5 ms·
When I was younger someone tried to sell me the idea that your desk reflects your head. This bothered me briefly until I realized that if this was the case I'd
by eitland 7y ago
When I was younger someone tried to sell me the idea that your desk reflects your head.
This bothered me briefly until I realized that if this was the case I'd rather have a messy desk than an empty desk ;-)
- nwah1 7y agoMinimalism sometimes is an economic class identifier. Maintaining a tidy and minimal living environment is much easier if you can outsource all housework, and upgrade to the absolute latest technology, and if you don't feel much need to hoard anything because you can afford to buy or rent exactly what you want precisely when you want it.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- ar_lan 7y agoIt's also sometimes not, though. In college I was a minimalist mostly out of necessity - it's not hard to keep tidy if you can only afford a $600/mo. bedroom and only own a laptop, bed, a desk, and some clothes.
- nwah1 7y agoI agree that it is not always an economic class thing. Of course, the stereotype is that college dorm rooms are notoriously messy. So it is sometimes just an extension of one's personality, habits, and aesthetics. Other caveats include children and pets. With some kids and some pets, it doesn't matter how much money you have and how tidy you are by habit.
- nwah1 7y agoThink about the basis of clutter. If you are working class you might have a decent size toolshed or a garage full of tools. When something breaks, you fix it. If you are rich, you may decide to rely on auto mechanics, carpenters, gardeners, and often if something breaks you just get a new one... even a car. If you are working class you may have a sewing table full of half-finished repair jobs. If you are rich, you either buy new clothes whenever you want, or you offload that work onto a tailor. If you are working class your dirty clothes may pile up, and you need an ironing board and maybe a clothesline. If you are rich, you use the dry cleaners. If you are poor your dishes pile up because you cook meals frequently, and you may not even own a dishwasher. If you are rich, you may eat out frequently and certainly can afford a dishwasher.
- coldtea 7y agoOr that's what some people use it for, and what others tell themselves must be the case as an excuse. There are poor (but content) people who are very minimalist. They don't need to hoard not because they "can afford to buy or rent exactly what you want precisely when you want it", but because they don't want much, period.
- leggomylibro 7y agoSomeone I respect a lot once phrased a sentiment like that in this way: "some people say that a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, but if that's the case then an empty desk must mean an empty mind." There's probably a happy middle ground somewhere in between.
- Disruptive_Dave 7y agoTake the Zen interpretation of that and empty mind is what one should strive for.
- powvans 7y agoI worked with a guy who had the messiest desk. Complete disaster of books, cables, disk drives, tons of random geek toys, and whatever other detritus landed on it. But he knew where each and every thing was. If you touched anything he would notice and get very unhappy. Our boss was a neat and tidy sort who kept his desk completely spotless. Nothing on it but a laptop. One day he came up and said "You know they say that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind." Ben didn't miss a beat and asked "Well Rob, if that's true, what is an empty desk a sign of?"
- kmano8 7y agoI wonder if Ben's gotten that feedback frequently, and just canned the retort over time.
- johnchristopher 7y agoI strongly believe we are in a bar where people tell story like they were part of it.
- adharmad 7y agoProf Alan Guth's office: http://archive.boston.com/realestate/galleries/springsweep/before/1.htm http://archive.boston.com/realestate/galleries/springsweep/b...