3 ms·

I really like a lot of Tim Ferris' ideas, but a common theme through that general "lifestyle optimization" genre is single people without a family to support.

I really like a lot of Tim Ferris' ideas, but a common theme through that general "lifestyle optimization" genre is single people without a family to support. But I guess maybe there is still value to the idea that often the "show stoppers" that keep you from breaking out of your familiar ruts are really just fears that you haven't actually examined yet.

gengelbro 6y ago
This is also what came to my mind when reading this article. Not everyone is capable of pivoting their life because of dependents and other inflexible obligations. I've dubbed articles and advice like this as "manic pixey tech guy" syndrome.
- war1025 6y ago
  Care to elaborate on the "manic pixey" part? I've never heard that phrase before.
  - hardwaregeek 6y ago
    It's a play on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl
dougmwne 6y ago
Yes, sure. Though don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Most of this lifestyle inspiration genre is about doing things only single and debt-free people can do. I don't think that means the advice is irrelevant for people with responsibilities. I think you could take the same content and re-work it for a different audience and it would remain just as valid. For example, many people with kids in cities really struggle with schools, affordable housing and childcare. Cultivating more financial and location independence can help solve all those issues by moving away from expensive areas where there's extreme competition for good schools and where you have no extended family support. And many people with families have their children on a very narrow program preparing them for a certain type of urban success. But I have a young nephew who lives in the countryside being raised by two former high-powered professionals turned farmers. There are other options and ways of life out there but it takes some "inverted thinking" to find them.

gengelbro 6y ago

This is also what came to my mind when reading this article. Not everyone is capable of pivoting their life because of dependents and other inflexible obligations. I've dubbed articles and advice like this as "manic pixey tech guy" syndrome.

war1025 6y ago
Care to elaborate on the "manic pixey" part? I've never heard that phrase before.
- hardwaregeek 6y ago
  It's a play on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl

dougmwne 6y ago

Yes, sure. Though don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Most of this lifestyle inspiration genre is about doing things only single and debt-free people can do. I don't think that means the advice is irrelevant for people with responsibilities. I think you could take the same content and re-work it for a different audience and it would remain just as valid. For example, many people with kids in cities really struggle with schools, affordable housing and childcare. Cultivating more financial and location independence can help solve all those issues by moving away from expensive areas where there's extreme competition for good schools and where you have no extended family support. And many people with families have their children on a very narrow program preparing them for a certain type of urban success. But I have a young nephew who lives in the countryside being raised by two former high-powered professionals turned farmers. There are other options and ways of life out there but it takes some "inverted thinking" to find them.