One thing I would also like to point out is that relativity is the enemy here. Compared to being a billionaire, making a “mere” six figures as a successful engineer and donating 10% doesn’t seem like much, but let’s take a step back and look at it objectively. If you donate 10% of that, that’s saving 3+ lives every single year. Across a career, that could easily save a HUNDRED PEOPLE. That’s like, two schoolbusses full of children! This is incredibly valuable, regardless of what anybody else is doing.
If you save three people, then as far as I’ve concerned you’ve made a positive contribution with your life as long as you’re a somewhat decent person the rest of the time, and nobody can tell you otherwise. You’re in a position to do that every year you have an engineering job, even if it’s not in EA!
Everyone who signs that pledge (or donates the equivalent) is doing incredible work. The child you saved doesn’t care if someone else saved ten or not, and every life is precious.
Thank you! The rational part of my brain tries to communicate that to the part that’s hell-bent on anchoring my priors to inadequacy. Hearing it from others helps to drown out the demons.
Or maybe I should thank that part of my brain for trying to keep me safe or something? Therapy is confusing.
Thanks for sharing this, semicycle!
One thing I would also like to point out is that relativity is the enemy here. Compared to being a billionaire, making a “mere” six figures as a successful engineer and donating 10% doesn’t seem like much, but let’s take a step back and look at it objectively. If you donate 10% of that, that’s saving 3+ lives every single year. Across a career, that could easily save a HUNDRED PEOPLE. That’s like, two schoolbusses full of children! This is incredibly valuable, regardless of what anybody else is doing.
If you save three people, then as far as I’ve concerned you’ve made a positive contribution with your life as long as you’re a somewhat decent person the rest of the time, and nobody can tell you otherwise. You’re in a position to do that every year you have an engineering job, even if it’s not in EA!
Everyone who signs that pledge (or donates the equivalent) is doing incredible work. The child you saved doesn’t care if someone else saved ten or not, and every life is precious.
Thank you! The rational part of my brain tries to communicate that to the part that’s hell-bent on anchoring my priors to inadequacy. Hearing it from others helps to drown out the demons.
Or maybe I should thank that part of my brain for trying to keep me safe or something? Therapy is confusing.