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> Anything you do or create will probably receive little to no attention, so stop optimizing for a non-existent audience [...] The most egregious thing you can
by Springtime 2y ago
> Anything you do or create will probably receive little to no attention, so stop optimizing for a non-existent audience [...] The most egregious thing you can do with any activity is daydream about how you can make money off of it [...] In the end, find something you enjoy doing and just do it because you enjoy it.
I don't understand the equivalence the author is ultimately making in suggesting that creating something with polish is expecting to make money (and fame) from it. Yet notice all the things in the blog post are creations that are exposed to the internet (photography blogging, releasing a program online, making a website), rather than private, non-published hobbies which literally have no audience.
Some prefer to make things polished/more complete as they want others to enjoy something more and polish makes it more accessible/usable/meaningful, or because it's a reflection on them (whether using an IRL identity or even a pseudonymous one) and part of their enjoyment of the process.
Since we all know the audience is whoever will come across it, once something is released in the wild. Might be an audience of one, or many. Which isn't to say people need to care about the output of hobby but I disagree that money/fame is the only motivation in improving something.
- egeozcan 2y agoI think if you like polishing things than do so. As far as I could understand, the point is not doing it with the expectation of any recognition.
- rndmio 2y agoI would suggest you don't understand the equivalence because it's not there. They aren't saying that creating something with polish is expecting to make money off it. They're saying when you start a new hobby or interest forget about trying to tailor your output to an audience that doesn't exist and focus on skill. Maybe you really want to produce something polished, but the reasoning for that should be for your own development and edification not because you want it to appeal to others. Prioritise what makes you happy and gives you enjoyment not what you think other people want.
- Springtime 2y agoI mean, consider there are a swathe of things I've made for self-development, that aren't released to others since they're incomplete, less usable for others not sharing the same brain, not great quality, etc. It would weigh on me from an empathetic standpoint to not improve upon them if being released to others, so they're not and that's fine. Much like an artist's practice sketches they're intended for one's own private goals only. The article isn't really framed like that though and downplays the internet as an inherent audience. Improving something even for just a random other person to enjoy/find utility in isn't inherently attention or money chasing, it's just bridging a gap.
- cess11 2y agoTucked away deep in the filesystem I have some programs that I rarely execute, that do a few things well and many others not so well, that I keep polishing. This code is secret, kept for the joy of just rubbing it every now and then and looking at it, having a little feel for how coding could be if it was disconnected from the toil and economics of everyday life. Disconnected from other people.
- jimbokun 2y agoThe danger with wanting to polish things before putting them out into the world, is often you never share anything because it's never "done". And you may be polishing something in the wrong direction, which you would know if you put the unpolished version out into the world to get feedback.
- rsanek 2y agoi don't think that's an argument the article is putting forth though. its whole point is that nobody is going to see / care about your stuff regardless of polish, so you wouldn't be getting any feedback either way.
- veunes 2y agoFor some it so hard to recognize that perfection is often an unattainable ideal
- apantel 2y agoIt’s a quality of artisans to make the things they make polished and complete. There’s an inherent satisfaction in doing that if it’s your thing. In other words, applying that polish is an end, not a means.
- twobitshifter 2y agoVery true, to take his advice further would be no audience at all. A blog post is a journal entry, a photograph goes into a binder/ folder. What is the benefit of the audience if it’s for personal growth?
- abustamam 2y agoPhotography / blogging don't need to be exposed to the internet. We can take photos offline (either with an analog/Polaroid type camera or with a digital one), and we can write offline (Journaling, or just using apple notes). That being said, I agree with you. There's nothing wrong with making something pretty for oneself. Many men and women do this with haircuts, makeup, etc. I still get my hair cut even though I don't do video at work. Just because something is surface-level doesn't automatically make it superficial or vain, or done for profit, though there is certainly some overlap.