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So, to respond seriously, I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces. I assume that's a large part of it, other people j

So, to respond seriously, I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces. I assume that's a large part of it, other people just have mediums that are more like "weird programming language tricks" or "cool math". But if someone doesn't like my piece it has very little impact on what I do next, much less my feelings at the time. Some people like stuff, some people don't. But the showing part is necessary for it to be art. You might well be right that it has to do with getting the approval of strangers (certainly a phenomena for low energy barrier stuff like posting to twitter), but I think I'd give people who put in enough time to figure out how to solve a weird new problem the benefit of the doubt that they want to share it because they find it cool and you share things you think are cool. But maybe that part of culture has changed, I've only got a little grey in my beard but I don't remember a time when my friends didn't want to show me something they found cool. Maybe the change is just that people see internet strangers as "friends they don't know yet"? I dunno, I gave up on social media because I don't think this is true on those platforms anymore. So I'd say that, hopefully, whether a stranger approves at the end of your project is besides the point, and the sharing is because you think people who share interests with you will be interested (or possible collaborators, mentors, or mentees!) and you're proud of the quality of your work. It's also useful as an online portfolio if you ever need to find a job to be able to point people at that has lots of posts of professional quality about projects you've done.

0xff00ffee 7y ago
> I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces ... > I think I'd give people who put in enough time to figure out how to solve a weird new problem the benefit of the doubt that they want to share it because they find it cool and you share things you think are cool. Ah. That's a helpful way to frame it. Now that you put it that way, I think can understand it, it just seems distant. I can see that I'm not wired that way. Example: I played music in various bands for about 20 years, and for me it was about that shared experience of flow, locking in with the drummer and the guitar player and feeling like the song was in control, not us. But for other members of the band(s) it was about being on stage and hearing an audience cheer that drew them in. Same experience, totally different perception. Of course, it appears at this instant that I am sharing with you (a stranger) my thoughts (because I think they are cool). So perhaps I simply literally do understand what you are saying by evidence that I'm doing it. /head explodes/ Provocative response, neltnerb.
- neltnerb 7y ago
  I definitely think people are wired both ways, to an extent. Sometimes people are just sort of... craftspeople who mostly keep to themselves. But I agree that's been mostly older people so far, though I don't know... Samuel Clemens certainly liked the spotlight. So maybe it's just a personal trait that has perhaps gotten more visible lately due to the ease of communicating. People always wanted their five minutes right? But maybe it's more common, I can see people posting low-effort communications simply to get the approval of their in-group. Maybe even high-effort material, though at some point I'd hope the high-effort stuff gets out to the rest of us.
JohnFen 7y ago
> I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces. Yes, art is a special case because art really requires an audience. Perhaps the fact that I'm an engineer affects my attitude on this -- engineering is only half art. > I'd give people who put in enough time to figure out how to solve a weird new problem the benefit of the doubt that they want to share it because they find it cool and you share things you think are cool Yes, I do this. I wasn't thinking of this aspect, though -- sharing something you discovered is awesome because you're really sharing the thrill of discovery rather than sharing to impress people. Perhaps that a distinction without much difference, though. > It's also useful as an online portfolio if you ever need to find a job to be able to point people at that has lots of posts of professional quality about projects you've done. Yeah, I consider that something entirely different -- that's not really sharing as much as it's using your work for sales purposes.
- 0xff00ffee 7y ago
  > engineering is only half art. Unless it's analog design, then it's 80% black magic. :)

0xff00ffee 7y ago

> I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces ... > I think I'd give people who put in enough time to figure out how to solve a weird new problem the benefit of the doubt that they want to share it because they find it cool and you share things you think are cool. Ah. That's a helpful way to frame it. Now that you put it that way, I think can understand it, it just seems distant. I can see that I'm not wired that way. Example: I played music in various bands for about 20 years, and for me it was about that shared experience of flow, locking in with the drummer and the guitar player and feeling like the song was in control, not us. But for other members of the band(s) it was about being on stage and hearing an audience cheer that drew them in. Same experience, totally different perception. Of course, it appears at this instant that I am sharing with you (a stranger) my thoughts (because I think they are cool). So perhaps I simply literally do understand what you are saying by evidence that I'm doing it. /head explodes/ Provocative response, neltnerb.

neltnerb 7y ago
I definitely think people are wired both ways, to an extent. Sometimes people are just sort of... craftspeople who mostly keep to themselves. But I agree that's been mostly older people so far, though I don't know... Samuel Clemens certainly liked the spotlight. So maybe it's just a personal trait that has perhaps gotten more visible lately due to the ease of communicating. People always wanted their five minutes right? But maybe it's more common, I can see people posting low-effort communications simply to get the approval of their in-group. Maybe even high-effort material, though at some point I'd hope the high-effort stuff gets out to the rest of us.

JohnFen 7y ago

> I'm somewhat of an artist and I derive a lot of joy from others enjoying my pieces. Yes, art is a special case because art really requires an audience. Perhaps the fact that I'm an engineer affects my attitude on this -- engineering is only half art. > I'd give people who put in enough time to figure out how to solve a weird new problem the benefit of the doubt that they want to share it because they find it cool and you share things you think are cool Yes, I do this. I wasn't thinking of this aspect, though -- sharing something you discovered is awesome because you're really sharing the thrill of discovery rather than sharing to impress people. Perhaps that a distinction without much difference, though. > It's also useful as an online portfolio if you ever need to find a job to be able to point people at that has lots of posts of professional quality about projects you've done. Yeah, I consider that something entirely different -- that's not really sharing as much as it's using your work for sales purposes.

0xff00ffee 7y ago
> engineering is only half art. Unless it's analog design, then it's 80% black magic. :)