If a side-project did make any money, what would you spend it on? Perhaps you'd spend some on entertainment, or to further your education, or to finally fix those minor annoyances that you come across day to day. Maybe you'd invest some in a project that you think has great potential to change the world?
Pro tip: many people work on side-projects for exactly those reasons. They just cut out the middle man (money).
Valid point. I guess I'm greedy and could never derive enough enjoyment from a side project, given the energy involved to justify the time investment. I need the million dollar payoff so I can enjoy hacking on whatever I want 40 hours a week.
What? Did I miss some context here? Was this meant as sarcasm or were you serious?
If you don't want to do it fine but calling it insane seems a little overboard. People have hobbies. They do them outside of work. Some one might work on websites at work but have a hobby of making 3d graphics programs at home, or arduino projects, or games, or whatever.
Sure if you don't personally find it fun then don't do it but I guess I read into your message you couldn't see how people could do side projects at home. How are those any different than any other hobbies?
My grandfather was chief of maintenance at some factory meaning he worked with tools all day long fixing machines. He'd then come home and use more tools to make things. It doesn't seem that out of the ordinary.
most of my side projects are for personal use with the goal of reducing the total amount of my life i spend sedentary at a screen. if time is money, then i guess that's something i hope to make money from, but... well, i guess there are just lots of different perspectives on at least a few different topics here.
Pro tip: many people work on side-projects for exactly those reasons. They just cut out the middle man (money).