feeling doomed is natural, unfortunately
Doomerism feels inescapable was the first post i read this morning. It's so true.
I used to call myself a pessimist before college. Then in college, i felt a bit better, and be came an optimist. Being surrounded by diverse, smart humans gives you a glimpse of hope.
Then while in college. Generative AI appeared, and things changed. Senior year, my last course was computational linguistics. I don't know how to code but I tried. The professor encouraged the use of AI. And I tried it, but it couldn't teach me well because it doesn't know my skill level. This was early ChatGPT.
I had homework once a month, So instead of AI, I would have lengthy phone calls with an online friend, E, who was a CS and Computer Engineering double major. He would walk me through this stuff easily and I learned the basic syntax of Python. Taught me better than the professor and AI combined.
After graduation, the job market that was handed to me was awful. But when you speak up on these grievances, you get older people talking about 2008. But after 2008 and through to the next ten years or so, you could find a job in your niche. If you want to do translation, there were jobs. If you want to travel with certain programs, there were opportunities. I read about success stories and they start with someone "taking a leap with no money" or moving somewhere abroad.
"OMG that's cool!" I say.
Then I read that they did that in 2012. Before cuts to international programs. And they tell you that the "Golden Age" of many industries was in "201X". When i was 8-12 years old. Stupid me, shoulda been born 20 years earlier.
But scroll further and neverminded, the future is now! "You can do what I did too, just Buy My Course!"
Nowadays you have some older folks laughing in your face if you want to do anything other than business or finance "because Claude can do it". Teachers used to be respected a bit more, but since education is looked down on, they laugh in the face of aspiring teachers because it makes no money.
As someone who will likely be a single income, no kids household, I changed from wanting to be a teacher in my city to not knowing what I want. $40,000/year in a mid-sized city? You're joking. And without pay in the summer?! My Literature teacher in high school worked at Chili's part time. The benefits are only good if you have children and a family. If you don't then they're useless.
I went to church. I was top of my class. I played in an orchestra and performed for the senior living center during Christmas. I played tennis. I went to college on scholarships for smart poor people. I never complained. I did want America told me to do and I was awarded with uncertainty and an immature government full of people PAST retirement age who are getting things paid for by the young people they screwed over.
But the DOW Jones is up, young people are doing well!
Being a doomer is natural, with things feeling hopeless and confusing. No wonder men want to go back to trad life; your only goal is to have a billion kids, go to church and beat your wife. However, the men spewing these ideas don't realize that being a podcaster or dropshipper is not a trad husband job and they should get their asses in the factory or farm or in a truck and work 60 hours a week. And not complain. Like a true gentleman. But don't forget, yearning for a trad life is feminine because feelings are feminine and that's gay!
I've not completely given up, though. I haven't tried enough yet. I was rejected many times for so many things after graduation till I landed my current job, which is just a means to a greater end. I'm hoping to take a few risks this year, and if I fail then... I'm not sure what the end of the tunnel will look like. Let's hope that by the end of this year, I've taken the leap into something new and didn't fall flat on my face. I won't have a clue what to do if I get rejected again. Maybe I'll close my eyes and keep wishing that this was all a dream.