4 ms·

> I guess if you're a serious company like Apple, you can't really have that kind of tutorial for iOS dev. The fact that this is true is, to me, a slightly sad

> I guess if you're a serious company like Apple, you can't really have that kind of tutorial for iOS dev. The fact that this is true is, to me, a slightly sad reflection on our culture. I understand that too much silliness can get in the way of conveying information, but as you point out, so can too much seriousness. It's obviously a fine balance, and unfortunately it seems safer to err on the side of seriousness when in doubt. It's one of those things that if you sit down and ask any average individual, they will probably prefer a bit of silliness and an informal style in any situation where it's appropriate, yet somehow collectively we seem to have agreed to default to the opposite, and stick with things being quite dry and serious as a norm. Interesting, but ultimately a little sad. Why is this the case? Why is our culture this way? Why can't things just be a little more fun by default?

a3n 11y ago
I put jokes in my resume. You have to have a bit of restraint, but it can be fun and effective. An oatmeal cookie wouldn't be very good if the whole thing was raisins.
- rconti 11y ago
  Therefore raisins suck and should be left out of cookies. QED.
- 50CNT 11y ago
  But a chocolate chip cookie would be decent if the entire thing is chocolate.
  - johnchristopher 11y ago
    Except if you want a cookie. (aaaaand this could go on for hours)
jhanschoo 11y ago
The major problem is that people from other cultures won't get the jokes, and when you aren't in the know the colloquialisms add ambiguity.
wallacoloo 11y ago
I would have put it a little differently. It seems more about image to me than strictly "joking isn't appropriate in business." Apple has an image that is one of sleek, refined beauty. The style of writing used in this article would totally clash with that, causing nothing but confusion and weak branding. On the other hand, there are brands out there with the exact opposite approach. Cards Against Humanity comes to mind first. Their image is explicitly one of mild carelessness and apparent candidness such that anything written too formally would seem out of place. But indeed, there do seem to be more of the former brand type than of the latter. Having a neighbor who speaks constantly with a similar tone as the writer of this article, I can say that trying to hold my own in a conversation with him is really tiring. You eventually just run out of witty remarks. Is it possible it's more an issue of skill and time? As in, are there fewer people out there with the skills necessary to make good silly writing than there are people who can write seriously? And does it take them longer (and thus cost even more) to make writing in this style? I rambled a little, but I think the issue is a combination of people equating seriousness with importance, as well as a general lack of creativity.

a3n 11y ago

I put jokes in my resume. You have to have a bit of restraint, but it can be fun and effective. An oatmeal cookie wouldn't be very good if the whole thing was raisins.

rconti 11y ago
Therefore raisins suck and should be left out of cookies. QED.
50CNT 11y ago
But a chocolate chip cookie would be decent if the entire thing is chocolate.
- johnchristopher 11y ago
  Except if you want a cookie. (aaaaand this could go on for hours)

jhanschoo 11y ago

The major problem is that people from other cultures won't get the jokes, and when you aren't in the know the colloquialisms add ambiguity.

wallacoloo 11y ago

I would have put it a little differently. It seems more about image to me than strictly "joking isn't appropriate in business." Apple has an image that is one of sleek, refined beauty. The style of writing used in this article would totally clash with that, causing nothing but confusion and weak branding. On the other hand, there are brands out there with the exact opposite approach. Cards Against Humanity comes to mind first. Their image is explicitly one of mild carelessness and apparent candidness such that anything written too formally would seem out of place. But indeed, there do seem to be more of the former brand type than of the latter. Having a neighbor who speaks constantly with a similar tone as the writer of this article, I can say that trying to hold my own in a conversation with him is really tiring. You eventually just run out of witty remarks. Is it possible it's more an issue of skill and time? As in, are there fewer people out there with the skills necessary to make good silly writing than there are people who can write seriously? And does it take them longer (and thus cost even more) to make writing in this style? I rambled a little, but I think the issue is a combination of people equating seriousness with importance, as well as a general lack of creativity.