I love this from Marc Brooker:

Every organization and industry has watering holes where the whiners hang out. The cynical. The jaded. These spots feel attractive. Everybody has something they can complain about, and complaining is fun. These places are inviting and inclusive: as long as you’re whining, or complaining, or cynical, you’re in. If you’re positive, optimistic, or ambitious, you’re out.

Avoid these places.

I’ve seen this firsthand on Reddit. Seems like the r/graphic_design and r/UXDesign subreddits have been full of posts decrying the state of the job market and attacking AI. Any meaningful conversations about the work or debates about AI are too few and far between.

Brooker again:

My advice: find the yes, and communities, and spend time there. Find the people doing cool stuff you admire, and spend time with them. Find the people doing the work you want to do, or living the life you want to live, and find ways to learn from them.

Those are hard to find online. If you know of any, please let me know!