I was a 20-something dethroned dotcom ceo that went to work at mcdonald's (2000)
After the dot‑com bust, future Meetup founder Scott Heiferman famously took a short-lived job at a New York McDonald’s, a move that still provokes strong reactions about class, privilege, and what it means to “slum it” in low-wage work. Commenters contrast the romanticized idea of escaping high-pressure tech jobs for “simpler” service roles with the harsh realities of fast food and hospitality: low pay, relentless pace, and frequent disrespect from both customers and management. The thread broadens into reflections on burnout, the search for meaningful or grounding work, how rarely frontline workers are genuinely appreciated, and how economic and social shifts since 2000 have made such jobs even more fraught.
McDonald’s Stint & Career Narrative
- Timeline suggests the McDonald’s job lasted only a few weeks while the founder was still nominally chairman of his prior company.
- Some see it as an interesting biographical detail that arguably “belongs” on a public profile; others note many people omit short or off-track jobs.
- A few view it as “slumming” given he didn’t need the money; others push back that short stints and high turnover are normal in fast food.
Fast Food Work as Experience vs “Slumming”
- Multiple commenters recount working at McDonald’s or similar: some describe it as fun, social, even “zen” when young; others recall it as high-pressure, tightly timed, constantly monitored, and emotionally draining.
- Several stress the class dynamic: for them it was survival, not a character-building experiment.
- There’s explicit discomfort with privileged people briefly “cosplaying” low-wage work when others are stuck there.
Pay, Hierarchy, and Economic Reality
- Conflicting claims about store-manager pay: some say top managers at company-owned stores can reach ~$150–200k with bonuses; others cite self-reported data closer to ~$40–60k and note most locations are franchises.
- Commenters recall very low wages (~$5–6/hr around 2000) and current difficulty hiring at minimum wage.
- Broader complaints include cost-of-living spikes, stagnant wages, and perceived concentration of gains at the top.
Desire to Escape Tech / “Normal Job” Fantasies
- Many tech workers fantasize about temporary “simpler” jobs (fast food, barista, truck driver, farmer, receptionist) as a break from cognitive load, office politics, and on-call stress.
- Others warn hospitality and fast food are not “easy breaks” but stressful, underpaid, and increasingly dangerous or unpleasant post‑2020.
Customer Behavior, Gratitude, and Management
- The “nobody thanked me” line triggers debate: some insist customers commonly say thanks; others think the complaint targets management, not customers.
- Several note a rise in rudeness and aggression toward frontline workers, especially since 2020.
- There’s consensus that managers often fail to give specific, sincere appreciation, making such jobs feel thankless.
Physical & Mental Demands
- Accounts mention back injuries, repetitive stress, long hours on feet, and night shifts.
- Some contrast the clear boundaries and immediate feedback of service work with the chronic, diffuse stress of knowledge work.