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What about things that you've never tried, and that you might not even know that you like? You've already climbed the difficulty curve of programming in X, so y

What about things that you've never tried, and that you might not even know that you like? You've already climbed the difficulty curve of programming in X, so you don't want to put so much effort in getting to the same level with Y. You're putting in a lot of effort to reach the same spot. The author (as an economist, I suspect) equates new experience with consumption, but there is a huge range of new experience available if you do away with the frustration of trying to find something better than you currently do. Say, experimenting a range of sports (rock climbing, hiking, weight lifting, skateboarding) as act of knowledge rather than attaching to the results it gives. It seems rational that there is more benefit in new experience, good or bad than repeating pleasant experience. Going to a new travel destination will give you more memories and anecdotes than going to your favorite vacation spot. And yet we're all a little bit coward and tend to stay in our comfort zone.

deleted 9y ago
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wccrawford 9y ago
That's a good question. I find them especially taxing because I tend to be a thorough person, so I tend to look for tutorials and watch them first. If it's something that doesn't really lend itself to a technical explanation (art!) then it really just mystifies me and I have trouble even starting. For example, my wife and her sister went to one of those wine-and-painting things and produced what I think are actually pretty good paintings with no real practice beforehand. It horrifies me because I know I'll want it to be better than it is. (And my wife felt that way about hers, despite how I felt about hers.) So I haven't done it. I did, however, buy a book and art supplies and do 3 of the 50 projects before wandering off to something else. I really do intend to go back to it, but haven't.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

wccrawford 9y ago

That's a good question. I find them especially taxing because I tend to be a thorough person, so I tend to look for tutorials and watch them first. If it's something that doesn't really lend itself to a technical explanation (art!) then it really just mystifies me and I have trouble even starting. For example, my wife and her sister went to one of those wine-and-painting things and produced what I think are actually pretty good paintings with no real practice beforehand. It horrifies me because I know I'll want it to be better than it is. (And my wife felt that way about hers, despite how I felt about hers.) So I haven't done it. I did, however, buy a book and art supplies and do 3 of the 50 projects before wandering off to something else. I really do intend to go back to it, but haven't.