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Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#291

Post by samh748 »

forsythe_ wrote: post #262
user_7832 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope OP (and other "scanners") sees this - it might be worth knowing that you may have ADHD, especially if you also heavily procrastinate, are messy/disorganized and always run late. There is much more than I can type in a single comment but if someone wants more info I can try and help.

That's what I suspect is happening too. ADHD doesn't necessarily present as "hyperactive child" or the other stereotypes to which it often gets associated. Many people receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood after years of (more or less) successfully coping by employing organizational strategies, e.g. good list-making, appointment reminders, setting extra alarms, and so on. In terms of OP's rotating interests, the col…

Thanks for this. I did another Ask HN about ADHD-like thoughts and behaviors here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30952648

Hope you can contribute! :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#292

Post by samh748 »

user_7832 wrote: post #265
forsythe_ wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I suspect is happening too. ADHD doesn't necessarily present as "hyperactive child" or the other stereotypes to which it often gets associated. Many people receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood after years of (more or less) successfully coping by employing organizational strategies, e.g. good list-making, appointment reminders, setting extra alarms, and so on. In terms of OP's rotating interests, the col…

I totally agree. > ADHD doesn't necessarily present as "hyperactive child" or the other stereotypes to which it often gets associated. Many people receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood after years of (more or less) successfully coping by employing organizational strategies. That's pretty much been my case so far :') (though yet undiagnosed, only suspected). It's not necessary to know that you have ADD/ADHD to tackle…

I suspect I have ADHD as well. Well, at least something similar / along the spectrum. I talk about it more in another Ask HN here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30952648

Would love your input! :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#293

Post by samh748 »

dghughes wrote: post #191
user_7832 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope OP (and other "scanners") sees this - it might be worth knowing that you may have ADHD, especially if you also heavily procrastinate, are messy/disorganized and always run late. There is much more than I can type in a single comment but if someone wants more info I can try and help.

As much as I'd like to be a "Scanner" I think ADHD describes me more accurately. Procrastination is my entire identity but also being interested in ten things at once. But on the flip side I went back to school and for a project of minimum required 3,000 words I wrote 20,000 word. I do know a person with valid diagnosed ADHD and they seem far more erratic than me so I hope I only have a low to mild version. It could…

I was wondering if I had ADHD as well, but I never "overdo" my homework, like what you've described and what I've heard some ADHD people talk about. I talk more about my thought patterns and behaviors in another Ask HN https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30952648

Would love for you to take a look if you don't mind :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#294

Post by quanto »

TheCowboy wrote: post #263
quanto wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

which prediction market platform(s) do you use in order to make a living? As noted previously, the breadth of the topics and bet size caps seem to limit potential payouts.

I use all of the above: PI, Kalshi, Poly It's not so much the caps that are a concern to me than the fact that these platforms haven't been around for a long time. There's no guarantee they will continue to always exist and also be as lucrative. As more money enters I'd expect ROIs to decrease and for it to take more capital to make the same amount of money. I prefer it more as a side hobby than something I have to d…

Working full-time in prediction markets is exciting. Congrats and thanks for your reply.

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#295

Post by Daniel_92 »

A much different response than many below here, and also, more solidarity than actual advice. I too feel this way. I've found it gives me high relatability to coworkers and great problem solving skills. (I may not have as much grey matter as a local expert on something, but I make up for it in white matter thinking). While I haven't been able to spin the web together yet, my goal is to use this in people management (3 weeks into new job, wish me luck). Enough knowledge to respect and empathize with the experts makes people trust and include, and eventually respect you. Single track experts are constantly getting jaded in my profession (engineering) because they can't champion their own ideas. Humans will intrinsically fight and even die for their ideals, as long as they can see that their environment will not remain status quo. I'm not sure your background or profession, but this might be a perspective for you where the only necessary "training" or "learning" is strong empathy skills. Best to you,

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#296

Post by bckr »

samh748 wrote: post #278
bckr wrote: post #2

I was going to suggest writing, and I'll go one further: Do write a blog, but don't just write a blog. Write a blog, and then create a video for each blog post, and upload it to YouTube (where the eyeballs willing to consume intellectual material are). Also do livestreams. Start interviewing anyone who will take you seriously. Set a goal for who your dream interviewee is. Do this for a couple years, putting out conte…

Another question, if you don't mind: What sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

"A beginner's guide to..." is always a great format.

"Book reports" are better when they're not simply notes/summaries but engage the content from your point of view as a reader and go a bit deeper into the subject matter.

Most important: Just start putting your writing out there and getting feedback. Also study and imitate the styles of writers you appreciate. You'll probably suck for a few years. Keep going.

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#297

Post by samh748 »

bckr wrote: post #296
samh748 wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another question, if you don't mind: What sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

"A beginner's guide to..." is always a great format. "Book reports" are better when they're not simply notes/summaries but engage the content from your point of view as a reader and go a bit deeper into the subject matter. Most important: Just start putting your writing out there and getting feedback. Also study and imitate the styles of writers you appreciate. You'll probably suck for a few years. Keep going.

That's really great advice. I especially like your point on going beyond basic notes/summaries. Thanks again!! :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#298

Post by agentcoops »

samh748 wrote: post #277
agentcoops wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I posted above before I'd read this -- I'd really stress again that, at least in the humanities, writing is the difference between mere 'accumulation of knowledge', which we all know will eventually be forgotten, and understanding. I would actually recommend Umberto Eco's book How to Write a Thesis as a great foundation for how to structure your cross-disciplinary studies and synthesize, again even if just for yourse…

Thanks so much for your comments! Super helpful! One question: what sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

Apologies, missed this response. Do you have an email address I can reach you at? It depends somewhat if you’re really interested in the “human” or “social” sciences, but I really do recommend that Eco How to Write a Thesis book regardless. It conveys the old secrets of how to enter humanistic scholarship — and was originally written to allow even working class Italians who might only have access to a library for an hour a week to do so.

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#299

Post by samh748 »

agentcoops wrote: post #298
samh748 wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks so much for your comments! Super helpful! One question: what sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

Apologies, missed this response. Do you have an email address I can reach you at? It depends somewhat if you’re really interested in the “human” or “social” sciences, but I really do recommend that Eco How to Write a Thesis book regardless. It conveys the old secrets of how to enter humanistic scholarship — and was originally written to allow even working class Italians who might only have access to a library for an…

Yeah I'm realizing that HN doesn't have a good way to check for replies. Makes it hard to have any discussion lasting more than a few days... I would really love to follow up on all the comments I'm getting and thank everyone etc. So much missed opportunity :(

My email is my username, but replace h with huang, at gmail.com :)

Yes I've been looking at Eco's Thesis book, looks very relevant!

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#300

Post by samh748 »

kaon123 wrote: post #148

Hi. Maybe I am very much like you? I love reading and completing online courses. Day job as a software dev. Sometimes it feels like I am wasting my potential; I know so much, usually way more than some dumb manager making decisions somewhere, but it doesn't always come to fruition. That's OK. The career advice I received that really helped me was not to pick a profession (software dev) but an industry/sector. If you…

This is really interesting! Being knowledgeable in various areas of a sector, which means people (in that sector) would probably find it directly useful or relevant. That's awesome :) Thanks! Wish you the best going back to off-grid solar sector!
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