zlacker

This is not wisdom, this is someone venting.

The truth is way more nuanced than “the master carpenter would get outcompeted.”

>>mattgr+(OP)
The truth is also way more nuanced than what Jobs is describing. I was just showing how ridiculous his argument is.

>>j7ake+c1
I advocate for a non-naive optimism here because one’s views on this greatly influence one’s mental climate.

If you believe the race to the bottom prevents you from doing great work, then you will not do great work.

>>mattgr+13
If one takes a craft to be their profession, then one must be pragmatic because time and resources are finite. Otherwise one should take the craft as a hobby instead.

Spending all your time polishing details that nobody cares about is not doing great work, it is wasting time. Time that could have been spent experimenting on new techniques, trying new ideas, taking on new projects.

>>j7ake+g9
>Time that could have been spent experimenting on new techniques, trying new ideas, taking on new projects.

this mindset seems to be the exact ones that coporate companies sinking in tech debt has. The absurd extreme of this is that carpentry is a waste of time when you could be making more money as a doctor.

Fact is you don't need to be 100% optimal on time and resources and you don't need infinite money to live. I'm sure carpenters work on thin margins but a few pieces of plywood won't bankrupt them and leave theif families on the streets.

If someone sacrifices a little time and money for personal satisfaction and pride, that's fine. If they want to maximize profits that's also fine (as long as they aren't abusing their labor to do so). C'est la vie.