| > Software development is the only profession where people expect (and demand) to have fun at work. Humans in general demand fun at work whenever they have the leverage to do so. That so many don't have fun is not an example to be emulated, it's a problem to be solved. People are more effective when they enjoy what they do. And software is far from the only profession where people are able to pick jobs because they enjoy them. A few examples from my own immediate experience: * In the last year our company hired a full-time designer whose express reason for switching jobs was that our project was more fun. * My dad is a producer for a radio show. He got that job by twice switching away from jobs that he'd stopped enjoying and he now loves what he does. * My brother-in-law went into law because he knew he'd enjoy it, and he has a blast every day. He's always telling a story about some crazy new legal edge case he ran into at work. * My wife is a musician and music teacher and absolutely loves it. You should see her when she has her instrument out. Instead of trying to rob the fun from the creative professions, we should be trying to find ways to help more people be able to enjoy their work. Even aside from the obvious humanitarian benefits, this would have a huge improvement on our economic output compared to the status quo where so many people are basically cogs in a machine. |