I am perfect. Not naive in any way. I am 25.
I was you a couple of days ago. Now I'm 29!
How did you skip 4 years?
Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
121–130 of 269 posts
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#122Earlier quoted context omitted.
[I didn't downvote you, I think you are making some valid points] What I'm trying to point out is not paint with broad strokes. But evaluate everything and everyone independently of rules. Flaws of people admired: 1) Gandhi - Racist 2) Martin Luther King - Copy someone's work for his phd. Also an adulterer. 3) Edgar Allan Poe - So disrespectful that he was disowned by his guardians. 4) Tesla - Hated fat people. 5) St…
Thanks for not downvoting me. Again, it's not about finding "flawless" or "perfect" people. We all know these people don't exist. It's just about paying attention to a few basic moral imperatives, namely integrity; if a person has a history of adultery, that person is not likely to be a trustworthy resource. That person is willing to destroy the lives and hearts of his family for fleeting personal sexual gain. Why do…
All of us have our limits, I wouldn't hesitate to hire an adulterer but under no circumstances I would hire a racist, a rapist, or a murderer.
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
1. If you want to have kids, do it sooner rather than later. My issue is that kids cost a lot of money, which means you lose quite a lot of flexibility. I want to start my own business within the foreseeable future (probably 1-2 years, currently saving money, gathering contacts and getting more on-the-job experience in the field I want to operate in). Right now I know that if I save 20k Euros that could easily last m…
I have a 3 year old, a 2 year old, an 8 week old, and a startup. Having kids has no impact on having your own business. They're completely orthogonal. Using that as an excuse for not having kids makes as much sense as saying "I don't want to eat tacos for dinner because I want to have my own business." Note: I'm not responding directly to your comment; I'm responding to the somewhat pervasive idea on HN that kids are…
"Having kids has no impact on having your own business"
You're saying that raising children has no impact on your available time and money? That seems a bit far fetched. I'd agree that it's totally possible to have kids and do a startup, but frankly you'll be working with a bit less money and less time (and for a while way less sleep).
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#124- Shiny things are nowhere as much fun after you get them as before, even if they have some value. So yes, that Kindle or iPad or whatever will have a real use, and you will be marginally happier with it than without, but not as much as you think - You can talk yourself into (or out of) anything. The only difference between smart people and other people is that smart people do this with bigger words and more complex…
Excellent reply (as usual) by DBM, but I disagree with this: Concentrate on your weaknesses. Make them stronger. When you get to your 30s you can work from your strengths, but there has to be some time in your life to work on shit you suck at, and for me it was when I had the most motivation, my 20s. Concentrate on your strengths, even at this age. Peter Drucker's argument sold me: If you work on your weaknesses, the…
Not to disagree, but a counter-argument could be that working on your weaknesses makes you a more well rounded person.
This is a hunter-warrior/contractor vs a jack-of-all-trades/leader.
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#125- Shiny things are nowhere as much fun after you get them as before, even if they have some value. So yes, that Kindle or iPad or whatever will have a real use, and you will be marginally happier with it than without, but not as much as you think - You can talk yourself into (or out of) anything. The only difference between smart people and other people is that smart people do this with bigger words and more complex…
I think experiences are highly overrated. What I've seen, done or felt quickly gets pale and fades into the background. For me nothing can replace learning new interesting things and understanding new interesting concepts.
So you enjoy experiences that result in learning?
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#126A couple things from this forty-year old: 1. If you want to have kids, do it sooner rather than later. The sooner you have them, the better: they grow up so fast, you'll still have time in your 40's to enjoy life with them as teenagers, if you're lucky. If you leave it too late, you'll be pretty disconnected from their teen lives, and hell .. what 40-year old doesn't enjoy the odd jaunt with their teenage kids, eh? I…
1. If you want to have kids, do it sooner rather than later.
Having kids later is like letting them time travel to the future.
I'm glad my parents had me late.
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sports stars are something of an unusual situation. Things like instability generate publicity for the given player and his team. Rodman was good for the Bulls because: a. the Bulls is show business; people pay to see characters like Rodman b. celebrity tabloids/news pick up on "unstable" behavior and make a show out of it, which is good publicity and marketing for the subjects c. a long-term steady relationship is n…
[I didn't downvote you, I think you are making some valid points] What I'm trying to point out is not paint with broad strokes. But evaluate everything and everyone independently of rules. Flaws of people admired: 1) Gandhi - Racist 2) Martin Luther King - Copy someone's work for his phd. Also an adulterer. 3) Edgar Allan Poe - So disrespectful that he was disowned by his guardians. 4) Tesla - Hated fat people. 5) St…
Gandhi was a racist? That's news to me. Links? Citation?
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#128Lessons I'm learning: Social protocol has a real impact on people. The quality of your reasoning doesn't provide you an excuse to ignore it. It is incredibly easy to blow thousands of dollars, $20 at a time. Smile. Reserve judgement until judgement is required. Helping people is more satisfying than helping yourself. This is true because you can feel like you've helped others enough, but you will always want more for…
Complex, irrational arguments and behavior are often explained by simple emotional factors.
Understanding this, and you will understand a lot. In almost all quibbles, addressing what you've rooted up as the deep emotional reaction to whatever surface thing you talk about and watch the other person's reaction change immediately.
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#1297 out of the 10 richest people in the world are dropouts. Women love sex but you have to look like the one who wants it more. Ask for more money or for sex and once in a while you'll get what you want.
Don't spend your time racing towards more money once you are comfortable financially. It will not make you happier.
Travel to open your horizons. If possible work overseas for at least a year. This is the best way to learn about life.
Try anything twice. Some apprehensions about food (amongst other things) are learned. You might think you don't like some food or activity but try it twice and you might find out what you like.
Re: Ask HN: What were your naivetés in your twenties?
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
1. If you want to have kids, do it sooner rather than later. My issue is that kids cost a lot of money, which means you lose quite a lot of flexibility. I want to start my own business within the foreseeable future (probably 1-2 years, currently saving money, gathering contacts and getting more on-the-job experience in the field I want to operate in). Right now I know that if I save 20k Euros that could easily last m…
I have a 3 year old, a 2 year old, an 8 week old, and a startup. Having kids has no impact on having your own business. They're completely orthogonal. Using that as an excuse for not having kids makes as much sense as saying "I don't want to eat tacos for dinner because I want to have my own business." Note: I'm not responding directly to your comment; I'm responding to the somewhat pervasive idea on HN that kids are…
Ok, I want to know more :) Is your startup funded and do you work from home? Is your partner working?
I'd like to hear a little more about how they're completely orthogonal, as most people I know with kids would probably indicate differently.