How do people react to information like this? Personally, it just makes me feel bad for myself, especially when I don't know the person in question. Most people usually react positively, but I am not sure if this is some kind of a "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything"-mentality, or if I am the bad one.
Feeling bad is not that unusual of a feeling here; achieving great things when you're young requires a combination of hard work, privilege, and supportive adults (parents/teachers/etc) and most people just didn't (or don't) have the same opportunities.
It's important to develop constructive (or at least non-destructive) habits to handle these feelings. I'd suggest "A Guide to the Good Life" by William Braxton Irvine as a resource. The right therapist can also help you "unpack" these feelings (although the different styles can be hit-or-miss for you, so shop around when you're on a "good" day).
I think that it's okay to set a personal goal for yourself that's different; the most you can ask of yourself is to try to contribute to society as best you can, whether that's "I'm working on the farm making food" or "I work at a big tech company and donate $5 to the campaign" or "I mentor startup founders".
I agree with your larger point, but I disagree with this bit:
> achieving great things when you're young requires a combination of hard work, privilege, and supportive adults (parents/teachers/etc) and most people just didn't (or don't) have the same opportunities.
I think that it's easy to externalize emotions about success in young people by projecting the help of an adult as the driving factor for that young person's success. Although this may be true in some cases, there are a large number of young motivated people who are just self-starters, with or without the resources of a backing adult.
I say this because, more than privilege or adult support, I think success at a young age boils down to hard work (as you've mentioned), having passion, and being prepared for luck, i.e. taking advantage of opportunities.
I think parents and teachers play a large role in the development of a person: this is obvious. What I'm not a fan of is when people lessen the success of a young person by shifting the accomplishment to be a simple cause of the environment in which they were raised, rather than the efforts and attitudes of the person who put the work in to accomplish what they did. Support ≠ doing it for them.
To summarize: I agree with your larger point (to not beat yourself up when seeing a great accomplishment at a young age) but disagree that success at a young age hinges on privilege and parents over luck and perseverance.
That is totally wrong. Young slackers without economic standing, waring parents that have no clue who has actual custody and guidance from only small minded individuals hiding from reality as “teachers” can, and frequently do, achieve great things. Those further Deep Thoughts about ‘unpacking feelings’ make me want to projectile vomit.
You and (other person) started your lives on different dates, in different places, in unique circumstances; you are statistically unlikely to end those lives at the same time and place. If the two of you appear to be following the same path for a portion of those lives just enjoy the company while it lasts. There is no single, universal measure of success, so the fact that one person's achievements exceed your own in one area is cause to celebrate that other person but not a reason to feel bad about yourself. Be better than you were yesterday, be kind to those around you. Your story (hopefully) has decades left to tell. It probably includes major characters that you haven't even met yet.
I get some praise for my FOSS work. Nobody mentions my gender or age ever, though. :) It would feel kinda weird I guess.
I mostly don't care about the praise, because it's not the motivating factor. I usually interpret it non-presonally as the other person being excited about similar things I am. (probably a projection, but whatever)
Also in > 80% of cases the communication goes 1) praise 2) I need this. :) So, being praised is associated with someone wanting something from me, by now.
The best praise is the one that comes with a donation. :)
Idk, maybe it depends on the person. I would take it positively, as its an accomplishment regardless of their age, but even more so given how young the person is.
Why would you feel bad? There is nothing stopping you from working harder. There are still lots of hardware without open source drivers that needs reverse engineering.
