[PeterWhittaker]

I have to take issue with the notion that doing a thing out of passion will not burn you out: it is possible to overdo a thing - out of passion - to the extent it does burn you out.

Speaking from personal experience....

Recovery is easier/faster than in the non-passion case, but it still happens.

As to being dispassionate, when I take such an approach, even to the passionate thing, I have greater endurance and tolerance for moments of frustration.

Seems to me that protects from overdoing it too.

[capitalistLove]

I think we're using the word passion differently. I have certainly gone through periods of time when I have completley lost interest in programming - for a variety or reasons, possibly involving working too much. But, I'd say that in these circumstances I have lost my passion for programming (and was fortunate to get it back later).

My point is more that there really are people who contribute to OSS and whatnot for no reason other than that they felt good doing so. I think this is a behavior to be encouraged and celebrated. I agree with the author's point that we shouldnt encourage extra suffering-inducing work for the sake of it, but disagree with his take that all acts of extra-curricular work cause suffering in those that do it.

[PeterWhittaker]

Well said! There is rereading in my near future....