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This question's gauche, but: given the prevalence of $400k++ comp packages for ~30-year-olds in Big Tech, why aren't there lots more "gentle[wo]man scholars"? i.e. people quitting to do non-remunerative creative projects I can think of some, but shouldn't there be thousands?

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Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Jan 28

Yes, even those comp packages wouldn't permit this as a single earner with a family of four; some people have debt; etc. But I'd still expect more of this? Most people I know in a position do this tend to instead a) increase lifestyle; b) become founders; or c) become a VC.

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Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Jan 28

Caveat Tweet: this is a descriptive question, not a normative one! Not saying people have made the wrong choice, just curious why the "gentle[wo]man scholar" choice is not more popular. Also should mention that I am not in this category—didn't stick around Big Tech long enough.

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Jonathan Blow

@Jonathan_Blow

Jan 28

It’s a personality thing. The personality traits that suit one to get a college degree and then pretend to work at a job for 4 years mostly do not intersect with the traits required to jump out on one’s own and explore interesting things.

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Replying to

@Jonathan_Blow

That resonates. I didn't stick around Big Tech long enough to achieve this because I *couldn't* stick around long enough to achieve this… I truly like I was doing myself harm, each day.

1:17 AM · Jan 28, 2022Twitter Web App

Replying to

I never got a college degree, in part because I wanted to do my own projects. Back in the 90s that was still kind of okay, but today I doubt Google/Facebook/etc would hire young me today. I would have to prove myself elsewhere, then after I did that, why would I work for them?

Jonathan Blow

@Jonathan_Blow

Jan 28

The few times I tried working at companies like that, it was depressing. I would only be productive for 4-8 weeks, then I just could not do it any more.