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Maybe this article shouldn't have been on HN, for multiple reasons. But it's also pretty terrible that anyone expressing the slightest bit of self-doubt or unh
by slurgfest 14y ago
Maybe this article shouldn't have been on HN, for multiple reasons.
But it's also pretty terrible that anyone expressing the slightest bit of self-doubt or unhappiness is publicly torn to ribbons, or at best mightily condescended to. So normatively, people must talk nothing but fake, egoistic nonsense like "crushing it" no matter where their head is really at. And severe cases of Dunning-Kruger take over the world just by acting dominant and lying about themselves, while people with knowledge and potential are left to rot just because they are shit at marketing. (Marketing is important, but it is not the only important thing)
You are right, getting what you want requires work. But please recognize that reality is not fair and is often unpredictable. So people who don't have what they want aren't just inferior people who didn't work. They are someplace you could have been with nothing but different rolls of the dice.
Even though it is whining, it is not at all unusual or impossible to understand. A little bit of compassion wouldn't kill us.
- _pius 14y agoI agree with most of what you said, but I think it's worth pointing out that there are ways to muse about one's human failings, disappointments, and struggles without striking people as obnoxious or whiny. Dave McClure's "late bloomer, not a loser (I hope)" is a great recent example. http://500hats.com/late-bloomer/ http://500hats.com/late-bloomer/
- nostrademons 14y agoIt's also not the end of the world if you strike people as obnoxious or whiny. Come on, it's the Internet, it's not like you'll ever meet most of the folks there. They can think whatever they want of you.
- _pius 14y agoThat's also true.
- pepve 14y agoBut it's also pretty terrible that anyone expressing the slightest bit of self-doubt or unhappiness is publicly torn to ribbons Add to that pathologically stupid stupid advice it evokes, and you would have to be pretty desperate for attention to post your private problems on the internet.
- nostrademons 14y agoI've posted a lot of my personal problems on the Internet - although usually in semi-private venues where I have some sort of relationship or common community with the people reading my entries - and the most common response I get is "Hey, me too." Haters gonna hate, but I usually just ignore them and choose to engage with the people who choose to engage with me.