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Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

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Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#231

Post by v-erne »

prometheus76 wrote: post #219
v-erne wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The answer depends on what You are trying to prove. If You define this poem as ordered list of words that can be interpreted trough cultural and local context, then it existed even before it was written down. If You want to go more realistic way then this poem exists only through my memory (partly as memory and partly as an emotional association) and will disappear with my demise.

You have smuggled in a LOT of things that are not empirical in your response. "Ordered" - what is the empirical evidence for order? How can one know the difference between randomness and order with only empirical evidence? Order requires a concept of "orderliness" that one is comparing the evidence to. "Words" - the empirical evidence of a word is a squiggle on a piece of paper. Everything else about a word and its c…

> You have smuggled in a LOT of things that are not empirical in your response.

Those are mental models that are useful to me but unfortunately I'm not master at using them. And what is more they are inherently wrong (because they are models and not the real thing - putting aside if anything is real).

I do not believe in them more than I need to. But they are the only way that we can communicate on high level - by establishing common model and that talking about its properties. And then we can empirically test if they really behave as we believe (if we want to, otherwise we can just leave it be and use it as toys and as a way to spend our time waiting for nothingness to take us back).

> Please forgive my inability to speak more clearly.

Likewise - as You may have guessed english is not my native language and those concepts that I speak about are not well developed in my mind - they are merly my intuitions (by which I openly admin that I use things that are not empirically proven - but only because that is the only way that our faulty mind can work - by substituting reality with simplified erroneous abstractions that sometimes work).

>I could go on, but I have to get back to work

Wish You a pleasant work! And thank You for good conversation.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#232

Post by yywwbbn »

spacemanmatt wrote: post #171
411111111111111 wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Having 50% less people would reduce the overall hunger numbers, but not the ratio. This argument is flawed because of the we're consuming significantly more resources then our planet could provide sustainably. Increasing the quantity of consumers will always be detrimental for as long as resources are finite.

> we're consuming significantly more resources then our planet could provide sustainably. That is not true of everyone. Billions live on/with very little, sustainably.

There very significantly less trees in Europe (also wildlife in many places) 100 years ago. Same applies for industrial pollution (not CO2 emissions).

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#233

Post by yywwbbn »

Xeoncross wrote: post #82
dartdartdart wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Waiting is not bad, most child abuse cases come from people who shouldn't have had kids in the first place. The worst case if you wait is that you'll have to adopt kids, which is arguably way more humane than introducing another hungry soul into the world.

It's not that we have too many mouths to feed, it's that we have too many selfish people in positions of leadership and authority who exploit the masses to line their own pockets. Having 50% less people would reduce the overall hunger numbers, but not the ratio.

IIRC the ratio of people at risk of famine as been going down steadily while the population increased until Covid (I assume it should get back on track eventually, though)

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#234

Post by free-malloc »

scionthefly wrote: post #17

In your 30s, if you are waiting to have kids for various reasons, you really need to stop delaying. Your probability of successfully having kids goes down every year, and by your early 40s your options for medical help if you have infertility stop being available because even those interventions lose effectiveness. If you want kids, just have the kids. You're not going to care that you were being responsible and wait…

This. It might suck financially but perfect is the enemy of possible.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#235

Post by nickd2001 »

Like some others here, wish I'd had kids a bit younger so as to be around and in good health for them for longer. But you can't force such things. ;) The right person doesn't necessarily come along at the most convenient time. And the flip side is kids keep you young and childish yourself. I don't think there's anything I wish I'd done or known, life isn't perfect but I don't look back and think "if only I'd done that..." .Seems to me 40s isn't too bad. People worry too much. My advice - carry on and don't worry! ;)

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#236

Post by kylehotchkiss »

Just turning 30 but I'd have to add: International travel. Covid pretty much made that not possible for the first 18 months and very difficult for the next 18 months. It was looking like things were improving for travel but then the Russian invasion happened. Travel somewhere rare and weird before it gets too late - and there are places now that aren't possible to visit anymore that were just 6 months ago. Knowing how the majority world lives has given me a much more humble worldview and appreciation for where I am. And a good laugh everytime some new startup claims to "change the world" or whatever.

Second thing! Make sure to long-term archive your memories - whatever's on your phone, old tapes, old prints, etc. Get them scanned, uploaded, and backed up to 3 distinct locations. 30 years from now, you're gonna be so happy you did. My parents kept and recently mailed me a box of tape cassettes from when I was a baby 30 years back - very enjoyable watching those with my wife, has made my parents happy to watch, and will be fun to show those to my future children.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#237

Post by Darmody »

shetill wrote: post #165
prometheus76 wrote: post #29

I joined the Orthodox Church in my 40s. I wish I would have known about it when I was younger, especially in my 30s, with my young family. The benefits that come from daily spiritual devotion both individually and a family, as well as the benefits that come from being part of a faithful community are impossible to list. Is it all easy and is it all benefits? Of course not. But centering my life around God through dai…

As someone born in eastern EU country. I am well familiar with orthodox, so I really don't see what's good about it. In our countries the priests are one of the most corrupted individuals who are always fat (as opposed to generally skinny population of poor people that can't afford much food) and always drive the nicest cars. How spiritual they are is arguable. They don't pay taxes, still are allowed to have wives an…

Because you don't see the spiritual part of it, only how it's being used as a way for people to grab power and wealth.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#238

Post by lurker619 »

prometheus76 wrote: post #219
v-erne wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The answer depends on what You are trying to prove. If You define this poem as ordered list of words that can be interpreted trough cultural and local context, then it existed even before it was written down. If You want to go more realistic way then this poem exists only through my memory (partly as memory and partly as an emotional association) and will disappear with my demise.

You have smuggled in a LOT of things that are not empirical in your response. "Ordered" - what is the empirical evidence for order? How can one know the difference between randomness and order with only empirical evidence? Order requires a concept of "orderliness" that one is comparing the evidence to. "Words" - the empirical evidence of a word is a squiggle on a piece of paper. Everything else about a word and its c…

This seems like a facetious word-salad. You asked if a poem that was written then burned, still exists. He answered that the poem exists in his memory. It doesn't make any sense to say, what is empirical evidence for order or culture or context. You can't ask him to redefine literally everything, before you accept his answer.

I agree with your overall comment thread, that you separate empirical stuff like engines rooted in reality, from values like the highest good. You conclude that a way to achieve the highest good is to be religious. But are you sure? It's certainly good for you, your family and the community around you. But is it the highest good for the world? Across all nations, all the wars that have been fought over religion - I'd dispute that it's still the highest good.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#239

Post by cercatrova »

micromacrofoot wrote: post #221
agent008t wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And why is this part of life one where selfishness - "I want that experience for my life" - is applauded and encouraged? Especially given that here, the child suffers if you make a mistake. Humans tend to be far more judgmental about selfish desires where mostly just the selfish person suffers if a mistake is made. There are other ways to experience the joys of parenthood, especially given that most parents seem to l…

Reproduction is a baseline biological function and I will never agree that participating is "selfish." We're not going to see eye-to-eye here.

Just because it is a biological prerogative does not mean that it doesn't cause suffering. I've seen lions eat gazelle babies straight out of the womb, is that not suffering? Now, that is an extreme example, but people having kids in a bad environment, just because they can, can cause undue suffering to the child. That is why it is prudent to wait for the right time, is the parent commentor's point I believe.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you had done/known in your 30s?

#240

Post by csomar »

shetill wrote: post #165
prometheus76 wrote: post #29

I joined the Orthodox Church in my 40s. I wish I would have known about it when I was younger, especially in my 30s, with my young family. The benefits that come from daily spiritual devotion both individually and a family, as well as the benefits that come from being part of a faithful community are impossible to list. Is it all easy and is it all benefits? Of course not. But centering my life around God through dai…

As someone born in eastern EU country. I am well familiar with orthodox, so I really don't see what's good about it. In our countries the priests are one of the most corrupted individuals who are always fat (as opposed to generally skinny population of poor people that can't afford much food) and always drive the nicest cars. How spiritual they are is arguable. They don't pay taxes, still are allowed to have wives an…

I guess everyone need to get his fix somehow. Some people play the Piano, some use drugs; and some devote themselves to a religion. The difference between the drug cartels and the religious priests is just the clothes. Both can also be very violent.
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