Paul GrahamVerified account

Surprising discovery: when you talk to 9 year old boys about their career interests, you have to ask about their second choice, because most plan to become professional athletes.

This is a statement about US society (albeit it's not exclusive to the US) rather than about 9 year old boys. A 9 year old wants to become whatever they perceive as the highest-status, most appropriate role for them. They reflect what their surroundings tell them.

I don't think it's mainly because e.g. footballers are famous, but because they already play football and like it more than anything else they do at school. So a job doing that would be ideal from their POV.

But then wouldn't the answer be "professional Fortnite player"? And what about the other common answer, "police officer"? I think their answer is largely based on what they see on TV.