As I've grown older, I've become more acutely aware of the tremendously unfair and largely indelible disparity that's inherent to being human.
I seems like, controlling for epoch, one's parents essentially determine the vast majority of a life outcome: some weighted combination of where they live, how wealthy they are, what genes they pass on to you, and how they raise you. Just about everyone in tech is the beneficiary of an insanely lucky dice roll.
Reflecting on that makes me deeply uncomfortable. The idea that my position in this world really boils down to a stroke cosmic fortune.
But it's also a source of deep empathy, and I try my best to carry that with me into any interaction with someone occupying a different rung on the socioeconomic ladder. Mostly I find it's about treating people with dignity and working to build them up in whatever small way you can. That might be as simple as a "thank you" or as involved as a conversation in which you listen to someone's story. There's much to be gained from practicing compassion.
I seems like, controlling for epoch, one's parents essentially determine the vast majority of a life outcome: some weighted combination of where they live, how wealthy they are, what genes they pass on to you, and how they raise you. Just about everyone in tech is the beneficiary of an insanely lucky dice roll.
Reflecting on that makes me deeply uncomfortable. The idea that my position in this world really boils down to a stroke cosmic fortune.
But it's also a source of deep empathy, and I try my best to carry that with me into any interaction with someone occupying a different rung on the socioeconomic ladder. Mostly I find it's about treating people with dignity and working to build them up in whatever small way you can. That might be as simple as a "thank you" or as involved as a conversation in which you listen to someone's story. There's much to be gained from practicing compassion.