The articles assumption that only knowledge workers experienced job-as-identity seems suspect to me. Like if you look at deindustrialised regions in the UK and Ireland, or former auto workers in...
The articles assumption that only knowledge workers experienced job-as-identity seems suspect to me. Like if you look at deindustrialised regions in the UK and Ireland, or former auto workers in Detroit, it’s not like these are generations that have died off and there was a lot of this career grief if you talk to them. And sure some of this may be from the material effects of these once high paying jobs going away, or for what that means for their lives and self image outside work, but plenty of it was also that they had their identities in their jobs too.
Yeah, the whole article fell flat on its face because of that presupposition. It completely shatters the central premise that this is somehow a new phenomenon. You're telling me that the artisan...
Yeah, the whole article fell flat on its face because of that presupposition. It completely shatters the central premise that this is somehow a new phenomenon.
You're telling me that the artisan woodworker who created bespoke furniture with careful precision and finely honed skills from decades of experience doesn't use his job as part of his identity, but Kelly, the accounts receivable clerk at Allstate who took the job because it was the first position to call her back does? Kelly takes being laid off because of the new AI accounting tool harder than the woodworker did by being replaced by IKEA?
I understand that a blog post analyzing a bunch of Reddit threads about tech workers dealing with existential dread might not hold up to much scrutiny. But as someone that is going through that...
I understand that a blog post analyzing a bunch of Reddit threads about tech workers dealing with existential dread might not hold up to much scrutiny. But as someone that is going through that same process, I thought the post had some interesting but unpolished ideas that other people may find interesting.
Im glad you posted this, it was interesting to read, even though I agree one is it's central arguments falls flat. It has some good points, but i didn't see any that were particularly new or...
Im glad you posted this, it was interesting to read, even though I agree one is it's central arguments falls flat.
It has some good points, but i didn't see any that were particularly new or novel. In particular I agree with it's assertions that the AI change is different because of the shear speed of change, and because the benefits have not yet proven themselves to be concrete.
Haven’t finished reading it, but I like that you posted it. I think we’re possibly in a similar boat. I got into programming because I liked solving problems and seeing the tangible effects of...
Haven’t finished reading it, but I like that you posted it. I think we’re possibly in a similar boat.
I got into programming because I liked solving problems and seeing the tangible effects of code I wrote doing things. Using LLMs for this completely changes how the job feels, in a way where I’m no longer doing what I enjoy, and I’m not even using LLMs all that much.
I certainly don’t think I’ve tied my identity to “Software Engineering” more than a carpenter may have tied their identity to Carpentry (some people I follow like referring to “Software Craftsmanship”, and I think anything you’d refer to as craftsmanship implies a level of care and identity), but I think the article still holds water if you ignore the bit where it claims to only apply to “knowledge work”.
I think grief can come in any job where you’ve tied your identity or pride to the work you do, and then the way that work is done fundamentally shifts out from under you.
Though, there may be some difference in that I doubt there will end up being a market for “handcrafted code” (if the LLM proposition holds and they truly become as widespread as their proponents hold they will) in the way there is a market still for good, handcrafted furniture.
The articles assumption that only knowledge workers experienced job-as-identity seems suspect to me. Like if you look at deindustrialised regions in the UK and Ireland, or former auto workers in Detroit, it’s not like these are generations that have died off and there was a lot of this career grief if you talk to them. And sure some of this may be from the material effects of these once high paying jobs going away, or for what that means for their lives and self image outside work, but plenty of it was also that they had their identities in their jobs too.
Yeah, the whole article fell flat on its face because of that presupposition. It completely shatters the central premise that this is somehow a new phenomenon.
You're telling me that the artisan woodworker who created bespoke furniture with careful precision and finely honed skills from decades of experience doesn't use his job as part of his identity, but Kelly, the accounts receivable clerk at Allstate who took the job because it was the first position to call her back does? Kelly takes being laid off because of the new AI accounting tool harder than the woodworker did by being replaced by IKEA?
Nah, sorry. That angle doesn't hold.
I understand that a blog post analyzing a bunch of Reddit threads about tech workers dealing with existential dread might not hold up to much scrutiny. But as someone that is going through that same process, I thought the post had some interesting but unpolished ideas that other people may find interesting.
Im glad you posted this, it was interesting to read, even though I agree one is it's central arguments falls flat.
It has some good points, but i didn't see any that were particularly new or novel. In particular I agree with it's assertions that the AI change is different because of the shear speed of change, and because the benefits have not yet proven themselves to be concrete.
Haven’t finished reading it, but I like that you posted it. I think we’re possibly in a similar boat.
I got into programming because I liked solving problems and seeing the tangible effects of code I wrote doing things. Using LLMs for this completely changes how the job feels, in a way where I’m no longer doing what I enjoy, and I’m not even using LLMs all that much.
I certainly don’t think I’ve tied my identity to “Software Engineering” more than a carpenter may have tied their identity to Carpentry (some people I follow like referring to “Software Craftsmanship”, and I think anything you’d refer to as craftsmanship implies a level of care and identity), but I think the article still holds water if you ignore the bit where it claims to only apply to “knowledge work”.
I think grief can come in any job where you’ve tied your identity or pride to the work you do, and then the way that work is done fundamentally shifts out from under you.
Though, there may be some difference in that I doubt there will end up being a market for “handcrafted code” (if the LLM proposition holds and they truly become as widespread as their proponents hold they will) in the way there is a market still for good, handcrafted furniture.