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This brings me a lot of joy. I hope she gets the attention she deserves. I'm fascinated by people with deep and narrow interests.

by htk 2y ago

next_xibalba 2y ago
I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but here goes: what attention does she deserve? I always wonder this with collectors. They simply gather things that were created through the ingenuity and know-how of others. This doesn't strike me as any more remarkable than the Funko Pop collector. Of course, I am NOT saying her hobby should be derided. More power to her. But it certainly doesn't strike me as something praiseworthy.
- davidmurdoch 2y ago
  Neither are the drawings my young children make. But I'm going to praise them for it anyway, and I'm going to sincerely mean it when I tell them I love it. I think it's a good exercise in humanity to find joy in the joy of others, and validating their joy is even better, even if it's not fruitful or even useful.
- pavel_lishin 2y ago
  What does anyone deserve? I'd stop and talk to her, because I'd find it interesting.
- mcbishop 2y ago
  If you're new to building things that involve washers, and she's happy to teach the nuances of different washer types... that's helpful and awesome!
- defrost 2y ago
  It's entirely possible she has mechanical engineering qualifications or aviation engineering certification, can machine washers and understands how and why all the variations are used much as, say, this person appears to: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40629075 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40629075 People that deeply understand particular subjects are valuable when those subjects are key to things that make the world work, they both keep things going for now and educate others to do the same in the future.
  - 082349872349872 2y ago
    They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose. They do not teach that His Pity allows them to leave their job when they damn-well choose. As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand, Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren’s days may be long in the land.
- htk 2y ago
  No hate from me, that's a fair question. Looks like she made herself available to talk about her hobby/passion, and organized it in a way that suggests effort and care. I hope she gets at least the attention I would give her if I had the chance.
- reaperducer 2y ago
  I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this Then why did you post it? To draw attention to yourself? To feel falsely superior to a complete stranger?
  - next_xibalba 2y ago
    Bc the question was genuine. I really don't understand why collectors are lauded in some circles.
- Hnrobert42 2y ago
  I think you are confusing attention and praise. Most folks here seem to be saying this is attention worthy not praiseworthy.
- strken 2y ago
  I don't think she "deserves attention", and in fact that's a very strange way to look at what she's doing, but odds are she's sharing her washer collection with other people because she enjoys collecting and talking about them. Saying it's about attention is both an insult and a logical stretch.
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    That was in the parent post, but I tend to agree with you. It seems to imply an attention economy where that is the objective an cultural currency in a way I find off-putting.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- seemack 2y ago
  No hate but saying that collectors simply gather things that others made is rather dismissive. It may certainly be true in some cases but it's also very possible that true, potentially even ingenious, effort was required on the part of the collector to build, maintain, and be knowledgeable about the collection.
- xarope 2y ago
  Because there are people who are willing to spend an inordinate amount of time delving deeply into a hobby, and these people are also the personalities who will chime up in HN one day to point out your hobby code has (1) a potential optimization, or (2) a major bug, or (3) is really cool and they would like to use it one day in one of said hobbies. If there's anything I've learnt, appreciate the wisdom of these collectors, whether to appreciate the simple design of a flower, or the esoteric nature of a highly complicated mechanical computer.
- me_me_me 2y ago
  > what attention does she deserve? All attention that was given, I guess. Its not like she is making anyone do anything. People who like it talk about it. That's all
- D13Fd 2y ago
  In context I think “attention” just means the poster hopes some people stop by her table to talk. I agree with that. I think this kind of activity is better for society as a whole than, for example, playing video games or watching TV. It’s natural these days to think well of people who care about things other than media.

This brings me a lot of joy. I hope she gets the attention she deserves. I'm fascinated by people with deep and narrow interests.

by htk 2y ago

This brings me a lot of joy. I hope she gets the attention she deserves. I'm fascinated by people with deep and narrow interests.

next_xibalba 2y ago

I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but here goes: what attention does she deserve? I always wonder this with collectors. They simply gather things that were created through the ingenuity and know-how of others. This doesn't strike me as any more remarkable than the Funko Pop collector. Of course, I am NOT saying her hobby should be derided. More power to her. But it certainly doesn't strike me as something praiseworthy.

davidmurdoch 2y ago
Neither are the drawings my young children make. But I'm going to praise them for it anyway, and I'm going to sincerely mean it when I tell them I love it. I think it's a good exercise in humanity to find joy in the joy of others, and validating their joy is even better, even if it's not fruitful or even useful.
pavel_lishin 2y ago
What does anyone deserve? I'd stop and talk to her, because I'd find it interesting.
mcbishop 2y ago
If you're new to building things that involve washers, and she's happy to teach the nuances of different washer types... that's helpful and awesome!
defrost 2y ago
It's entirely possible she has mechanical engineering qualifications or aviation engineering certification, can machine washers and understands how and why all the variations are used much as, say, this person appears to: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40629075 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40629075 People that deeply understand particular subjects are valuable when those subjects are key to things that make the world work, they both keep things going for now and educate others to do the same in the future.
- 082349872349872 2y ago
  They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose. They do not teach that His Pity allows them to leave their job when they damn-well choose. As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand, Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren’s days may be long in the land.
htk 2y ago
No hate from me, that's a fair question. Looks like she made herself available to talk about her hobby/passion, and organized it in a way that suggests effort and care. I hope she gets at least the attention I would give her if I had the chance.
reaperducer 2y ago
I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this Then why did you post it? To draw attention to yourself? To feel falsely superior to a complete stranger?
- next_xibalba 2y ago
  Bc the question was genuine. I really don't understand why collectors are lauded in some circles.
Hnrobert42 2y ago
I think you are confusing attention and praise. Most folks here seem to be saying this is attention worthy not praiseworthy.
strken 2y ago
I don't think she "deserves attention", and in fact that's a very strange way to look at what she's doing, but odds are she's sharing her washer collection with other people because she enjoys collecting and talking about them. Saying it's about attention is both an insult and a logical stretch.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  That was in the parent post, but I tend to agree with you. It seems to imply an attention economy where that is the objective an cultural currency in a way I find off-putting.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
seemack 2y ago
No hate but saying that collectors simply gather things that others made is rather dismissive. It may certainly be true in some cases but it's also very possible that true, potentially even ingenious, effort was required on the part of the collector to build, maintain, and be knowledgeable about the collection.
xarope 2y ago
Because there are people who are willing to spend an inordinate amount of time delving deeply into a hobby, and these people are also the personalities who will chime up in HN one day to point out your hobby code has (1) a potential optimization, or (2) a major bug, or (3) is really cool and they would like to use it one day in one of said hobbies. If there's anything I've learnt, appreciate the wisdom of these collectors, whether to appreciate the simple design of a flower, or the esoteric nature of a highly complicated mechanical computer.
me_me_me 2y ago
> what attention does she deserve? All attention that was given, I guess. Its not like she is making anyone do anything. People who like it talk about it. That's all
D13Fd 2y ago
In context I think “attention” just means the poster hopes some people stop by her table to talk. I agree with that. I think this kind of activity is better for society as a whole than, for example, playing video games or watching TV. It’s natural these days to think well of people who care about things other than media.