Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

news.virginia.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 217 posts

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#11

Post by sp332 »

temp8964 wrote: post #6
SuchAnonMuchWow wrote: post #2

Not related to the content of the article, but am I the only one bothered with the way the article spell ranges: "six to 15 minutes", "Twelve of 18 men", "six of 24 females" ...

It is in the APA style guide: "In addition to using words to express numbers below 10, use words to also express: Numbers beginning a sentence, title, or text heading" https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa6_style/...

That is in tension with using numerals for "Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical functions, fractional or decimal quantities, percentages, ratios..." And the tie-breaker is below:

If you’re unsure which modifier to write and which to express numerically, try it both ways. Be sure the way you express the numbers is in the clearest way possible.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#12

Post by OJFord »

Jiocus wrote: post #10
SuchAnonMuchWow wrote: post #2

Not related to the content of the article, but am I the only one bothered with the way the article spell ranges: "six to 15 minutes", "Twelve of 18 men", "six of 24 females" ...

Yes but at least they are consistent with the pattern word of numeral , which is often a good rule to use if not employing a specific styleguide. For example, using the APA guide[1] for numbers (thanks @OJFord for pointing out my error): “Six to 15”, “12 of 18”, Six of 24”. Edit: As @temp8964 correctly pointed out, there are situations where words are recommended[2]. – [1]: https://apastyle.apa.org/ [2]: https://apas…

Don't you have that backwards? I'm not familiar with APA style guide but I was taught at school (UK) to use words below ten (at least, and to be consistent, i.e. saying 'ten' just then is fine as long as I don't now start saying '10' or '11') - I'd be surprised if APA advocated exactly the opposite, based on your example.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#13

Post by ChrisLTD »

brianjlogan wrote: post #9

Curious if the study would have the same results today with the prevalence of Mindfulness meditation. Perhaps it's my predisposition since I've googled for it. But I see advertisements for Calm and Headspace. I think even on TV. I see "Mindfulness" centers, physical places to take classes and meditate. A whole commercial market has taken hold of this new interest of fighting back the confusion of modern life. My trou…

As someone that has regularly meditated for years now, I still wouldn’t say sitting alone with nothing to do is an enjoyable experience. You can turn it into an opportunity for meditation or other types of deep thinking, but that’s more like “work” than anything else.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#14

Post by mattkrause »

Jiocus wrote: post #10
SuchAnonMuchWow wrote: post #2

Not related to the content of the article, but am I the only one bothered with the way the article spell ranges: "six to 15 minutes", "Twelve of 18 men", "six of 24 females" ...

Yes but at least they are consistent with the pattern word of numeral , which is often a good rule to use if not employing a specific styleguide. For example, using the APA guide[1] for numbers (thanks @OJFord for pointing out my error): “Six to 15”, “12 of 18”, Six of 24”. Edit: As @temp8964 correctly pointed out, there are situations where words are recommended[2]. – [1]: https://apastyle.apa.org/ [2]: https://apas…

Switching within a phrase, like “six to 15”, strikes me as pointless hobgobblin-ey consistency, especially when the numbers are close to the cutoff.

I find it so much more jarring than either “six to fifteen” or “6–15.”

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#15

Post by jonplackett »

This reminds me of a clip of Louis CK talking about losing the ability to just sit with your own thoughts and be really sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c&t=53s

Shame he turned out to be a sexual deviant because he said some interesting things.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#16

Post by hedberg10 »

jonplackett wrote: post #15

This reminds me of a clip of Louis CK talking about losing the ability to just sit with your own thoughts and be really sad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c&t=53s Shame he turned out to be a sexual deviant because he said some interesting things.

"One bad thought ruins entirety of humans other thoughts, they are now null and void. News at eleven!"

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#17

Post by jonplackett »

hedberg10 wrote: post #16
jonplackett wrote: post #15

This reminds me of a clip of Louis CK talking about losing the ability to just sit with your own thoughts and be really sad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c&t=53s Shame he turned out to be a sexual deviant because he said some interesting things.

"One bad thought ruins entirety of humans other thoughts, they are now null and void. News at eleven!"

What’s that quote from?

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#19

Post by ______- »

> The investigation found that most would rather be doing something – possibly even hurting themselves – than doing nothing or sitting alone with their thoughts

This brings up an old saying I learned years ago:

    If you're going to do nothing, don't do it here
Meditation is being active doing nothing. It's paradoxical, just like Zen koans are paradoxical. I don't meditate in the cross legged position however, and drift in and out of meditation doing everyday humdrum things like waiting for a bus to arrive, or my favorite: pretending to sleep, so I can actually fall asleep. Each preamble before sleep is itself meditation, and we can find ourselves meditating doing humdrum things like washing the dishes. You don't need to go to a monastery or wellness center to meditate. We are natural meditators!

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#20

Post by arthurcolle »

jonplackett wrote: post #17
hedberg10 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"One bad thought ruins entirety of humans other thoughts, they are now null and void. News at eleven!"

What’s that quote from?

GP is making a statement in jest
Post reply on HN