That is ok for some but others want to feel like there is some point to the 2/3 of their life that they spent working and preparing to work (i.e. school). For some, punching the clock and collecting a pay check isn't enough.
For me the paycheck isn’t enough so I decided to not to overextend myself at work so I can spend time with family, learning, cooking, etc.
I still have the urge to fight but I also have realized that fighting is more nuanced than pushing all the time. Maybe the best course of action is to push a bit and wait for the next opportunity. Find people you can trust in the org. Play the game. Or sometimes just do like the others, and chill, put in the minimal amount of work.
US-based individuals here are making 2-3x (or higher!) more cash than the median family (not to mention other comp that easily exceeds a year+ of income of other families)
If 4 years of school and sitting in an air conditioned home office for a few hours a day isn’t rewarding enough on its own, perhaps these folks should pursue perspectives of other people outside of their isolated tech bubble.
I’ll take “bad but meh coworker code” for a life on easy-mode.
That is cool, but often feels potentially less impactful. I take a slightly different view - maybe I am lucky to be fortunate enough to be in a position to make an impact - even though it is unlikely that I will benefit financially.
