The world needs less software and less technology, not more. The further down this rabbit hole we go the worse everything gets. Physical health, mental health, social health and the broader links that bind society together all suffer.

It's all noise and its supposed benefits are, for the most part, an illusion.

There's definitely a role for tech to play in our lives, but a limited, balanced role. We're living in a world saturated with it, overdosing daily.

Give it all up, move on, and in time you will recover. Even if it takes years.

Good luck.

(It's unlikely that I will return to read any replies to this comment.)

I sometimes feel like everything is burning around me, as in, on this planet. Everything is burning and yet we pretend it isn't because we are frightened of the possible consequences of acknowledging things aren't doing too great. We are frightened of real change because it might cause everything to come down. So instead we let our lives spin out of control and hope for the best. At this point I'm not even speaking about technology, but this troubles me deeply.

Now I look at what the benevolent masters of the universe at Davos are envisioning (1) for our collective future and it makes me feel sick.

Thankfully I now work on technology that seeks to decentralise power away from these kinds of parasites.

(1) http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Digital_Transformation_Powe...

I've seen most people fall into one of two categories: 1. Live to work 2. Work to live

A lot of my friends who are in the "work to live" category find joy in their hobbies. I fall along the first, so without hobbies, I put everything into work. If it's not fulfilling, I get bored and want to move onto something new. Do some soul searching and rediscover your passions and interests.

I've been there buddy. Things have turned around for me, but I'm living life as if the industry will crash or computers will learn to program themselves. Moved to NV to avoid taxes, only buy what is on sale at Costco, use pay for-what-you-use services (Ting for phone and Metromile for insurance), use Libby App for digital ebooks and audiobooks. I could go on. It's really quite fun to live a frugal lifestyle.

Neither I nor anyone else I personally know who works in tech has ever worked for the "mock-woke" companies, "frat-boy" companies, changing the world or disrupting companies, rent-seeking behemoths, or ad tech companies. Those types of companies are not at all the bulk of the tech industry.

All my college friends who took an academic path are miserable.

How does one go about finding that kind of job?

Money is freedom. Don't underestimate that. This industry can give you a lot of it in a relatively short time and with the advance of remote working, you don't have to live in high-cost centers to earn high-cost income anymore. Just make sure you're valuable and don't lifestyle-creep your way into being dependent on soul crushing work because the pay is high.

*) Currently I'm working on (bootstrapping) a frontier tech startup in this domain, which I'm very passionate about.

This.

And even if you exclude the entire academic, government, and private sectors (not just VC-fueled SV), there is still a huge non-profit / NGO sector left over.

Look for companies that operate in business sectors that are more agreeable to your ethics. There are tons of companies that need qualified software people to help them with their business. They are just businesses doing a needful service and make profit.

It helps if you are just a little interested in the product but you don't have to buy into their mission statements. Exchange your hours for some high amounts of dollars. For example, if one works at Tesla you could safely ignore the "change the world" mission statement crap and just work there cuz you like cars.

Do you think electricians or plumbers care about the philosophy of whatever business/person uses them?

Its okay if work feels like work. Find passion or interests elsewhere.

Not caring much about the business and "just doing work" is predicated upon being given the tools you need and clear tasks.

The problem is most companies just throw vague requirements at you, don't give you all the access you need to tools and infra, but expect you to care and "show initiative" and go after things. Also, often times things are gated by other people and you have to convince them to help you (e.g. you can't touch infra and depend on the graces of someone in ops to make the changes you need).

If you aren't given the tools you need to get the work done, bring that up with you manager, if that can't be resolved then those are the constraints you have to work with.

Something I've realised is that I will often jump to the conclusion of being 'done with tech', predicated on a fairly narrow band of experience. Whilst I may not get my jollies from the 'cloud' and ever-changing landscape of web technologies, I am still genuinely interested in low-level programming, data structures and Linux (I'm a Windows dev). I use these interests to broaden my days beyond just working in my narrow, specialised scope, creating interest and stimulation which otherwise would not exist. Who knows, maybe that can create a realistic diverse career branch out of where I currently am?

If I had stuck it out there, it's possible I could have built up my skillset further in that direction and transitioned into another area that was more low-level and appealing.

The lesson from that is, I think, that you can do a 'stepping stone' approach that is only a few degrees removed from what you do already, each time you transition jobs. Do that a few times, build up some contacts within the new network of people you will meet during that in order to broaden further opportunities, and you may well succeed in a meaningful transition in the medium-term.

What I found is whenever I can only see the negatives, something is off with me. I'm not taking care of myself. I'm not sleeping enough, I'm not eating right, or something! I found it's really hard to be jaded/bitter when you're active and healthy.

My guess is because you have the energy to tackle all the flaws you see, turning them into opportunities.

For me, while I might be losing a little love for web dev and corporate IT, I realised that I still really enjoyed learning about Linux, using Vim, and doing game development in C (all of which are very different from what I do now, but still within the realm of tech). Reconnect with what made you passionate about technology to begin with, and let that fire guide your choices in the future.

But while currently working at a non-tech company that pays poorly compared to many mid to upper tier tech companies, the money is still good - arguably better than anything else I could possibly be doing short of having become a medical doctor or hedge fundie.

Be the change you want to see in life. And you cannot rush time, so don’t expect your vision to become reality in your life.

I stepped out of tech two years ago. But to be hones I stepped out being “a microsoft employee” while not working for microsoft.

And guess what. I now doing more tech than ever. Unless society collapses - tech skill will keep on earning bread so think twice before leaving your skills behind. Just do it your way an * the rest. :)

Maybe that is creating an disconnect for you?

Tech should follow, not lead.

At some point I decided that's now how I want to spend my life. I've spent the last year's in manufacturing. Mainly building software/hardware stacks to become more efficient. Understand where they are currently. How they can increase capacity and ideally jobs. Plus work on helping to train workers using 21st century techniques.

Much of it is an uphill battle within the industry or companies.

The ability to be part of something that helps to physically make food/beverage/products is more fulfilling.

Generally I'm filling a consulting role. Mainly in the product development/launch phases. I will do a small number of Project Roadmapping/Architecture's every year and then PM those.

I find big problems and then help solve them. As my career has progressed, I worry less about the buckets that it falls into.

They basically pay you to stay if you are critical.

I've resigned twice, and the result is my salary was doubled to sign another 2 year stay on bonus. Salary is now 4x what it was.

But instead of fixing some really simple issues that would make people happy they are completely clueless.

Either you decide to find what you love, or you continue to trade your soul and happiness for $$$$$

Your call. Choose wisely.

My new projet is to built a non-profit and seek funds to buy a large farm or a large piece of land. Preferably fields exploited for a long time through intensive exploitation (not bio, plenty of pesticides etc) e.g. some large place o heavily damaged nature. My goal is to repair the Nature within that property. Make it a natural paradise of biodiversity. The more diverse, the more resilient it becomes. Choose the right species so they'll be fine in 20, 30, 50 years from now with climate change.

This project require a team. I imagine tiny houses spread around so we can all have a private life too. But many things in common. I'd like the place to be a sort of lab, a hack-space where experiment new way of life and working. One part of the economic model will be a camping and a training center. First paying course: how to yourself a ecological tiny-house, thermically passive so no need for heating or AC. People will learn by doing so the end, there will be a new tiny house available on the property.

I still like tech. It'll just be low tech. Free software, Linux etc, so technology is an empowering tool, not a drug you are addicted to. A shop to repair and learn to repair computers, using only second-hand parts. This will be a paying course as well, for anybody interested. I imagine teenagers not that thrilled by their parents' camping idea but happy to learn and repair to build a pc.

This a long adventure. From bare fields to a forest totally bio with species that provide food, ten years. But it requires less and less work as it becomes a self-sustainable ecosystem. We'll take a part for us humans, fruits, making and selling high-quality jam, honey. Some wood but most of it need to rote on the ground. we'll also need to grow vegetables, poultry for meat and eggs, a few pigs leaving freely (well, until we catch one from time to time for meat).

I don't want a closed community. Rather a small starting team, with many people staying a week or a month for intelligent vacation in a beautiful nature and learning DIY stuff for a sustainable world. Maybe the permanent community will extend with visitors willing to join. After some time, some will want to join another project or back to the city. That's good. I think I'll meet more people whom I may befriend by attracting them in this unusual place that I do living in the city. Maybe these new friends will come only a few weekends per year. Fine. That's more cumulated time than what We achieve to spend with my friends in the city (overbusy, children, ...). And we'll have parties around a fire, drinking homemade beer, trekking around or working on some free software. Or building a solar oven to dry fruits.

Nothing ideologically radical, like: - NOT 100% vegetarian or vegan. I like meat and think that our body needs it (my opinion) but we will eat less meat than many, because we eat too much of animal proteins for a good health. Less.carbo-hydrates and more vegetables. No autarcy, we'll buy what we can't grow, sell some to neighbors and locals. - NOT a closed community. A place where many people visit, are accepted by vote if they want to stay and free to move on. Or free to go and come back. - NOT a religious place. People are free to follow any religion and be respected, as long as it doesn't impose rules onto others. My religion is atheism. - Diversity encouraged. All colors, all origins, all sexual orientations, genres. This must be 100% safe and comfortable for every body. No tasks assigned by genre. - NO TV. Movies and series on demand but reading of press and books encouraged. -

People can take a break for a year or two and work on something they truly care about.

At least, that is my dream

I'm less worried about the community aspect and more so the sustainability and open spaces. Allowing birds, native animals, and everything else we can bring to allow room to roam.

If you're going down this route and would like some input, I'd be happy to talk. We've spent the last 4+ years traveling and living in a vintage bus and van.

There is to much work ahead to repair the Earth to feel proud of finding ourselves an already found good solution.

As indicated, the collaborative website will be in French. But if it reaches a real milestone such as land acquired and first installation, I plan to release a newsletter in English, let's say every 4 months or so.

If you stumble onto projects that share aspects with mine, it'd be super helpful to send me a link. I'll add it as a ressource in the public collaborative website and learn as much as possible from it.

Thank you again for your interest! :-)

The reality is, there are endevours out there which are not predicated on dehumanising zero-sum transactions. For example, non-profits (e.g. Mozilla, Free Software Foundation) and the education sector. Even just receiving education (e.g. part-time post-graduate degrees) can also add a nice flavour and richness to a life otherwise occupied in the rat race.

I've been in tech for far longer, I love it. We really live in the future, when I see the advances that have been made and stop and really contrast with 20yrs or even 10yrs ago, I'm very humbled. We can definitely get better, but things ain't as bad as you make it out to be.

>Go see a therapist, you have issues. The issue is with you.

The idea that having a negative outlook about the tech workplace is cause for professional intervention to tinker around in someones brain is exactly the kind of lopsided conventional wisdom that doesn't do anyone any good. It's OK to hate your job. Lots of jobs suck. Even jobs some people find a way to like can be miserable. Industries where it's normal for people to expect work to not be fun but have to do it anyway, they have better collective coping mechanisms than tech does. People don't feel wrong for hating their job, and don't have to be afraid to admit it when looking for support.

Pedantically, yes someone suffering from burnout would benefit from talking with a therapist. But in a practical sense going after someone with "The issue is with you" for trying to have a casual talk about burnout among peers is a brutal over-reaction.

>I've been in tech for far longer, I love it. We really live in the future, when I see the advances that have been made and stop and really contrast with 20yrs or even 10yrs ago, I'm very humbled.

The idea that technology and/or progress in and of themselves could or should offset any of the negatives in the workplace is not only bullshit, but a really dumb thing to say to someone dealing with the stressors that lead to burnout.

But, I don't think a dislike of tech work today would need to be an internal issue. Tech had other issues before that are kind of resolved and at the same time new problems have evolved that might not be apparent to all frogs in the water.

The biggest overall problem I see for a life in tech is that constant information has created constant competition to integrate popular ideas into the work place. There are therefore a lot of places that have exactly the same things, and popular things rarely live up to the label, which can be fine, but some can be major irritants.

Of course, there are some places that make a point of being stubborn about keeping a difference, but I'm less likely to estimate in years or decades when an organization claims it is sticking to an unpopular direction than I was in say 2000.

So increasingly, I think there is less choice about many of the factors that go into an office job in a place that prides itself on tech. For all the talk of diversity, there's a lot more one size fits all.