New post, and this one's definitely one of my weirder ones: it's about how most of the tech industry shows symptoms of something that looks like gender dysphoria.

@iris_meredith That pitch was 100% on-point, I am sold already

@iris_meredith I have used similar language to describe some of my own problems with the tech industry and my personal life and honestly I want to say a whole lot more but it's way too upsetting and personal.

To put it mildly, you're definitely on to something here.

@iris_meredith Good stuff, really good. Thanks!

@iris_meredith fuck, this hits hard.

I would also include all the brilliant minds working hard on giving us depression from computers.

I saw a random comment on Reddit: ... many smart people tie their inherent value to their professional contribution. I can relate. AuDHD, I live and sleep in a constant mild to high strees, it takes high effort to not escape discomfort from the real world and inside my head. SwE allows it plus the validation that I exist. But this validation is my output.

@iris_meredith this is really interesting. my take as an autistic person (obviously there are a lot of us in tech) is when you lack proprioception, your bodily needs often don't become apparent until they're physically painful, and I can imagine the mindset that would keep meal replacement shakes on hand so they can go back to hyperfocussing on programming or videogames or whatever. and the more emotionally disregulated you are, the worse it gets, and I think a lot of tech bros are wallowing in a pit of self-hatred and online toxicity so it's a vicious cycle

@iris_meredith If I'd focus on one aspect only.

I started to work in tech in 2000, IT crowd was in basements, away from real people, we were geeking out with a bunch of nerds, life was fun.

Fast-forward, and billionaires like Thiel and Brin telling employers that 60 hours a week is the "sweet spot" and Thiel wannabes tell me to "inspire" team to work 60h/week also leading by example.

@iris_meredith yeah, well put. it's always a delicate line trying to analyze the motivations of large groups of people like this, and you walked it carefully.