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One of the best things I learned from an older software engineer ever, way back, was when we were discussing about whether it was worth investing effort into bu
by syngrog66 3y ago
One of the best things I learned from an older software engineer ever, way back, was when we were discussing about whether it was worth investing effort into building some new tool or not.
"Is this actionable?" he said. Meaning, we shouldnt bother investing the effort to decisively learn some thing X if once knowing its value its... not really actionable.
That it doesnt empower us to do something differently than we would have done otherwise, in the absence of knowing X.
It was my first thought when I saw a story on HN about scientists figuring out (and only approximately, mind you) when the first kiss happened.
Who cares? What would we do differently today if we were confident the 1st kiss was exactly 8000 years ago or 5000 years ago or 120,523.74 years ago?
Nothing. Nothing would be different. So perhaps we should spend our time and focus on higher priorities (like say democracy dangers, climate, curing cancer etc.)
- dusted 3y agoThis is a good example of the kind of thinking which may increase some specific, short-term result, such as your output of "production code", but which inhibit attaining broader knowledge and reflection. I find it interesting that this was your thought, I suspect, as you had a break from your cancer curing research to check HN for new and relevant information. I'll let you get right back to your saving the world. But I suspect you won't get very far. Just as important as small-but-sure incremental steps towards the local maximum, is giant leaps to new realms of possibility. Guess which type of increment are more influenced by seemingly unrelated, superfluous and irrelevant knowledge.
- PhilipRoman 3y agoHah, I must be the polar opposite of this. I love learning and creating things as long as they don't serve a practical purpose.