Jens Oliver Meiert

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Product of the Environment

Published on Oct 23, 2009 (updated Aug 16, 2013), filed under . (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon or on Bluesky.)

Let me ask you a question: If you’re not a product of your environment, but the environment a product of you, what would it mean to believe that you are product of your environment?

Could it be that us being responsible for our own lives, bearing the solutions to our problems in ourselves, making our very own reality, not only empowers but also gives some subtle hints about the meaning of… everything?

About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on March 2, 2026.

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies, including Google; I’m an open-source developer and a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG); and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also with respect to politics and philosophy. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my experiences and perspectives. (Please share feedback—interpret charitably, keep it friendly, but do be critical.)