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> Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite dir

by j_baker 16y ago

> Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. -Einstein If there's one thing working in software development has taught me, it's that simple != easy. Simple ideas are usually the best because you can build so many other ideas on top of them.

Mz 16y ago
Words fail me in trying to explain how painfully difficult it is to try to explain "simple" concepts to folks who think some specific problem is hard and, therefore, has to be really complex/involve huge hurdles/etc. Not that it's really as simple as it seems to me, because that elegant solution ...well, never mind. (Prepares to regret even bothering to try to comment on it.) Anyway, thanks for noting this.
- shkb 16y ago
  You shouldn't regret demonstrating your point. For some reason it is difficult to communicate 'simple' concepts. Only guess I can manage is the simple solution makes sense either after truly understanding the entire problem, or if it's the first thing you're told after the problem.
  - Mz 16y ago
    Well, in this case, I am specifically thinking of the example of getting myself well when doctors told me it could not be done. I think doctors (and the rest of the world) focus on the really complicated and convoluted tertiary (and whatever "fourth" would be called) effects of not addressing the real problem for years and years and years. I found that addressing the real problem at it's root is, conceptually, not terribly complicated. But then trying to understand/explain/execute...yadda yadda....gets pretty complicated at times. But it's really a very simple idea: I have a genetic disorder. We know what malfunctions in my body at the cellular level. Address THAT appropriately and aggressively, and a lot of the really complicated secondary, tertiary (etc) problems just magically disappear. This idea goes over so well that I get called a liar, charlatan and snakesoil salesman to my face. And moderators side with the folks who attack me. Welp, time to work on a webcomic or some such and let folks who think the problem is just too freakin hard to resolve keep raising big bucks for the CF foundation. It seems to be okay to monetize an entertainment site. :-D Later.
- stretchwithme 16y ago
  That makes me think of the rolling suitcase problem, where all that was needed was placing the wheels so the bag wouldn't tip over while rolling. That took decades for something to click in someone's head.
  - Mz 16y ago
    Your comment reminds me of a scene from the old show "Three's Company": Jack (the male roommate) asks why the ditzy blonde's smaller suitcase is heavier. The answer: "Because it's smaller". This, of course, explains nothing. Then the two women open up their suitcases and explain that the larger suitcase doesn't wrinkle up the clothing, so no iron is needed, but the smaller suitcase does wrinkle the clothing so the gal with the smaller suitcase also carries an iron. The iron is what makes the smaller suitcase heavier -- and wouldn't be needed if it weren't so small. Uh, maybe the only connection is the word "suitcase" but it's a great little idea that I have always loved.

by j_baker 16y ago

Mz 16y ago

Words fail me in trying to explain how painfully difficult it is to try to explain "simple" concepts to folks who think some specific problem is hard and, therefore, has to be really complex/involve huge hurdles/etc. Not that it's really as simple as it seems to me, because that elegant solution ...well, never mind. (Prepares to regret even bothering to try to comment on it.) Anyway, thanks for noting this.

shkb 16y ago
You shouldn't regret demonstrating your point. For some reason it is difficult to communicate 'simple' concepts. Only guess I can manage is the simple solution makes sense either after truly understanding the entire problem, or if it's the first thing you're told after the problem.
- Mz 16y ago
  Well, in this case, I am specifically thinking of the example of getting myself well when doctors told me it could not be done. I think doctors (and the rest of the world) focus on the really complicated and convoluted tertiary (and whatever "fourth" would be called) effects of not addressing the real problem for years and years and years. I found that addressing the real problem at it's root is, conceptually, not terribly complicated. But then trying to understand/explain/execute...yadda yadda....gets pretty complicated at times. But it's really a very simple idea: I have a genetic disorder. We know what malfunctions in my body at the cellular level. Address THAT appropriately and aggressively, and a lot of the really complicated secondary, tertiary (etc) problems just magically disappear. This idea goes over so well that I get called a liar, charlatan and snakesoil salesman to my face. And moderators side with the folks who attack me. Welp, time to work on a webcomic or some such and let folks who think the problem is just too freakin hard to resolve keep raising big bucks for the CF foundation. It seems to be okay to monetize an entertainment site. :-D Later.
stretchwithme 16y ago
That makes me think of the rolling suitcase problem, where all that was needed was placing the wheels so the bag wouldn't tip over while rolling. That took decades for something to click in someone's head.
- Mz 16y ago
  Your comment reminds me of a scene from the old show "Three's Company": Jack (the male roommate) asks why the ditzy blonde's smaller suitcase is heavier. The answer: "Because it's smaller". This, of course, explains nothing. Then the two women open up their suitcases and explain that the larger suitcase doesn't wrinkle up the clothing, so no iron is needed, but the smaller suitcase does wrinkle the clothing so the gal with the smaller suitcase also carries an iron. The iron is what makes the smaller suitcase heavier -- and wouldn't be needed if it weren't so small. Uh, maybe the only connection is the word "suitcase" but it's a great little idea that I have always loved.