[−]globular-toast · 2026-10-10 Sat 21:50 UTC ·
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That's a very, very narrow view of software. The firmware inside an internal combustion engine control unit did not take someone's job away. The software to assemble genomes from DNA fragments did take someone's job away. Nor did an MP3 codec, a game, or a search engine. All this stuff gave us more than we had before, it wasn't just automating existing capabilities.
Even when software has been used for automation it's been done to eliminate boring labour, not creative work. Eliminating jobs like switchboard operators or coal stokers is a good thing because those were unenjoyable and even dangerous jobs that nobody wants to do.
> The firmware inside an internal combustion engine control unit did not take someone's job away.
Of course it did. Cars and motorcycles used to need to be taken to the mechanics all the time. Now they just run and run without issue, thanks to what you mention.
> All this stuff gave us more than we had before
Absolutely. Just like all automation. It takes away jobs, but increases production. That's why it's worth it in the end.
> Even when software has been used for automation it's been done to eliminate boring labour, not creative work.
Yes, and now AI is eliminating the boring labour of programmers. Will they come to terms with the fact that their jobs are unenjoyable and nobody actually wants to do them, like the coal stokers and switchboard operators?
But I agree with you that there are some outliers within programming that go beyond automating jobs and processes. Like the examples you give.
[−]globular-toast · 2026-10-11 Sun 06:35 UTC ·
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Cars still need to be taken to mechanics all the time. In fact, I'd hazard a guess that there are far more mechanics now tab there were prior to ECUs.
> Yes, and now AI is eliminating the boring labour of programmers. Will they come to terms with the fact that their jobs are unenjoyable and nobody actually wants to do them, like the coal stokers and switchboard operators?
If it was just replacing the boring part there would be no problem. In fact, we could just use it to replace the boring bits and give ourselves more time to be creative and do the human part. The danger is it ends up replacing thinking completely, though.
I wonder if you've ever done a truly unpleasant job like those mentioned? Have you never written software that has made people really happy because it makes their job less unpleasant?
I've personally been working on software to help with cancer treatment for the past 6 years. You can't even say I'm taking away the jobs of undertakers because people will still die anyway and demand for healthcare is never going to decrease.
The enjoyable part of a job is receiving the salary. That's how it is for many or even most people.
> I wonder if you've ever done a truly unpleasant job like those mentioned?
I've had some of the worst jobs you could think of, and I was proud that I could make my own living and not depend on anybody else.
> In fact, we could just use it to replace the boring bits and give ourselves more time to be creative and do the human part.
That's the ideal outcome. However, there's limited demand for that. "Grunt work" is still what's needed mostly, whether done by man or machine.
> I've personally been working on software to help with cancer treatment for the past 6 years. You can't even say I'm taking away the jobs of undertakers because people will still die anyway and demand for healthcare is never going to decrease.
You probably took away potential jobs from administrators who would have done the things manually which your software does. Or if you're a better programmer than your peers, then you took away the jobs from the two programmers which would have been needed to do the same job as you do by yourself.
What I'm saying is that working as a programmer is about automation and efficiency and that means taking away jobs. Just like the steam machine and everything else we've automated. That's why nobody cries for programmers now that they are being out-automated themselves.
Can you put yourself in other people's shoes and see how it is offensive that tech workers now demand continued employment at comfortable jobs with high salaries, when there is no longer any demand for them? Instead of being grateful for having enjoyed such a good situation for many years while others haven't.
I fully expect my own job to be replaced by AI in the coming years. It's inevitable, and I can only be grateful for what I've been given and that I had the chance to enjoy a comfortable job while it lasted.
Even when software has been used for automation it's been done to eliminate boring labour, not creative work. Eliminating jobs like switchboard operators or coal stokers is a good thing because those were unenjoyable and even dangerous jobs that nobody wants to do.
Of course it did. Cars and motorcycles used to need to be taken to the mechanics all the time. Now they just run and run without issue, thanks to what you mention.
> All this stuff gave us more than we had before
Absolutely. Just like all automation. It takes away jobs, but increases production. That's why it's worth it in the end.
> Even when software has been used for automation it's been done to eliminate boring labour, not creative work.
Yes, and now AI is eliminating the boring labour of programmers. Will they come to terms with the fact that their jobs are unenjoyable and nobody actually wants to do them, like the coal stokers and switchboard operators?
But I agree with you that there are some outliers within programming that go beyond automating jobs and processes. Like the examples you give.
> Yes, and now AI is eliminating the boring labour of programmers. Will they come to terms with the fact that their jobs are unenjoyable and nobody actually wants to do them, like the coal stokers and switchboard operators?
If it was just replacing the boring part there would be no problem. In fact, we could just use it to replace the boring bits and give ourselves more time to be creative and do the human part. The danger is it ends up replacing thinking completely, though.
I wonder if you've ever done a truly unpleasant job like those mentioned? Have you never written software that has made people really happy because it makes their job less unpleasant?
I've personally been working on software to help with cancer treatment for the past 6 years. You can't even say I'm taking away the jobs of undertakers because people will still die anyway and demand for healthcare is never going to decrease.
> I wonder if you've ever done a truly unpleasant job like those mentioned?
I've had some of the worst jobs you could think of, and I was proud that I could make my own living and not depend on anybody else.
> In fact, we could just use it to replace the boring bits and give ourselves more time to be creative and do the human part.
That's the ideal outcome. However, there's limited demand for that. "Grunt work" is still what's needed mostly, whether done by man or machine.
> I've personally been working on software to help with cancer treatment for the past 6 years. You can't even say I'm taking away the jobs of undertakers because people will still die anyway and demand for healthcare is never going to decrease.
You probably took away potential jobs from administrators who would have done the things manually which your software does. Or if you're a better programmer than your peers, then you took away the jobs from the two programmers which would have been needed to do the same job as you do by yourself.
What I'm saying is that working as a programmer is about automation and efficiency and that means taking away jobs. Just like the steam machine and everything else we've automated. That's why nobody cries for programmers now that they are being out-automated themselves.
Can you put yourself in other people's shoes and see how it is offensive that tech workers now demand continued employment at comfortable jobs with high salaries, when there is no longer any demand for them? Instead of being grateful for having enjoyed such a good situation for many years while others haven't.
I fully expect my own job to be replaced by AI in the coming years. It's inevitable, and I can only be grateful for what I've been given and that I had the chance to enjoy a comfortable job while it lasted.