5 ms·

Don't try to meet people like you. Instead, become interested in lots of different types of people, how they live, who they are, etc. And don't just become in

by numair 18y ago

Don't try to meet people like you. Instead, become interested in lots of different types of people, how they live, who they are, etc. And don't just become interested, but actually make an attempt to blend into their cultures, social groups, etc. This is what is known as "social hacking." Successfully doing this will allow you to incorporate lots of different points of view in your work and life, which will give you a richer experience. Sticking to people who are all "good" at one thing inevitably leads to dysfunctionality and irrelevance. Oh, and don't try to look for smart people. Half of those people we label as "smart" are actually complete idiots. Just because society currently describes people who can type mathematically-intensive instructions to a machine as "smart" does not mean that they are any more intelligent than the person who has dedicated their time to understanding social nuance and child-rearing, or whatever. A lot of "dumb", "average" people are a lot smarter than you at many things; cooking, talking to girls, changing a flat tire, whatever... Learn to enjoy this. And finally, whatever you do, do NOT attempt to surround yourself with people who consider themselves "interesting." That's the absolute WORST. There's nothing worse than a group of people who sit around and congratulate themselves for being so cool and important - which is exactly why so many people in positions of power, feeling that they have "arrived" and can thus finally mingle with people worthy of their mystical talents, are so utterly impotent at accomplishing anything of significance. But hey, if you really want to smoke pot with Bono on his yacht and pretend you're saving the world, go for it. (That's not a joke, by the way. He really does that.)

midnightmonster 18y ago
> Don't try to meet people like you. Instead, become interested in lots of different types of people http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/28/mf.mrrogers.neighbor/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/28/mf.mrrogers.n... Mr. Rogers inspires me. Seriously. Check out #6.
- jmatt 18y ago
  Excellent point. Most interesting people are inherently curious about everything.
rtra 18y ago
It would be interesting to have a source for that allegation about Bono. My 5 minutes googling it were ineffective. PS: It's not that I don't believe it, is that using it would bring me great joy.
- unalone 18y ago
  That's sort of a meme out about Bono that says he's untalented, he's a prick, he thinks he's Jesus, and he's drug-addled. I think that's where OP comes from? I could be mistaken.
jimbokun 18y ago
"And finally, whatever you do, do NOT attempt to surround yourself with people who consider themselves "interesting." That's the absolute WORST." Sounds like the "Stuff White People Like" kind of white people.
chris11 18y ago
Cal Newport and Ben Casnocha recently did a video blog together that touched on how to become an interesting person. http://www.thinkdifferenttv.com/2009/01/test-embed-cal-ben.html http://www.thinkdifferenttv.com/2009/01/test-embed-cal-ben.h... Cal's idea is that we attribute a person as interesting/impressive when we can't figure out how they did some activity, so we just naturally assume that those results are from some kind of magical innate ability that the person has. For example, right now, I don't feel like I really know a lot about what separates a failed startup from a successful startup. So when I hear about a successful entrepreneur, I usually assume they must be an interesting or impressive person, which may or may not be true. Cal Newport also wrote a pretty decent blog about finding interesting/impressive/innovative activities. http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/10/01/a-simple-method-for-developing-an-innovative-activity/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/10/01/a-simple-method-for-de.... Both links have more to do with college admission/life and entrepeneurship than personal relationships, but I think the idea can be applied to becoming an interesting person.
asdflkj 18y ago
There is no need to redefine the word "smart" in order to make your point. We already have a word for that: "good". Good at talking to girls, changing tires, etc.

by numair 18y ago

midnightmonster 18y ago

> Don't try to meet people like you. Instead, become interested in lots of different types of people http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/28/mf.mrrogers.neighbor/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/28/mf.mrrogers.n... Mr. Rogers inspires me. Seriously. Check out #6.

jmatt 18y ago
Excellent point. Most interesting people are inherently curious about everything.

rtra 18y ago

It would be interesting to have a source for that allegation about Bono. My 5 minutes googling it were ineffective. PS: It's not that I don't believe it, is that using it would bring me great joy.

unalone 18y ago
That's sort of a meme out about Bono that says he's untalented, he's a prick, he thinks he's Jesus, and he's drug-addled. I think that's where OP comes from? I could be mistaken.

jimbokun 18y ago

"And finally, whatever you do, do NOT attempt to surround yourself with people who consider themselves "interesting." That's the absolute WORST." Sounds like the "Stuff White People Like" kind of white people.

chris11 18y ago

Cal Newport and Ben Casnocha recently did a video blog together that touched on how to become an interesting person. http://www.thinkdifferenttv.com/2009/01/test-embed-cal-ben.html http://www.thinkdifferenttv.com/2009/01/test-embed-cal-ben.h... Cal's idea is that we attribute a person as interesting/impressive when we can't figure out how they did some activity, so we just naturally assume that those results are from some kind of magical innate ability that the person has. For example, right now, I don't feel like I really know a lot about what separates a failed startup from a successful startup. So when I hear about a successful entrepreneur, I usually assume they must be an interesting or impressive person, which may or may not be true. Cal Newport also wrote a pretty decent blog about finding interesting/impressive/innovative activities. http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/10/01/a-simple-method-for-developing-an-innovative-activity/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/10/01/a-simple-method-for-de.... Both links have more to do with college admission/life and entrepeneurship than personal relationships, but I think the idea can be applied to becoming an interesting person.

asdflkj 18y ago

There is no need to redefine the word "smart" in order to make your point. We already have a word for that: "good". Good at talking to girls, changing tires, etc.