Do you work with computers for fun or for profit?

[Yoni]

This question is for those of you who have a job where you work extensively with computers; especially software engineering/development (read: programming), also research, design, or whatever else - not cashier type jobs though .

1. What's more important to you in such a job - fun, or profit?
2. What do you have more of in your job - fun, or profit?

(Gogo post your thoughts about the 1st question even if you don't have that job)

[Archonist]

This question is for those of you who have a job where you work extensively with computers; especially software engineering/development (read: programming), also research, design, or whatever else - not cashier type jobs though .

1. What's more important to you in such a job - fun, or profit?
2. What do you have more of in your job - fun, or profit?

(Gogo post your thoughts about the 1st question even if you don't have that job)

I don't have that job, however.. I think profit is really important, but fun isn't very far behind. Because you're not going to do well at a job that you don't enjoy, but making a profit is pretty fun.

[Akamas]

1. What's more important to you in such a job - fun, or profit?

Well, in the past I've done programming jobs for people here and there, mainly POS Systems ( Point of Sale Systems ). I didn't consider them "fun" so I was doing it for the money. Recently, I've been doing design work for clients of my design company (

bunkmedia.net ). I consider the illustrations and design aspect more "fun" than the coding and construction of the websites. I feel a combination of both fun and profit are important factors of each job.
[/list]

2. What do you have more of in your job - fun, or profit?

When it comes to the design and illustration projects, for sure its the fun because I really enjoy doing it. When it comes to the coding end of each project, it has to be worth it ( money wise ) in order for me to be willing to do it. So, its a mix of both, if the money isn't there, it isn't much fun.

[Adron]

This question is for those of you who have a job where you work extensively with computers; especially software engineering/development (read: programming), also research, design, or whatever else - not cashier type jobs though .

1. What's more important to you in such a job - fun, or profit?
2. What do you have more of in your job - fun, or profit?

To me, there's a minimum profit required, to be able to do what you want outside work. If pay is large enough to cover that, then fun is what matters. Currently I have more profit than fun in my work though.

[idoL]

I see programming/computers more of a hobby then a job (personally, not for everyone), I have sworn never work as a programmer so I don't have to be infront of a computer all day, come home and stare at it again.
I like to get out from time to time.

[Archonist]

I see programming/computers more of a hobby then a job (personally, not for everyone), I have sworn never work as a programmer so I don't have to be infront of a computer all day, come home and stare at it again.
I like to get out from time to time.

Which is why I divide my time.... Skating & Computing.. 

[Joe[x86]]

I don't have a "job" in that field, one would say, but outside of school, church, and sleeping, I'm on the computer a good 99% of the time. I don't get paid anything, because frankly I have nothing to pay to myself. The only reason I'm here right now is because I was bored one day and accepted an old computer from a friend, looked arround and stumbled upon a fun game called WarCraft I.

I eventually saw all the fun things that can be done so easily, and started learning VB on my own, and eventually ended up here, learning Java. I don't make money, but I indend to program for a living, as Java is turning out to be the language everything is written in.

[idoL]

x86] link=topic=11205.msg107657#msg107657 date=1112815278]
I don't have a "job" in that field, one would say, but outside of school, church, and sleeping, I'm on the computer a good 99% of the time. I don't get paid anything, because frankly I have nothing to pay to myself. The only reason I'm here right now is because I was bored one day and accepted an old computer from a friend, looked arround and stumbled upon a fun game called WarCraft I.

I eventually saw all the fun things that can be done so easily, and started learning VB on my own, and eventually ended up here, learning Java. I don't make money, but I indend to program for a living, as Java is turning out to be the language everything is written in.

I can see as people demand cross-platform more and more that Java would become more popular but beyond that I think it's only going to achieve secondary status to the C family.

[iago]

Fun, definately.  If I make enough to live comfortably (which isn't all that expensive with what I consider comfort), I'd rather enjoy what I'm doing.

[K]

Right now for me, it's mostly about experience;  I need something to put on my resume so I can hopefully find a job after I graduate. And the fact that it pays pretty well for a part time job doesn't hurt.

But it's definently about fun as well. If I desperately needed a job I wouldn't restrict myself to a programming job, but if it's there I'll take it.

[hismajesty]

I don't work with computers for anything more than fun/studies, and I don't plan to ever work with them professionally. In a job, I think I'd be more interested in profit - you can always have fun during your retirement.

[Adron]

you can always have fun during your retirement.

That's not necessarily true. You may die before you retire. I wouldn't recommend postponing everything fun til you're old or dead or too weak to have fun.

[EpicOfTimeWasted]

Fun.  I only care about money to the extent that I must in order to survive.

[Joe[x86]]

x86] link=topic=11205.msg107657#msg107657 date=1112815278]
I don't have a "job" in that field, one would say, but outside of school, church, and sleeping, I'm on the computer a good 99% of the time. I don't get paid anything, because frankly I have nothing to pay to myself. The only reason I'm here right now is because I was bored one day and accepted an old computer from a friend, looked arround and stumbled upon a fun game called WarCraft I.

I eventually saw all the fun things that can be done so easily, and started learning VB on my own, and eventually ended up here, learning Java. I don't make money, but I indend to program for a living, as Java is turning out to be the language everything is written in.

I can see as people demand cross-platform more and more that Java would become more popular but beyond that I think it's only going to achieve secondary status to the C family.

Actually, C is cross-platform, and Java is part of the C family.

[Lenny]

I'm rather surprised no one has mentioned job security yet.  I think we all know how bad off shoring is getting...
Computer work is becoming a blue-collar job.  The profit side is sort of decreasing...

Although most of us work with computers for some form of fun and enjoyment, could most of us make a decent living of it?

Because I'm assuming most of us aspire to enjoy life...Would you rather enjoy your work or work to enjoy when you don't work...