I'm determined to learn Mandarin. So far, I've spent two years in China learning it. It's not because of any social pressure, or because it helps me in my "career", or because I'm pedantic, and I graduated college years ago. Just one data point.
Exactly. Middle class in San Francisco is $250k-$500k. These type of articles are so out of touch with the reality on the ground it's ridiculous. 1 bedroom apartments with a washer and dryer, no mold, no neighbors cigarette smoke, and two parking spots _start_ at $4k per month. And that's after taxes.
I think this is an excellent piece of journalism. I'm still digesting it. Its rather subdued and blunt. I don't know if its... layered... I don't know how I SHOULD feel about it... but I know that my first impression is that it is masterful in its tone and I agree with the sentiments expressed and the overall tone.
Have you ever walked into a job that you thought would save your life and pull you out of a slew of bad breaks... your dream job? And then some miserable pissant with leverage over you and your position decides to make you a scapegoat? When you're going down in flames at least grab the pilot's parachute.
I used to go tour Williamsburg as a child. I used to love the shot towers and the tricorns and the proximity to the beach. I used to love the ferrier and the the legislators and the town harlot. I had been to jamestown and I had been to my own family's homestead which predated Williamsburg and their delicious recreation of a duck potpie. I respected Jamestown and I like to think even as a child I knew the recreation for what it was, the type of people who'd be there and yes, I too, would rather be wearing a uniform and protecting ponies on assiteague but creative anachronism at jamestown pays better because more people want to visit pocohontas than get yelled at for swimming with horses.
I guess my point is hackers are like ren faire workers these days. the problems are and have always been people not who works for them.
Or because you can envision a career path that will allow you to use it.
Or because you're a pedantic prick/prickess.
But mostly because its a college requirement.