i think what you really mean is that instead of a hum-drum job with a set compensation, you'd prefer fighting for your pay with the possibility of hitting rock bottom if you don't perform. hmmmm, the potential earnings (realistically) would have to be pretty high for this anxiety to be worth it.

like other people have said, if you want to be compensated by your performance, then stick with SALES or RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS. however not everyone is cut out for this. ahemmm…MOST people are not cut out for this

security is a luxury at any age, my friend. perhaps you have not learned this?

Thank you for your response to my note. And I agree with everything you say. Respect for others should be a mandate by which we all live. But having had different life experiences to most of you, I have come to realize that there are times when people (particularly the young and/or sheltered) may inadvertently slight others.

My assumption is that when Ryan speaks, despite the public forum he possesses, inadvertently & unconsciously speaks for himself and for his cohort.
Neither you nor I exist in this state.
Occasionally, seasoned journalists, leaders and "experts" fall into the same trap, and receive the angry responses of their audiences; so why not a freshman to this medium? And Ryan is as green to the world as could be, therein lies his weakness as a blogger, but that too is his greatest strength! He represents a group that I do not understand nor feel any kinship with. But I feel that I need to listen as my world is changing and I do not have direct access to those illiciting the change.
I will not offer any excuses for bad manners or glaring examples of disrespect, but this I see as a case of ignorance, over exuberance, and youth.
Additionally, I do not believe that Penny should intervene. Ryan is a big boy, and his actions are his to resolve. Let him face the situation he created, the lesson he will learn will be valuable.
Just my opinion:)

Thanks for your measured and comparatively objective comment. I respect the way you defend the value of different perspectives.

But ah, that word 'respect.' How important it is, no? Even in the blogosphere, we demand it from one another, because the world of blogging is just like any other social organization. It allows us to exchange ideas, but in an intellectual discussion, a lack of respect spoils any chance of mutual learning. If I've just gone blind and you tell me I'm better off, because my character will improve, I doubt I'd continue the conversation.

There are different perspectives, and then there is ignorance. No, we needn't tolerate it when people are disrespectful through their ignorance. We should speak up. Listening to people spout off offensive comments is NOT what blogging is all about. You acknowledge that Ryan is wrong, so why not tell him so?

I'll be curious to see if Penelope weighs in on this subject, or if she leaves Ryan's article as-is. Any publicity is good publicity, after all.

I believe that the real lesson in Ryan's post has been overlooked. Blogging's beauty is that it gives us insight into how others (who are brave enough to put themselves out there) think. The resulting dialogue is always thought provoking, and sometimes even volatile.

Penny Trunk has incurred the ire of Yahoo readers because her perceptions on SOME career oriented things, so challenge their entrenched views, that many of them refuse to even consider that there could be merit in her work (to put it mildly). I believe that the same is probably true here of Ryan.

Ryan represents a large subset of young, fortunate, individuals who have viewed many of the hardships and negative situations of life from the outside looking in. This group assesses their condition from a paradigm that few of us, not in their position, can understand.

I have an intimate knowledge of the realities of poverty, as such, I could never glorify it. But imagine not ever having to go without. Being able to live, comfortable in the thought that you will never go hungry, and that by virtue of your filial relationships, you can depend on support in educational pursuits and business endeavours. The prospect of making one's way, into the "real world," in spite of a deck that has been stacked against you becomes an extremely romantic and perhaps appealing notion. I call it my prince and the pauper theory, and history has offered many examples of it, think Buddha, Howard Hughes and several historical leaders who made forays, incognito, into real life after having their noses pressed up against the metaphorical plate-glass barrier separating them from a hostile unforgiving world.

Perhaps he does deserve the tongue lashing he has received on some level, but please, do not continue to critize Ryan too vociferously or too personally – even for his seemingly disparaging perspective on some women. We may not like or agree with what he says, but he simply states what he and others like him may think, and that insight will enable us to understand and interact with him and his cohort.

Isn't that what blogging is all about?

I am interested by the intense reactions to this post from people who are insulted by the notion that poverty can be viewed as a life experience.

It reminds me of that brilliant song "Common People" by Pulp.

*sings* "But still you'll never get it right
`cos when you're laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad he could stop it all yeah
…

`cos everybody hates a tourist
Especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh"

Full lyrics here: http://www.lyricsdepot.com/pulp/common-people-extended-lyrics.html

ARgh. Seriously refraining from cursing here.

Look, Ryan. I understand that you're not trying to make the point we're angry about. I think you're saying that the idea of sacrificing everything for a dream is romantic, and exciting, and not that the poverty in and of itself is. I get that.

But what you actually said is that poverty is a good thing, and everyone should experience it. You know better than that, and I know you know better than that.

So a humble request: please, please re-write this. In its current form, it is offensive; there's no other word for it. You can find a better way to make your point. If pride keeps you from changing this, you're going to needlessly upset a lot more people. And I think you're bigger than that.

If I'm wrong, and you believe in exactly what you said, then screw you, and you deserve all the nasty comments you're going to get.

But I don't think that's the case.

Please excuse my language, but Ryan, you are a total jerk. Scrounging for your next month's rent is not GLAMOROUS. It's terrifying. And it's really not that hard to experience. If you really had "an intense desire to know" what it feels like, you would quit your job (any income-generating activity), wait for your savings to dwindle, and watch that eviction notice appear on your door. It's really not difficult. Why don't you try it?

I'll tell you why you don't. It's because you KNOW it's a terrible situation to be in, whether it "builds character" or not. I cannot believe Penelope allowed you to post something so appallingly insulting.

I also can't believe you've never experienced "what it’s like to say I can’t afford to eat out tonight, and really mean it." That sentence just blew me away. As others have said, it just shows that you come from an incredibly privileged social position, and I hope you don't ever try to contradict that. Because it's inherent in your words.

This post, or at least that one paragraph, needs to be taken down. That isn't censorship, that's common decency.

It also shows me how incredibly immature you are. And I'm 21. You better believe that I'll put a much lower value to your words from hereon out, because I have a better idea of the ignorance they stem from.

"I have an intense desire to know what its like to scrounge for a month’s rent. I want to know what it’s like to say I can’t afford to eat out tonight, and really mean it. I truly do believe that living like this builds character, and everyone should probably experience it at some point. "

When I was a child, we were poor, not cute television poor, but move in the middle of the night leave all our stuff behind poor. Getting free food at school, because that was the only meal I was going to get that day poor.

I paid my own way through college, working full time, and sending every free penny I had after paying my bills back to my family. You would not last a minute in real poverty. Think about it, no internet, no television.

The thing is, you pat your self on the back for wanting to do this, and yet I do not see you even attempting to do anything. How about not going out to dinner for a month, and instead giving that money to a local homeless shelter? Better yet, volunteer at a shelter, and take a look at the world your parents shielded you from!

It is sad that your so entitled, you can not see just how entitled you are.