[gnarcoregrizz]

yeah. there absolutely are lots of very smart and capable people outside of tech. as someone who has seen the blue collar world "up close" (family businesses), its a different breed... the culture and attitude gap is enormous. shockingly so. most tech workers I know couldn't hang (don't hustle as hard, risk averse, liberal), but some skills may transfer, like problem solving and diagnosis, i.e. debugging.

[mememememememo]

Why is risk averse a thing. Blue collar jobs are just jobs unless you are going self employed and buying all the gear etc.

[DrewADesign]

This is a great example of the perspective disconnect.

In trades, the risk is usually not financial. I come home every day smelling of petrochemicals, with minor to moderate injuries, having been on my feet for 8 hours, sometimes up on ladders with greasy boots on, climbing on, into, and out of machines that could maul me without even making an unusual sound, and carrying 100lb sharp steel parts up stairs because it’s more efficient than waiting forces the shop hands to do it.

While the risks certainly have financial components, they’re more “get cancer, brain damage, lose a limb, or maybe even your life” risks. Risk averse is career death.

[Antoniocl]

At least in the factory I worked in prior to becoming a software engineer, there was a significantly higher component of physical risk than in any of the software jobs I've worked in

[SoftTalker]

> buying all the gear

Most blue collar jobs require this. A mechanic usually has to provide his own tools. This can be tens of thousands of dollars just for a basic set that lets you do standard jobs. Then you might have specialty tools for specific equipment.

Even a framer or roofer is bringing his own hammers, saws, PPE, and anything else that's required. You don't just roll up to a job and get handed everything you need like a software job.

[DrewADesign]

Big time money on tools and professional tools are not fucking cheap. I have about $1800 in measuring equipment alone that I had to buy out of pocket. Add in wrenches I can put my entire body weight into all day long, a drill index, multiple top-end hammers, screwdrivers, grinders, deburring tools, punches, clamps, handheld grinders, etc. etc. etc.

I think mechanics have it worse though. In my shop I mostly only need imperial tools, at least.

[rambambram]

From above: "endless job that could kill somebody if you stop paying attention"

[tezclarke]

Cash flow and accounts receivable management is a headache for these guys

[DrewADesign]

I mean, brains transfer to any job, and it’s tough to be a developer if you’re genuinely stupid. So in that respect, sure. But I’m definitely not saying that developers aren’t smart enough to do blue collar work.

[lelanthran]

> But I’m definitely not saying that developers aren’t smart enough to do blue collar work.

Fine. I'll say it: developers aren't smart enough to survive a blue collar environment.

My credentials? I worked in a factory in my youth. 12hr shifts, nightshift only, 7 days a week, on assembly lines.

Your average developer is definitely not risk averse enough to keep all their limbs. Where I worked, two people on two different lines lost limbs.

If you have ever used npm install on your daily driver without sand boxing it, you're too stupid to work in a factory.

[SoftTalker]

Well to be fair the risk of "npm install on your daily driver without sand boxing" is that you might have to wipe and reinstall everything, or even deal with a persistent malware and loss of data. There's no risk of going home missing a limb. That sort of risk does tend to grab your attention a lot more.

[DrewADesign]

There are some really important distinctions in the types of smart we’re talking about, here.

[intrasight]

> you have ever

That's way too strong. I would say "if you've ever done it and had an issue and not learned from the mistake then you're too stupid".

The trades differ from software and that there's a lot more "learning on the job" and making rookie mistakes in terms of how the physical world works.

There is learning on the job with software, but it's a much smaller component and much of that is being replaced with AI skills.