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Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

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Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#231

Post by wreath »

srvmshr wrote: post #111
hbarka wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’d love to hear more. This sounds good to me. How did you end up in Japan?

> How did you end up in Japan? Quite simple. US became a nightmare towards the end. As an immigrant grad student without much means, I couldn't support myself long. After my advisor cut off funding, I tried finding a job. I didn't have money to pay the bills soon after & US job process was getting long & convoluted with internal referrals, pointless rounds of interviews, HR meetings. I needed money to feed myself - I…

> Here is one thing though: I earn comfortable now. But the trauma of poverty never leaves you. Even though I work in CS/ML, my life is pretty austere. I stick to the 'needs', and avoid the 'wants' as much as possible. Maybe it will take some years - or maybe these habits won't go. The one thing I never wish for anyone is hunger. Once you have lived through it, you won't want to be in that position ever again.

Congratulations on getting out of it tho! My father grew up pretty much piss poor with a single mother. His reaction to living in poverty is completely the opposite. He never keeps money and buys everything in excess. Probably a way to overcompensate and, as you said, to not want to love in that position ever again.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#232

Post by agent008t »

deltaonefour wrote: post #207
v-erne wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure I buy that - Humans can create meaning out of everything - You do not need children for that (there are some that spend years meditating in literal caves and claims that their life is also full of meaning). So given that we can have two persons with life full of meaning, one of which is feeling down most of the time, and both of them somehow selected this life for themselves - its not quite hard to point…

This is true, but if you think in terms of evolution and natural selection we should be biologically inclined to have certain desires that motivate us to have children above other desires. "Meaning" is more of a creative term, but in actuality much of how we behave is dictated by biology.

For biological inclination, a sex drive is all that's required to ensure children are produced. Biology doesn't care if you are happy or not afterwards.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#233

Post by agent008t »

deltaonefour wrote: post #206
v-erne wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> but when these people are asked whether having kids made them happier they would say yes This can be quite easily explained by peer pressure - You are expected to treat children as precious little gifts from god, and speaking ill about them makes you look bad in the eyes of your peers.

Anecdotally I've asked close friends for genuine answers and from my perspective they seem convinced they are happier. That being said I have also (fewer) close friends who have told me they are less happy. So you have a point.

They are in a situation they now cannot realistically change and that they are 'supposed' to enjoy. There is a lot of pressure to convince themselves they are now happier 'overall', even if actually each of their days is now less happy.

The fact is, you will encounter plenty of misery in life regardless. You should not choose based on what makes you happy, but arguably based on what kinds of misery you are more suited to - the misery of having children or the misery of not having children.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#234

Post by uwagar »

unop wrote: post #228
uwagar wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

no opponent. not interesting to watch.

Typically, this is the glib superficial answer a non-runner would have. To a runner, you are your own opponent, your feet and the terrain the challenges and the elation and endorphin rush afterwards the goal/reward. And watching running, well, watching capable elite runners glide effortlessly or outdoing themselves with a surge from deep within - it's kinda exhilarating just willing them on. And if that's not sport..…

sure, a 100m sprint is interesting. running by oneself is kinda psychotic. one being one's opponent is quite a private experience not a spectator sport.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#235

Post by v-erne »

agent008t wrote: post #232
deltaonefour wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is true, but if you think in terms of evolution and natural selection we should be biologically inclined to have certain desires that motivate us to have children above other desires. "Meaning" is more of a creative term, but in actuality much of how we behave is dictated by biology.

For biological inclination, a sex drive is all that's required to ensure children are produced. Biology doesn't care if you are happy or not afterwards.

A bit of interesting off-topic : I think its a disservice to general knowledge propagation to use personification when taking about systems. People can care, biology and systems in general cannot, they simply have consequences. I blame Richard Dawkins for this (and his very badly titled Selfish Gene)

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#236

Post by potta_coffee »

me_me_mu_mu wrote: post #119

Driving. I have a simple 140 hp car now and I love just getting in and going for a drive. I'm lucky to be living in S. California where yes we have traffic but gosh if you love nature and just enjoying scenery its amazing. Even if I'm stuck in traffic I've got views of mountains and all sorts of people watching. SO many cool spots to stop and explore. I drive all around LA, and if I'm bored some weekend I'll get an a…

The machine really matters. A Miata with the top down or a motorcycle is best. A giant insulated cage is less enjoyable.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#237

Post by mikewarot »

Using machine tools to turn metal into chips is way more fun that it should be for me. I hope to get a small machine shop up and going.

I liked editing my yard when I could. It's another summer of frustration as the Virginia Creeper and Weed Trees take over while I'm incapacitated, again! (Eye surgery this time) I'm hoping to get back out there by August, kill off a few hundred trees, and recommence the great edit.

In general, creating and curating things are the bees knees. Taking an idea, and bringing that into the world is fun as heck.

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#238

Post by mcjoken »

jsnk wrote: post #9

I'm about to be a dad this year. Every day as the date approaches, I am getting more excited and scared at the same time. Never felt anything like this. I recall the pure happiness without an ounce of worry when I was a kid, and I also get happy that I might have a chance to give this to my kid. At the same time, I feel a lot of pressure that I will fall short of being a good dad. I am yet to experience being a real…

Our little guy just passed his first birthday and it's been such a fun and stressful time. I think the fact that you're concerned about being a good dad means you'll do well. For me anyway, that feeling of pressure grew but so does the enjoyment and fun! Congrats and enjoy it!

Re: Ask HN: What's your greatest enjoyment in life?

#239

Post by nicolas_lorenzi »

It feels so good to see publications that focus on people before their shirts and ties.

For me, there are several things that make me very happy:

- Getting calls from my parents

- Having a cocoon of friends that is like a second family

- Feeding on life's imperfect or dysfunctional experiences to build oneself (family or couple can be dysfunctional and it is these experiences that bring a form of joy when we overcome them together).

- Seeing that our actions have a positive impact on people's future (I make educational videos for embedded developers).

- Oh and chocolate too, a simple pleasure, but so effective

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