Thread by @polotek

Sure. But in order to do that, I should unpack New Bullshit just a little. I sometimes speak in memes because I wanna be one of the cool kids. But the context matters here.

https://twitter.com/mvboeke/status/1436388968350822404

When I refer to New Bullshit at new jobs, it's mostly about adapting to change. Humans are highly adaptable. But we go through periods of stress and frustration whenever we have to change. Switching jobs brings a huge amount of change that it takes time to adjust to.

There is a lot of uncertainty that comes with the change. It's one thing to know a change is coming and try to find ways to prepare for it. But when you go into a new job, you can't really be prepared for a lot of the changes. You don't know until you're in it.

The change plus the uncertainty means you get taken off guard by things that you would not have chosen if you knew about them before hand. This is the New Bullshit. Things that change your calculus when you find out. But you're already in it, so you just have to adjust.

For example. You start a new job thinking they had flexible work hours. Then you find out that was lip service and there's a lot of pressure to be highly available.

You liked everybody you met while interviewing. Then the person you have to work with closely is a huge asshole.

So the reason I say burnout extends the New Bullshit is because it often completely breaks your ability to adapt to change. Instead burnout keeps you in a state of stress and frustration. Your capacity to adapt is shot. All bullshit is New Bullshit.

https://twitter.com/mvboeke/status/1436388968350822404?s=19

To be clear, New Bullshit is not only work environment stuff. When @operaqueenie took a new job where many of her colleagues we're in Europe, she had to start working early in the morning. Meaning our morning childcare routine changed drastically.