I got an email about resistance

I received a thought-provoking email regarding criticism of my writing. The author found my recent essays frustrating, stating that my admission of sadness about losing income derived from deep thinking in software made me seem complicit in the situation. They argued that if my perspective were correct, there were only two reasonable responses: pursue other work or resist.

The author likened my approach to that of Willy Wonka, who claimed there was no way of knowing which direction they were heading. However, I maintain that I am in control of my life and must decide whether I truly accept the current trajectory or choose to leave the situation. The author also expressed concern over my extensive reach, questioning why I am using it to express resignation towards inevitable technological trends.

They believe that broadcasting resignation is a waste of a voice and detrimental to my impact. I understand the importance of this moment in history and the potential consequences for programmers, who are high-status craftspeople facing the challenges of automation. Drawing parallels to the Industrial Revolution, I acknowledge the non-obvious implications of current developments and the limited predictability of their ramifications.

I admit that my approach may be viewed as complicit or anti-revolutionary, but I argue that my aim is to prevent vulnerable colleagues from making career-ruining mistakes. I strive to encourage people to work within the system, learn its rules, and influence it safely from a position of power rather than openly opposing it.