3 ms·

We are also living in the longest period of peace ever (at least that's what everybody says?), and our everyday consists of first-world-problems, which are far

by manmal 14y ago

We are also living in the longest period of peace ever (at least that's what everybody says?), and our everyday consists of first-world-problems, which are far more complex than the problems our ancestors had, and where success is nearly impossible to measure. You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). That was far more difficult to find 50 years ago - with our skillset (I assume the average HN reader), we would have been heroes in our local communities - teachers, engineers, perhaps inventors. There was so much low-hanging fruit for people with brains. We are not suppressed like our hippie parents, but suppressed by our own expectations, which I consider far worse. We no longer play against 10-100 people in our field of expertise (locally), but against millions of people (globally).

marvin 14y ago
A lecturer once told us "it's no longer sufficient to be the best in town at what you do...you have to be the best in the world". Maybe an exaggeration, but it's got some truth to it. We don't have the existential problems that our grandparents had, but the problems we do have are much more complex. Remarkably, it was my grandfather that pointed this out to me. He'd seen both world wars and was a really smart guy. But he'd never gotten any formal education, and was very far removed from the constant struggle to get ahead that most people today face.
zcvosdfdgj 14y ago
You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). I'm guessing you're pretty young. Here's a tip: If someone knows something you don't, it's not a reflection on you. It just means they spent time to learn something different than what you learned. Don't worry: there are things you know that they don't. The world is too big for you to know everything. Learn what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are, so you can see how others can help you. Believe me, when you and the guy who knows cryptography both appreciate what each brings to the table, you can create something great.

by manmal 14y ago

marvin 14y ago

A lecturer once told us "it's no longer sufficient to be the best in town at what you do...you have to be the best in the world". Maybe an exaggeration, but it's got some truth to it. We don't have the existential problems that our grandparents had, but the problems we do have are much more complex. Remarkably, it was my grandfather that pointed this out to me. He'd seen both world wars and was a really smart guy. But he'd never gotten any formal education, and was very far removed from the constant struggle to get ahead that most people today face.

zcvosdfdgj 14y ago

You want to feel unhappy or inferior? Just go to HN and find somebody who talks of stuff you don't understand (like cryptography). I'm guessing you're pretty young. Here's a tip: If someone knows something you don't, it's not a reflection on you. It just means they spent time to learn something different than what you learned. Don't worry: there are things you know that they don't. The world is too big for you to know everything. Learn what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are, so you can see how others can help you. Believe me, when you and the guy who knows cryptography both appreciate what each brings to the table, you can create something great.