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Why I don't want stuff

sivers.org

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Re: Why I don't want stuff

#131

Post by ycmbntrthrwaway »

danans wrote: post #106
nostromo wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish there was a startup in this space. I have so much house maintenance stuff. For example, I only really need a ladder once a year. But I keep it around forever because when you need a ladder, you need a ladder . I would love to not have to store and maintain all this stuff and to just request it on demand. Can someone solve that for me? I'm embarrassed to admit that sometimes it's easier for me to just buy a new…

In my neighborhood we all borrow each others gear, whether it's home improvement stuff, or occasionally used outdoor sports gear. Any startup in this space would have to establish the "trust" feature of a sharing community, which is a feature that a friendly neighborhood has built-in. You might be on to something if you find an easy way for people to publish their inventory of stuff to a trusted group of neighbors, m…

Instead of trust, it may be possible to rent stuff in usual way by leaving a deposit and paying per hour for using someone else's tool.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#132

Post by CydeWeys »

mbrock wrote: post #112
0xffff2 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To take just two examples to add to my list above: Tea drinker -> Three different tea sets, which get used variously depending on what kind of tea I am drinking. baker -> An entire kitchen full of tools. Perhaps I'm taking the article too literally, but if he really only has the things that came with his apartment, so clothes, a laptop, and headphones, he really can't do most of the things on your list, at least not…

I have some nice tea things too, but when I'm travelling, I make tea with whatever's handy. The thing I mostly use for brewing is a gaiwan, which is basically just a cup with a lid, and that's very easy to substitute. And I used to bake quite a lot of bread using nothing but a couple of mixing bowls and an oven. So not to be argumentative or anything, but beyond clothes and a pair of swim shorts, the only things you…

To expand on baking, you're going to need a huge variety of pots, pans, baking sheets, pie pans, cake containers, cupcake trays, mixing bowls, a stand mixer, a handheld mixer, rolling pins, ingredients, etc. I know because my sister is really into baking and she has all of that stuff and more; a whole kitchen full. By the time you're all said and done you're in for over $1,000, and a bunch of cupboards are full.

The same applies to a bunch of the rest of hobbies that you mentioned. If you only care about doing something superficially, then sure, you don't need equipment. But to do something well? For example, making good podcasts requires a full setup of audio engineering equipment -- mics, mic stands, various digital audio equipment that plugs into a computer, etc. Similar for running; the people I know that are really into it have all sorts of shoes, GPS running watches, entire wardrobes of running gear (which you NEED to prevent chafing), reflective clothing, heart rate monitors, travel gear to bring with you when traveling for races; the list goes on.

I've been into a bunch of hobbies in my life and every single one ended up accumulating significant amounts of gear. Even just being into programming or gaming, I've ended up with various mechanical keyboards, mice, computers, computer parts, displays, and more.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#134

Post by solotronics »

mbrock wrote: post #92
artursapek wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's awesome. You just have a sql database of your physical possessions?

One time I took square photos of all my things and put them in CouchDB with just a label. It was pretty fun to see an alphabetical list of photos of nearly everything I owned. Like an RPG inventory.

This is an amazing idea. First thing that comes to mind is a process to automate labeling like with google images. Is there anything open source that fits this?

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#135

Post by fs111 »

ycmbntrthrwaway wrote: post #6

Every time I have a birthday I am terribly worried about receiving some gift that I won't like from people who don't know me good enough but want to give me some present. Receiving a gift that I don't like and having to avoid showing that I don't really like it is worse than receiving nothing. In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift.

everytime I see a book I'd like to have, I just add it to my amazon wishlist and when my bday comes around and I haven't gotten it yet myself, people will get me that. This is really, really easy.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#136

Post by ashmud »

nostromo wrote: post #91
0xffff2 wrote: post #70

I can appreciate the sentiment, but I actually like doing things. Don't get me wrong, I probably spend much more time than most in front of my computer, but even so. I'm a photographer -> Two bags full of camera gear, tripod... I'm a hiker/backpacker -> Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, hiking boots... I'm a cyclist -> Bike, helmet, gloves, pump... I'm a computer engineer -> Solder station, wire cutters, crimping tools..…

I wish there was a startup in this space. I have so much house maintenance stuff. For example, I only really need a ladder once a year. But I keep it around forever because when you need a ladder, you need a ladder . I would love to not have to store and maintain all this stuff and to just request it on demand. Can someone solve that for me? I'm embarrassed to admit that sometimes it's easier for me to just buy a new…

I am surprised big box hardware stores do not have programs to rent out bigger ladders. Personally, I do need a smaller ladder frequently, though. Community/family can be a good way to share tools, too.

I have re-bought tools/parts I was fairly certain I already had, but simply did not have the time to sift through things to find. Especially for home projects that I had a small window to work on and I did not do my due diligence ahead of time to look for them.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#137

Post by trelltron »

basseq wrote: post #94
mbrock wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, it's possible to "do things" that don't require a lot of extra things. Writing, walking, meditating, listening to music, reading, making out, drinking tea, running, dancing, making electronic music, math, logic, praying, thinking, debating, making movies with your smartphone (one such movie recently won a documentary award), origami, chess, baking, cooking, lifting at a gym, hackerspace participation, movi…

There's a question of "need", but for most people in first-world countries: - Writing: Pens, Paper, Laptop - Walking: Shoes, Clothing (other than robe) - Music: iPod, Headphones - Reading: Comfortable chair - Drinking Tea: Teapot, china - Running: Specialized shoes and gear - Making Electronica: Synthesizers - Penmanship: Specialized quills and ink - Swimming: Swimsuit, goggles, towel The list goes on, but I'd argue…

If you classify 'clothing' and 'shoes' as extra things then sure. Having clothes, some mugs, and a laptop allows him to do anything on that list except penmanship. (And swimming if you don't want to just swim naked)

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#138

Post by colmvp »

puzzlingcaptcha wrote: post #37
colmvp wrote: post #28

People have good criticisms about e-readers like the Kindle. It's not great for technical books. It can be a little laggy and not as sensory compared to paper books. That said, the ability to retake space is soooooo worth it. My Kindle has dozens of books, magazines, and long form articles. Over the long term, I have saved volumes of physical space and pounds of weight. While I miss the physical look of having rows o…

I give away physical books I liked to friends, and those that I didn't like to Books for Amnesty. While you can email someone the .epub, it's not quite the same. A scribbled dedication will persist longer and be more evocative that an email too. Technical books I tend to keep as ebooks on my desktop where I work anyway.

While I have friends who read, they admit they don't read as much as they used to. So giving books or even games to them often results in an expensive dust collector.

And while I admire the act of giving books away, either to BoA or one's local library, I like to go back to my book every once in a while to recall a specific section that resonated. E-readers allows me to save highlights in the cloud, where I can go back to find particular interesting tidbits and find the fuller section if need be. This is helpful complicated concepts that often require multiple reads over time to sink in.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#139

Post by sivers »

0xffff2 wrote: post #118
jimbokun wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mr. Sivers emphasized repeatedly he isn't trying to convince anyone else to live like him.

And I'm not saying he is. I am saying that I would like to understand him and how he derives fulfillment out of his lifestyle better than I do.

See https://sivers.org/no2 for a little more context.

There are a few programming and writing projects that I've been wanting to finish for years.

So when I look at a new hobby or interest, like the ones you describe above, I think, “Ah... sounds fun... some day... But first I have to finish what I've started.” Not having the stuff around helps keep me focused.

The pain of not finishing my existing projects is greater than the pleasure I'd get from the new hobby.

(FWIW, the few things I own include the hiking gear you describe.)

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#140

Post by hyperpape »

rcfox wrote: post #117
branchless wrote: post #41

I fight against this all the time. It's simply impossible due to all the guilt involved. I do not want anything for xmas/birthday. My wife always wants to get me something and makes me feel like a killjoy. This is perhaps manageable. Bigger problem is I have 2 kids who get invited to parties. I have to take the birthday boy/girl something. Fine - but this means it's reciprocated. Valentines day recently. Used to be f…

> Coming over for dinner? They bring a (bad) bottle of wine that I now have to get rid of. I'm not a drinker myself, but I always assumed that people brought wine to dinners with the intention of drinking them at that dinner. Shouldn't that take care of getting rid of it?

It can go either way. The host may or may not open--it's meant as a gift. For people who are really in to wine, they will have already chosen bottles that are paired with the food.
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