, and is an actionable effort rather than signaling your distaste for some alleged injustice.
i did not allude to some great injustice, i shared an observation that gives me pause when i interact with people outside of this bubble.
i don't have a particularly high opinion of the average person, i think this community has particularly high opinions of themselves, and does not like the idea that we are not differentiated other than having interests that pay well.
I am completely with you on this. We were able to buy a house years ago at %3.75 rate and our mortgage is less than most people's rent now. I hear a lot of laments from other parent friends about how they are 'wasting' their money on rent. And these people aren't usually in tech.
The self comparison is supposed to make me feel grateful and happy about my situation, and yet I feel guilty for having the freedom and flexibility of my tech job with it's pay and all other benefits. Doubly so when I look at my son's kindergarten teacher and everything she deals with. I volunteer at the classroom to help as much as I can, which helps both me feel better about what I have, and helps the teacher and the kids.
But that cognitive dissonance / guilt is always there in the back.
Sometimes people worry that they are a little broken for not feeling compassion or empathy for others, and one way to feel better is to decide that anyone who does feel empathy is a liar engaged in virtue signaling. "It's not that I am wrong for not caring for the downtrodden, it's that neither of us cares, but I am honest about it and you are a liar."
I'm with them. "Earned" is really the big question. If I feel I earned my pay, and then I see someone else who's working harder and getting paid much less, it follows that I must also feel that they are receiving less than they have earned.
well, this is sort of the point of the cognitive dissonance isn't it?
clearly my labor is valued at the value it produces, and i will continue to maximize the income and comfort of my family. is it virtue signaling to notice that my siblings literally work more hours than me and tolerate conditions i would not tolerate?
i don't know. i continue to push them towards tech jobs. they continue to think they are "not smart enough for it", which is an insane position.
