5 ms·

Since when is a nice hobby a waste of time? What a rude thing to say.

Tichy 15y ago
Sorry, but why do I have to like other people's hobbies? If I think they are boring, then I won't pretend it ain't so. However, if he enjoys learning languages, it doesn't bother me in the least. So where is the problem? Also I admit it frustrates me if people study that kind of thing instead of productive things. Where I live people even go to university studying languages for years. Sorry, but things like engineering simply seem more productive to me, just my opinion. If all those people can find jobs as translators and are happy with it, whatever. I recently heard of a friend of a friend who is translator for the Spanish envoy and get's to dine with Angela Merkel (German chancellor) occasionally. Might be interesting, but I personally wouldn't dedicate my life to achieving it. That's just me.
- downx3 15y ago
  Well I only happen to think that only handful of my friends and colleagues do anything of any worth with their working lives. I wouldn't dare say that of course! I'd have no defense if they offered the same retort - and then I'd weep for a few hours thinking my life was of no consequence. For many employers the subject someone studies is moot, it's the skill sets built around the study that are important. Showing that you can apply yourself to something. Not that I want to poo poo your idealism.
  - Tichy 15y ago
    I do gripe about that aspect of modern live, that I feel most jobs are really worthless and bullshit. It includes my own work life and it depresses me greatly. But I try to work against it and actually do something meaningful. Is it really so bad to encourage my friends to do something meaningful in their lives, too? It's not as if the majority of people is ever so happy about their jobs. They are all depressed, but they think it is normal and so they put up with it. I don't feel guilty for pointing that out occasionally. Incidentally, isn't that part of what Hacker News is all about?

Tichy 15y ago

Sorry, but why do I have to like other people's hobbies? If I think they are boring, then I won't pretend it ain't so. However, if he enjoys learning languages, it doesn't bother me in the least. So where is the problem? Also I admit it frustrates me if people study that kind of thing instead of productive things. Where I live people even go to university studying languages for years. Sorry, but things like engineering simply seem more productive to me, just my opinion. If all those people can find jobs as translators and are happy with it, whatever. I recently heard of a friend of a friend who is translator for the Spanish envoy and get's to dine with Angela Merkel (German chancellor) occasionally. Might be interesting, but I personally wouldn't dedicate my life to achieving it. That's just me.

downx3 15y ago
Well I only happen to think that only handful of my friends and colleagues do anything of any worth with their working lives. I wouldn't dare say that of course! I'd have no defense if they offered the same retort - and then I'd weep for a few hours thinking my life was of no consequence. For many employers the subject someone studies is moot, it's the skill sets built around the study that are important. Showing that you can apply yourself to something. Not that I want to poo poo your idealism.
- Tichy 15y ago
  I do gripe about that aspect of modern live, that I feel most jobs are really worthless and bullshit. It includes my own work life and it depresses me greatly. But I try to work against it and actually do something meaningful. Is it really so bad to encourage my friends to do something meaningful in their lives, too? It's not as if the majority of people is ever so happy about their jobs. They are all depressed, but they think it is normal and so they put up with it. I don't feel guilty for pointing that out occasionally. Incidentally, isn't that part of what Hacker News is all about?