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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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•Jess• •9/100 recorded songs•

@utotranslucence

Jan 28

It feels like this is my entire friend group. Most doing trauma healing first, but then yes, lots of creative projects.

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

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@utotranslucence

Maybe I just need to get a more interesting social circle! :)

3:21 AM · Jan 28, 2022Twitter Web App

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•Jess• •9/100 recorded songs•

@utotranslucence

Jan 28

Replying to

@andy_matuschak

I can think of four friends who banked lots working for tech then quit, but in all cases their first priority was therapy, and in some cases has been for years since they quit. So maybe not evidence for your 'gentleman scholar' category.

Josh Horowitz

@qualmist

Jan 28

Yeah, I think there's some ambiguity here about what "creative projects" means. I know folk who have quit tech to pursue personal growth (involving much creativity), but I'm guessing Andy's interested in people working on ambitiously non-self-focused projects?

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