Why are Adults so busy? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#361

Post by SubiculumCode » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

justinator wrote: post #309

SubiculumCode wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair to yourself, kids often disappoint their parents, but this is more on the parents. An anecdote: My dad was driven nuts by how much time I wasted as a kid and teen on gaming, and how it seemed that I had few productive interests,never built anything, and stopped projects as soon as I got bored.. He wanted me to be obsessed with something, but few teens are obsessed with anything but not being lonely, social…

I don't mean to be rude, but would you mind sharing the type of financial situation you grew up in? I don't remember wasting that much time as a teenager, since if I wanted something, I needed to get a job and work for it. If there was any chance of my bettering the type of situation I grew up on, I had to make sure my grades were amazing. I had to deal with someone else's serious drug addiction in the family, and tr…

And I wanted to add something else because you make some very good points.

When I first went off to college I failed. I did not know why I was there or how to do things. I dropped out and worked various jobs e.g. graveyard shifts at AMPM for two years, pizza delivery for a year, driver for a repoman repossessing cars..let me tell you that there were some pretty dark years then..

But I did succeed after failing

The point is not so much a libertarian fairy tale though. It was only after I met my wife and started a family did the focus of my life come together with a vengence. It was only because I received a lot of support from a supportive wife, a stable dad and mom, a good graduate advisor,and a minimally sufficient social services system. Without these I would not have succeeded coming from where I did..

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#362

Post by emodendroket » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:33 PM UTC

lagadu wrote: post #274

emodendroket wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trying to cram in your relaxation time during your commute is, like, the opposite of relaxing.

Sit on the train and read your book or take a nap for 30 minutes isn't relaxing? I love my commute time.

I like to read on the train, but I'd like even more to read at home without someone having an insipid conversation two seats over.

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#363

Post by emodendroket » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:34 PM UTC

zeveb wrote: post #360

Retric wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have a rather family friendly attitude at work so the norms are probably a little different. There is no way to know ahead of time if someone is in the hospital. Now someone is stilling there holding the phone and looking at it, taking an extra ~15 seconds to respond is not a big deal. Now, if someone is going to respond in depth the expectation is they will leave. Also, there are more and less formal meetings, bu…

> Now someone is stilling there holding the phone and looking at it, taking an extra ~15 seconds to respond is not a big deal. Meetings should be short and to the point: 15-30 minutes should be normal, an hour abnormal. 'I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention' is rude , and so is wasting every other participant's time while context switching back to the meeting. > Also, there are more and less formal meetings, but in a…

OK, in a theoretical world where meetings aren't hours long with no agenda and tons of circular, pointless discussion, I agree.

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#364

Post by emodendroket » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:35 PM UTC

et-al wrote: post #315

emodendroket wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing that many people who are now alive would have just sat in front of the TV instead if there were no Internet.

To a certain degree. When the Chuck Norris infomercial came on after midnight, you knew it was time to go to bed. With the internet there's always something interesting. And around midnight, the people in Europe are up, so you could start chatting with them.

Are you saying you've never wasted your time online looking at the digital equivalent to a juicer informercial?

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#365

Post by truebosko » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:35 PM UTC

vitro wrote: post #158

truebosko wrote: post #153

I'm busy because I work 60 hours a week so I can ensure my family has what they need as we grow. My mentality, and I hope I don't break away from this (and continue down a spiral of working too much) is to gradually reduce my workload as my son gets older. Right now he's a tiny baby who I can support by ensuring I help with feedings and care so my partner can be happy as well. That's easy, and I can focus on boosting…

Kids form their base behaviour and approach to the world until three years old, this is the most important time.

For sure. I'm not neglecting my child at all, at least like to think I am not :) When he is awake in the mornings and evenings, we spend ample time. Of course, weekends are a great time together as well.

Didn't mean to make my comment sound like I am neglecting my child, but I could see how it could be perceived that way!

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#366

Post by criddell » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:41 PM UTC

tim333 wrote: post #191

thebigspacefuck wrote: post #152

I keep catching myself thinking or using the excuse I have no time, but I mostly spend my time on the internet or watching TV. Some nights I do the dishes or actually go for a walk, go grocery shopping, but mostly I'm just hanging on, making sure I'm ready for he next day. I'm freaking addicted to information and the internet, which leave me feeling frantic. I forgo sleeping for the internet and it brings me little p…

I was about in the 70s and 80s. Still the same number of hours in the day and internet was largely replaced by reading and TV. I don't know if it was better or worse. I think I prefer the internet. At least you can type stuff into it unlike books and TV.

I tell my kids about how much TV I watched in the 70's and 80's. I loved TV! I still do.

My kids (14 and 13) don't watch any TV. They don't even particularly like movies.

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#367

Post by jlbyrne » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:47 PM UTC

shocks wrote: post #210

sotojuan wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How have you produced less dirt? I've been trying it out. No shoes in the house has helped a lot but I'm curious about what other ways there are.

I never understood people that wear shoes in their house. It's nasty.

It's not that nasty if you have non-carpeted floors and a swiffer. Living somewhere warmer (no salt, snow, etc.) helps too.

I don't have orthopedic problems, but I've found that I'm generally more comfortable by the end of the day if I'm wearing shoes at home vs barefoot or slippers. This is especially true if I spend a few hours in the kitchen standing up to cook, etc.

Additionally, where I grew up it's odd/rude for a visitor to remove their shoes or be asked to remove their shoes. Different strokes and all that. :)

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#368

Post by AnAfrican » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

lucaspiller wrote: post #115

I'm going to go against the norm: I recently bought my first car (I'm nearly 30) and am amazed how much time it saves and freedom it gives me. I've always lived in European cities with good public transport, but even here having a car is worthwhile. Instead of taking a train and bus 30+ minutes to work, I leave when I want and know it will take me around 15 minutes to get there. Maybe I'm weird, but I find driving a…

You know what can be even better ?

Car with a driver. Flexibility + you get to do other stuff besides driving.

But I guess affording that means more work and stuff.

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#369

Post by tonyedgecombe » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:52 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #118

dazc wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am from Yorkshire. Take the point though.

Heh, didn't know it, no offence meant. Was mostly referring to all the urban poor, crime, domestic violence etc that goes on in large parts of the UK.

Is it really like that or is that the message you get from the media?

Re: Why are Adults so busy?

#370

Post by gnopgnip » Wed, Sep 14, 2016, 5:53 PM UTC

Spoom wrote: post #286

brightball wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doing laundry is still the most time consuming task because it's done sequentially. If there's any build up at all it throw it in the wash, wait, move it to the drier, wait, unload, fold and put away. Multiple loads means a multi hour time commitment to being on stand by to transfer and continue the process. The programmer in me actually has resorted to throwing everything in the car and driving to a laundry mat if I…

I've always wondered why someone didn't build a vertical washer-dryer combo, about the size of a fridge, where the clothes in the washer portion at the top simply drop into the dryer portion at the bottom (possibly assisted by a mechanical push) and start the dryer portion automatically. Bonus if you can then push the dry clothes out the side into a waiting basket, but not totally necessary. Perhaps stability is a fa…

Full size washer dryer combo units are $1500 and then you still have to pay for water electricity and detergent and have the hookups and space. $1500 goes a long way towards a laundry delivery service.