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PG version: http://www.paulgraham.com/stuff.html http://www.paulgraham.com/stuff.html

netcan 18y ago
I've heard a few versions of this. The PG is good. "Stuff has gotten a lot cheaper, but our attitudes toward it haven't changed correspondingly. We overvalue stuff." In other words, Hoarding is a vestige. I think this one has a lot of truth: "1. The things you own have a cost of ownership." Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. And it's largely because of stuff. Ever rented a cabin or tourist flat. They're small & relatively empty, but most people find it really nice. I wonder if any of that is taking a break from your stuff.
- coglethorpe 18y ago
  "Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. And it's largely because of stuff." That was George Carlin's take on it as well: "That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it." I have a fairly large house, and it's a lot like computer memory, the amount of stuff expands to the capacity available.
- menloparkbum 18y ago
  Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. Retired people do it all the time.
  - hugh 18y ago
    That's a good reason to have children: someone to offload all your stuff onto.
  - netcan 18y ago
    At great difficulty. A lot of people can't manage it. My girlfriend's father & his wife had two house. They liked the smaller one but it couldn't contain their stuff. The sold it. (and built a couple of new sheds to contain it's stuff)
arockwell 18y ago
Since I read that essay, every week when my wife and I do our weekly chores I try to make a point of getting rid of some of our stuff. Even though neither of us are pack rats we've accumulated for too much stuff we'll never use. Honestly, I've found it really helpful in keeping the house clean and given me a little bit of peace of mind.

I've heard a few versions of this. The PG is good. "Stuff has gotten a lot cheaper, but our attitudes toward it haven't changed correspondingly. We overvalue stuff." In other words, Hoarding is a vestige. I think this one has a lot of truth: "1. The things you own have a cost of ownership." Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. And it's largely because of stuff. Ever rented a cabin or tourist flat. They're small & relatively empty, but most people find it really nice. I wonder if any of that is taking a break from your stuff.

coglethorpe 18y ago
"Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. And it's largely because of stuff." That was George Carlin's take on it as well: "That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it." I have a fairly large house, and it's a lot like computer memory, the amount of stuff expands to the capacity available.
menloparkbum 18y ago
Moving backwards in house size is nearly impossible. Retired people do it all the time.
- hugh 18y ago
  That's a good reason to have children: someone to offload all your stuff onto.
- netcan 18y ago
  At great difficulty. A lot of people can't manage it. My girlfriend's father & his wife had two house. They liked the smaller one but it couldn't contain their stuff. The sold it. (and built a couple of new sheds to contain it's stuff)

arockwell 18y ago

Since I read that essay, every week when my wife and I do our weekly chores I try to make a point of getting rid of some of our stuff. Even though neither of us are pack rats we've accumulated for too much stuff we'll never use. Honestly, I've found it really helpful in keeping the house clean and given me a little bit of peace of mind.