Six years have passed in the blink of an eye, and many of my perceptions have been slowly changing. This change has been happening quietly and without causing any discomfort, but the accumulation of these small changes will eventually lead to many changes.

Recently, some things happened, though they were all minor, but they made me deeply feel this change and difference.

Event 1: IOUs included in credit reporting system

I remember that the inclusion of JD.com's BaiTiao (a credit service) in the credit reporting system a while ago caused some controversy. My first reaction was excitement because it was a big step forward. The more credible sources are included in the credit reporting system, the more credible the credit system will become, thus creating a more comprehensive credit system. It will also make more people cherish their credit, which is a beneficial direction for society.

However, judging from feedback across various communities, most people are cursing and even want to delete their accounts immediately. The main reason, in summary, is...

1. No prior notice
2. Fear of information leakage

The second point is easy to understand: in a society lacking a sound legal system, self-protection is essential. Although information is now largely exposed to the public, protection should still be sought whenever possible.

Interestingly, the first point, "not informed in advance," seems more like an excuse to me. Our country is a developing country, and many things are being built up gradually. Even if policies are changed frequently, we are used to it. So why does "not informed in advance" have such a big impact?

The underlying reason is that many people have a history of overdue payments and are afraid of affecting their credit. It's like someone who's used to owing money in their village, and now city officials come and demand the village provide loan information to assess their creditworthiness. Naturally, the debtor will be furious and want to destroy the record immediately. It's like lifting a damp mat; insects accustomed to darkness are exposed to the sunlight, with nowhere to hide.

The "white slip" is essentially a credit card, allowing you to use funds in advance and repay on schedule. Failure to repay or late payment is a violation, and including it in the credit system is a win-win situation: firstly, it improves the credit system, and secondly, it serves as a deterrent to those who habitually exploit loopholes, reminding them that they could be exposed at any time.

A sound credit system can improve public morale, and more reliable data sources can more accurately reflect an individual's situation. In this case, we should not only refrain from deleting accounts, but also create more accounts to prove our "creditworthiness." This is the logic I've developed over the years, and I don't see anything wrong with it. I really don't understand this controversy. Personally, I think this is just the beginning.

Event 2: Outsourcing within China

Last week, I had an idea I wanted to implement, but I was too busy to write it up, so I thought of outsourcing it to a domestic company. After organizing the requirements, I also specified the technology choices and framework. I asked in several groups who could do it, and many people replied. But when I sent them my requirements, many people replied with: "What's your budget?"

This was an unexpected question for me. I thought they might be worried I was offering too little, so I replied with "unlimited." Since I work in the computer field and have been in outsourcing for almost ten years, I'm quite familiar with pricing in both domestic and international markets. Logically, after reviewing my requirements, they should be able to roughly estimate the timeframe. Everyone has an hourly rate; multiplying them together gives a rough quote. Why ask about the budget?

Many people gave me exorbitant prices after I replied with an unlimited budget, while those who didn't ask about the budget gave me reasonable quotes. It was then that I realized asking about the budget was a way to increase the price. Firstly, it could filter out clients with excessively low budgets, and secondly, many "outsider" clients in China don't know the cost of development, so after providing a budget, they could "reasonably" increase the price.

Follow-up

I posted this on V2EX to complain, and a bunch of people attacked me, saying I was a heartless client, that others need time to analyze requirements, blah blah blah, which left me speechless.

Personally, I feel that the current situation is due to the fact that in the early stages of the domestic market's development, many incompetent clients left outsourcing teams speechless, and the hourly rates of outsourcing teams were also inconsistent.

Another small observation is that those who indiscriminately criticize are mostly people in China during the day, while people in China at night tend to respond more rationally. Perhaps they are feeling resentful from being exploited by their bosses during the day, and feel more comfortable when they get home at night.

Story Three: Dream? Thought?

Lately, I've suddenly felt my excitement level getting lower and lower. Although everything is going smoothly and there are signs of things getting better, I still can't feel happy. I've noticed that as time goes by, my advantages are dwindling, and I don't even know if I'm still in a position of "advantage" or "gap".

I initially felt that I had taken advantage of everyone's unpreparedness in the first half of the race and managed to get ahead, but now I'm slowly being caught up. After 25, I can no longer be considered young. Many of my previous honors are becoming less and less valuable. As time goes by, everyone's experience is gradually averaging out. Is this how my golden years of life just pass by?

The annual East Coast Cup used to excite me immensely, filling me with anticipation and a desire to win. Now, that passion for pursuing dreams seems to have faded. Big events like buying a house or a car no longer stir any excitement; firstly, I've already experienced them several times, and secondly, most people my age have the means to do them—it's nothing special. As time goes by, I become increasingly melancholic about my future. Will I just drift into mediocrity, or will I seek a breakthrough?

My network is shrinking, my hairline is receding, and a sense of crisis is creeping in. This crisis isn't about being unhappy, but rather the feeling that I might never achieve anything significant in my life. Before, I pursued my dreams with all my might; now I'm stuck in my comfort zone, hesitant and indecisive. I've found myself becoming much more realistic. Dreams? Now they're just for making life a little better.