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Special Interests vs interests of the market (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml to c/autism@lemmy.world
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I have Special Interests (pixel-perfect UIs, the overall 'feel' of software, old computers, obsolete media like floppies, useless machines, etc.) that my brain finds extremely stimulating and rewarding and I'm able to devote hours to creating things that scratch these itches. Unfortunately neither the job market, nor anyone else actually, sees beauty there where I see it and so they will not value it (that includes financially). Meanwhile, there are other things like machine learning or cell biology that my brain is also very well equipped for but I don't spend time learning them because they don't draw me to them the way my SIs do (I have ADHD so the stimulation level of activities is quite decisive). This is a handicap because it leaves me fixated on several irrelevant things which I did not choose. How do you guys deal with this?

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[-] s12@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

I’m really into Computer Science too.

I got a degree, then spent a year job searching to end up working customer service; carrying drinks up and down stairs for a few months. I eventually got an internship doing programming.

It’s nice to finally have a job in something that I’ve been interested in for a long time, although now I guess a very large amount of my time is spent using computers. Also, even if it pays more, I suppose writing code where I don’t even fully know what it’ll be used for feels less “rewarding” than serving customers.

[-] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 4 points 4 months ago

Also, even if it pays more, I suppose writing code where I don’t even fully know what it’ll be used for feels less “rewarding” than serving customers.

That's a big problem for me too. Everything is always super important to the business, but I was so far removed from that effect that it could have been counting jellybeans for all that it mattered to me. I believe that's referred to as "alienation from labor." And it's been thoroughly normalized.

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2024
29 points (100.0% liked)

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