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In other words, we only feel it worth if we produce something truly outstanding By this metric, most of humanity probably feels it worthless, isn't it? I unde

In other words, we only feel it worth if we produce something truly outstanding By this metric, most of humanity probably feels it worthless, isn't it? I understand this is HN and people here achieve more than the normal crowd - still, I don't get the obsession over being productive every second, the need to "produce something truly outstanding" etc. Whats wrong with just being happy, taking it easy, spreading happiness around us and just living a simple life? Instead of optimizing every waking second and moving the goal post until the day we die?

rbanffy 8y ago
:-) > By this metric, most of humanity probably feels it worthless, isn't it? Everyone can produce something outstanding. We often confuse that with the recognition that comes from that something becoming noticed by others. Do something you love, for the love of doing it. Of course, keep the family happy, fed, and housed, but never forget we are more than work and money and that our worth is not derived from how others see us. We HN'ers like to do a lot and we often get recognition from that, but really makes us who we are is what we love doing. The rest are side-effects not goals.
- pojzon 8y ago
  Majority of ppl dont really know what they want from life and need someone to tell them that. The reason why so many are depressed and unhappy no matter what they do.
  - mac01021 8y ago
    Sadly, you can't tell them by telling them. You have to be subliminal.
    - rbanffy 8y ago
      You may even figure out what they want, but they still will need to find it out by themselves.
deleted 8y ago
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abledon 8y ago
i think when people focus on optimizing code they slip into a frame of mind where they try to 'optimize' their lives like they are a machine. the road to hell is paved with good intentions
- tomc1985 8y ago
  > the road to hell is paved with good intentions This, right here, is the summary of all technology now. Millions of people with millions of (mostly bad) ideas, flooding the world with unprecedented ease and access. Yay convenience...
derangedHorse 8y ago
Not really. For some people having a child counts as producing "something truly outstanding." What I believe the quoted commentor was trying to get at was that some people have goals for happiness that are harder to achieve, but also can't be replaced for something else.
- collyw 8y ago
  >For some people having a child counts as producing "something truly outstanding." Despite the fact that everyone's parents managed to do it. Each to their own though.
ratsimihah 8y ago
By "some of us " I did refer to a subset of HN, and not most of humanity.
fizwhiz 8y ago
> I understand this is HN and people here achieve more than the normal crowd Citation needed?

rbanffy 8y ago

:-) > By this metric, most of humanity probably feels it worthless, isn't it? Everyone can produce something outstanding. We often confuse that with the recognition that comes from that something becoming noticed by others. Do something you love, for the love of doing it. Of course, keep the family happy, fed, and housed, but never forget we are more than work and money and that our worth is not derived from how others see us. We HN'ers like to do a lot and we often get recognition from that, but really makes us who we are is what we love doing. The rest are side-effects not goals.

pojzon 8y ago
Majority of ppl dont really know what they want from life and need someone to tell them that. The reason why so many are depressed and unhappy no matter what they do.
- mac01021 8y ago
  Sadly, you can't tell them by telling them. You have to be subliminal.
  - rbanffy 8y ago
    You may even figure out what they want, but they still will need to find it out by themselves.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

abledon 8y ago

i think when people focus on optimizing code they slip into a frame of mind where they try to 'optimize' their lives like they are a machine. the road to hell is paved with good intentions

tomc1985 8y ago
> the road to hell is paved with good intentions This, right here, is the summary of all technology now. Millions of people with millions of (mostly bad) ideas, flooding the world with unprecedented ease and access. Yay convenience...

derangedHorse 8y ago

Not really. For some people having a child counts as producing "something truly outstanding." What I believe the quoted commentor was trying to get at was that some people have goals for happiness that are harder to achieve, but also can't be replaced for something else.

collyw 8y ago
>For some people having a child counts as producing "something truly outstanding." Despite the fact that everyone's parents managed to do it. Each to their own though.

ratsimihah 8y ago

By "some of us " I did refer to a subset of HN, and not most of humanity.

fizwhiz 8y ago

> I understand this is HN and people here achieve more than the normal crowd Citation needed?