[soulofmischief]

I assumed someone would retort with this angle, but I hoped people would interpret my comment charitably without me littering it with a dozen caveats.

Of course work isn't the only responsibility.

Of course some people have kids, pets, parents, medical conditions, etc.

It's one week away from work. It can still be done. You weren't going to be taking care of any other responsibilities during your normal 9-5 hours, so that should have no bearing on the week you take off; treat it as any other work week, except you're working for yourself.

[giantg2]

"You weren't going to be taking care of any other responsibilities during your normal 9-5 hours, so that should have no bearing on the week you take off;"

Have you ever been married, had kids, etc? Pretty much any time I take off of work, it involves catching up on projects, chores, or parental responsibilities during the day. It seems the vast majority of people I've spoken to tell of similar situations.

[soulofmischief]

Well, I have specifically avoided having kids at this stage in my life so that I may climb out of the poverty class first. I'm one abortion deep already. I was not as fortunate as 99% of the people in this little isolated corner of the internet.

I was homeless from 16 to my early 20s. I suffer from multiple traumas, both physical and mental. I have ADHD and bipolar disorder. I've had sciatica, degenerative disc disease, gout and other issues since my teens. Most days I can barely walk. When I do have kids, I'm not going to get to be the dad I want to be, running around and playing with them. My parents are abusive drug addicts who were not present in my life, so I was raised by other extremely abusive people instead, who kicked me out into the streets for being atheist. So malnourished as a child that my friends would make fun of being able to see the bones in my face and body. I spent years living homeless on scraps of food.

I have to advance my career. Every single thing is stacked against me, trying to make me fail. I don't get the luxury of deciding if I want to take a week off to do so. It's a matter of survival, and I have very purposefully structured my life in such a way that I have a shot in hell at one day raising a child above the poverty line.

Believe me, this is not a matter of me not empathizing with others or understanding the complexities of life. It's a matter of prioritization and commitment. If I can make time to learn, anyone can.

And on top of all of that, I do in fact have to provide for my sister and her four young, expensive children, because she doesn't have anyone either. I don't get much free time, man.

[tarsinge]

I'm sorry you had to go through all of this. I think your bias is your responsibility is 100% financial so is aligned with always spending more time for your career. For most people financial/career responsibility is only a part, ignoring the rest is as impossible as you putting your career aside.

[soulofmischief]

That's a good point. I do experience the boundaries, I spent the majority of the last 8 years alone and was solely focused on work and hobbies. It was a very productive time for me. Now that I'm in a longer-term relationship again, my productivity has seen a major reduction. It's exacerbated by the fact that I am extremely productivity-focused, but my significant other wants to relax in her free time.

I'm still learning where I should set boundaries on both sides of the field, and this will probably be something I continue to struggle with for some time.

[jb1991]

> It's one week away from work. It can still be done. You weren't going to be taking care of any other responsibilities during your normal 9-5 hours

I think you didn't read the parents carefully. The comment being replied to is not about 9-5 hours, it's about "locking yourself into a hotel for week", and if you have kids, this is not exactly a healthy thing to do in the face of other responsibilities. That's the point being made here, and you are changing the goal posts.

[soulofmischief]

I'm not moving goalposts. The commenter tried to assert that only someone without "any other responsibilities" gets to spend a week learning something. It doesn't have to be in a hotel room. It doesn't have to be a week. It can be two, three, four weeks. Those are all implementation details.

The negative sentiment itself is what I addressed. Everyone fortunate enough to have internet access, a computer and a functional brain/body can make time, if they really want to, to learn new things that benefit their long term goals.

[jb1991]

> The commenter tried to assert that only someone without "any other responsibilities" gets to spend a week learning something.

That's what I mean -- you didn't read the parents carefully. The commenter (me) made that reply to this:

> Carmack did it an a week by locking himself in an hotel room

Everyone can and should spend time learning, but the little point being made was that locking yourself in a hotel room is not something most people can do due to responsibilities. Somehow you changed this into your more general statement "spending a week learning something."

[soulofmischief]

Because the hotel is an implementation detail.

[jb1991]

Spoken like someone without common life responsibilities.

[soulofmischief]

Spoken like someone who casts judgement and makes assumptions before considering that different people have different priorities.

It's downright silly to claim that I have no life responsibilities because I prioritize setting aside time for self-growth and encourage others to do the same.

Open your mind a little bit and ponder why you feel compelled to have such a negative and dismissive attitude about this.