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Is this author serious? I don't consider answering emails, doing laundry, keeping the house clean, paying the bills on time or doing other tasks like going to

by daten 16y ago

Is this author serious? I don't consider answering emails, doing laundry, keeping the house clean, paying the bills on time or doing other tasks like going to the bank to be much harder than breathing or tying my shoes in the morning. These are simple necessary tasks. They are done routinely and can be done without much thought or effort. I'm seriously concerned for someone who has this much trouble with these basic parts of life. Is this a mental disorder? or just laziness to a level I haven't seen? I agree with the author's choice of title though. If I had to imagine someone who has trouble with such simple tasks, a child is what I imagine.

ericd 16y ago
In my case, I... a) never really think about these things until it comes to my attention that they need to be done. This tends to be well after other people (my girlfriend, for example) notice that they need to be done. It just doesn't really bother me. b) don't really care about most of that stuff anyway - productivity with regards to things that have an effect outside my little habitat matter to me a lot more than these trivialities. As long as I know where things are, cleaning (except where unsanitary) mostly just wastes time for very little real benefit.
Poleris 16y ago
Note the title of her blog.
- daten 16y ago
  I did note the title in my post. And I agree the title is a key part of the author's story. I still appreciate your reply and the others that tried to help me better understand where the author is coming from. I'm still left wondering if she would be happier if she spent less time thinking about chores and errands and just did them. I feel like these things aren't a big deal to me because I don't sit around evaluating how "fun" they are or if I can procrastinate. I just do them, usually while thinking about unrelated things that I do actually care about while I'm doing them. And thanks to whoever was nice enough to downvote my post. I'm sorry I didn't jump on the "I'm lazy too" bandwagon for easy karma. =(
  - sofal 16y ago
    The title of her blog, not the title of her post. The title of her blog is: Hyperbole and a Half. A hyperbole is an exaggeration or overstatement in order to achieve a desired effect, like comedy. I downvoted your comment because it was very apparent that you did not see this. It sounds like you still don't understand where the author is coming from. The author is only partially serious. You pay too much attention to the details of the story without recognizing that she purposefully exaggerates her laziness in order to drive the point home while at the same time making it funny. If you think she's childish and irresponsible, consider this: she makes a living off of that one blog, from ads and merchandise. How much commitment do you suppose that takes?
    - daten 16y ago
      Fair enough. I was only evaluating the content of her post within the context of that post, I did not pay attention to the title of the blog itself. I am impressed if she's making a living off of her just her blog. I'm disappointed if she's unable take care of her other responsibilities as well. I respect her for at least recognizing that as childish. I don't find any of it humorous.
jrockway 16y ago
Really? The reality is that all the things the author lists are mundane tasks that have to be done over and over again, but provide no value to the world. These take time, and that time is spent not doing something you want to do. Everyone has different ways of dealing with this. The author is introspective enough to realize that they are a drain on her productivity; they take time, and she feels like she accomplished something valuable after completing them, even though there is no real value in their completion. This makes it difficult for her, mentally, to even start the tasks, because there are so many negatives involved. Laziness is orthogonal. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she does them anyway, but she just doesn't like to, and chose to write about that dislike. That's not a "mental disorder", it's storytelling.

by daten 16y ago

ericd 16y ago

In my case, I... a) never really think about these things until it comes to my attention that they need to be done. This tends to be well after other people (my girlfriend, for example) notice that they need to be done. It just doesn't really bother me. b) don't really care about most of that stuff anyway - productivity with regards to things that have an effect outside my little habitat matter to me a lot more than these trivialities. As long as I know where things are, cleaning (except where unsanitary) mostly just wastes time for very little real benefit.

Poleris 16y ago

Note the title of her blog.

daten 16y ago
I did note the title in my post. And I agree the title is a key part of the author's story. I still appreciate your reply and the others that tried to help me better understand where the author is coming from. I'm still left wondering if she would be happier if she spent less time thinking about chores and errands and just did them. I feel like these things aren't a big deal to me because I don't sit around evaluating how "fun" they are or if I can procrastinate. I just do them, usually while thinking about unrelated things that I do actually care about while I'm doing them. And thanks to whoever was nice enough to downvote my post. I'm sorry I didn't jump on the "I'm lazy too" bandwagon for easy karma. =(
- sofal 16y ago
  The title of her blog, not the title of her post. The title of her blog is: Hyperbole and a Half. A hyperbole is an exaggeration or overstatement in order to achieve a desired effect, like comedy. I downvoted your comment because it was very apparent that you did not see this. It sounds like you still don't understand where the author is coming from. The author is only partially serious. You pay too much attention to the details of the story without recognizing that she purposefully exaggerates her laziness in order to drive the point home while at the same time making it funny. If you think she's childish and irresponsible, consider this: she makes a living off of that one blog, from ads and merchandise. How much commitment do you suppose that takes?
  - daten 16y ago
    Fair enough. I was only evaluating the content of her post within the context of that post, I did not pay attention to the title of the blog itself. I am impressed if she's making a living off of her just her blog. I'm disappointed if she's unable take care of her other responsibilities as well. I respect her for at least recognizing that as childish. I don't find any of it humorous.

jrockway 16y ago

Really? The reality is that all the things the author lists are mundane tasks that have to be done over and over again, but provide no value to the world. These take time, and that time is spent not doing something you want to do. Everyone has different ways of dealing with this. The author is introspective enough to realize that they are a drain on her productivity; they take time, and she feels like she accomplished something valuable after completing them, even though there is no real value in their completion. This makes it difficult for her, mentally, to even start the tasks, because there are so many negatives involved. Laziness is orthogonal. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she does them anyway, but she just doesn't like to, and chose to write about that dislike. That's not a "mental disorder", it's storytelling.