[MattGaiser]

How many devs out there are just faking it? People have learned to answer the "Why do you want to work here with?" questions "I have a passion about X, because Y."

It is like med school interviews. Everyone knows the answer to "why do you want to be a doctor?" is "I like science and want to help people." along with an anecdote proving that when tons go to medicine as it is a well paid and stable career.

[allo37]

I think there's a bit of a spectrum between "I don't give a rat's ass about you or your project" and "This is my new life's passion".

From my own experience I find that yeah, job interview answers are mostly self-marketing BS. But I do also care about the quality of the end product beyond just having fun with the tech.

[hinkley]

This is HN though. This is the same level of conversation at a trade show or over drinks. If you can’t lay out your dispassion bluntly (even if just for effect) here then where can you?

I would not encourage anyone to talk to their boss the way GP is talking. But these are peers talking, and if you don’t think convos like this happen, then you haven’t seen them or you’ve dismissed them. If you haven’t seen them, I can only assume nobody trusts you enough to vent.

[allo37]

I like to think most software engineers have at least some interest in what they're investing most of their waking hours in. Sounds miserable otherwise!

[pseudalopex]

I like to think most software engineers don't work 56 hour weeks. Someone can take interest in their craft without taking interest in a product. And many people are happy enough working to live instead of living to work.

[xur17]

I really think it comes down to having empathy for the end user, which requires some level of caring about the product.

[afarrell]

I’m kinda the opposite. I tried to be like this and it broke my brain.