Charity Majors wrote this on LinkedIn about a week ago and it’s been on my mind since.
It’s from a post about the differential impact of LLMs on software engineering vs. site reliability engineering jobs, so possibly not philosophy for the ages? And, being LinkedIn, the default concept of “value” lies somewhere between vexed and dystopian. But I do think there are concepts of “value” that make this aphorism insightful rather than bleak — not shareholder value, obviously, or business value, but real human value, peace and community and abundance and wisdom and comfort. Joy is more resilient when it brings good things to others.
It’s also important to remember that resilience isn’t the most important thing about joy; not even close. But we can think a little bit about how to make joy more durable, as a treat.
Currently reading: WHERE THE AXE IS BURIED, by Ray Nayler.