As someone who has not only kids, and a mortgage AND was let go from a startup last week (in Australia, resume's here http://resume.oliyoung.com ;)) all I can say is … no.

Startup work may be a little more financially risky than "traditional" work, but it's sure less risky emotionally for some people. Like me.

" but it's sure less risky emotionally for some people. Like me."

Could you explain that a bit deeper?

"Startup work may be a little more financially risky than "traditional" work, but it's sure less risky emotionally for some people. Like me."

You are the exception to the rule. In my experience, startups are more risky and much more stressful than a traditional job.

Working for a startup has about the same risk as starting your own company. It can be done, but you need to have savings and be able to handle things like getting laid off when funding doesn't come through.

The majority of people aren't prepared for this and shouldn't even be thinking about working for a startup if they are married/have kids.

working for startup is far riskier than starting your own company, because you have the same risk exposure with limited upside and little control over your fate (e.g. the founder louses up or takes a really shitty deal which screws over the employees -- has been chronicled many times here)

If you don't have kids don't tell people with kids what to do just because they have kids.

I'm not the one out of a job after working for an obviously risky company (Startups are risky).

I'm also not the one posting to HN BEGGING for a job (and pointing out that I have mouths to feed).

Quite true. You're just the one judging others based on criteria you apparently know little about. Come on, man - loosen up a bit.

If you don't know that startups are risky going into a startup, then you are greatly misinformed. That's the chance you take. The analogue is someone investing the last dollar in his bank account in a lottery ticket. If it's a win, that's great! If it's a loss, then you lost (and I highly doubt you'd have the sympathy for the fellow who put his last dollar in a lottery ticket)

If you don't have kids you should not be working and enjoying the single life.

I have kids, and am in a start-up, just takes planning.

"If you don't have kids you should not be working and enjoying the single life."

This doesn't even make sense and I feel like you only posted it to be contradictory.

"I have kids, and am in a start-up, just takes planning."

This guy obviously didn't. Startups are generally risky. I've worked at many startups and have seen it all. A non-startup isn't a guarantee, but your job isn't always dependent on the next round of funding.