Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#91

Post by jmkr » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 8:55 PM UTC

There's a lot of negative vibes in programming these days. When I think of a programming community I think of fun, learning, engagement, projects, /programming/. These days it feels like it's just for money or power. These negative feelings make it all less fun.

So I've been doing music instead. I'm not good at it at all, but learning it ticks pretty much all the boxes that programming does. It's scientific in some ways, creative in others, and overall kind of fun to just build things.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#92

Post by cmehdy » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 8:58 PM UTC

Swizec wrote: post #22

I’ve always liked Viktor Frankl’s take on this: There is no meaning. But humans need meaning. Create your own! Absolutely anything will do as long as you find it meaningful. Just pick a goal/meaning and go for it. It’s okay to change what you find meaningful as you go through life.

This is also in some way where Camus ended up.

I've faced a beginning of life pretty loaded in trauma, and a young adult life where self-inflicting some more was a comforting behaviour in the face of the absurdity of life. When contemplating suicide up close, in some of the aftermath I saw Camus' thesis as a pretty decent way to figure out some sort of "philosophy of continuing to exist".

https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/the-meaning-of-life-alb...

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#93

Post by rosencrantz » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 8:59 PM UTC

I read a book from 1960 about Quantum Mechanics. There is more content from one paragraph there than from anything from your AppleTV, your Facebook, your WhatsApp, your Telegram or anything else from your stupid overpriced trash media. Ken Thompson is right when he calls Apple an atrocity. Linux and Framasoft are not terrorist organisations but I'm not sure about any other.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#94

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:00 PM UTC

unoti wrote: post #86

If you're feeling like you're stagnating, here are some ideas to help get you jump started that I've done over the years. There are a lot of things you can learn that are inherently *fun*. Maybe try learning something that sounds fun and interesting to you! Some examples for myself include things like Ham Radio, how and why radio signals bounce off the atmosphere. Or cooking, figure out how to make the best salsa you…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#95

Post by hunter2_ » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:02 PM UTC

brabel wrote: post #54

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #37

Wow, I just wanted to say thanks a lot for posting this. I'm in a very similar boat. I was always very focused and goal-oriented in my younger days - a bit of a workaholic but generally enjoyed working hard. A number of changes since the pandemic have left me feeling very similar to you: 1. Like tons of other people, I re-evaluated my relationship with work during the pandemic. To be honest, it wasn't easy. I think a…

> I started my career during the dot com boom, and there was so much optimism about the beneficial societal changes that tech and the Internet would bring. I don't feel like all tech is "evil" these days... Wow that's so true... we totally didn't see the social media dystopia we're living in today coming. We imagined a world where everyone has all the world knowledge available at their fingertips would be wonderful.…

On average, yes it's easy to get stuck in a rut with low quality content, toxic social media, attention-stealing recommendations, etc. but with just a reasonable amount of effort it can be avoided in favor of the good stuff. Just like a traveler can get stuck at tourist traps or with just a few more moments of planning find a local treasure; and how if you're at a buffet you could get locked into the mac & cheese or go find the hibachi station in the back. It would be nice if getting lost wasn't a thing, but it's not terribly onerous to navigate the scenic route.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#96

Post by nlstitch » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:02 PM UTC

whamlastxmas wrote: post #66

I have a lot of stuff I want to work on but completely lack the motivation/mental health/physical health to get into a consistent routine that lends itself to me getting these projects done I'm in my mid 30s and my preference would be to sit on a porch at a cabin in the woods and wittling a spoon next to a fire with a cup of tea. But I need to keep my skills sharp to stay employed so here I am, sitting in guilt over…

I can relate to some aspects. After more than 10 years in IT (Also mid 30s), I sometimes I have the feeling I've seen it all. Another framework, another paradigm.. getting more of those "Oh wait that new thing you seemed to have invented is 99% similar to this old tech from years ago but its now made hipster".

I find myself scanning through news headlines, trying to up my dopamine while doomscrolling YT, but ultimately.. sometimes after I do.. I feel both TMI and empty at the same time. The world seems to have gone crazy with a constant tug-of-war on every single subject known to man. It's extremely tireing, and it makes you want to escape ( to a cabin) indeed.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#97

Post by mandeepj » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:02 PM UTC

brabel wrote: post #54

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #37

Wow, I just wanted to say thanks a lot for posting this. I'm in a very similar boat. I was always very focused and goal-oriented in my younger days - a bit of a workaholic but generally enjoyed working hard. A number of changes since the pandemic have left me feeling very similar to you: 1. Like tons of other people, I re-evaluated my relationship with work during the pandemic. To be honest, it wasn't easy. I think a…

> I started my career during the dot com boom, and there was so much optimism about the beneficial societal changes that tech and the Internet would bring. I don't feel like all tech is "evil" these days... Wow that's so true... we totally didn't see the social media dystopia we're living in today coming. We imagined a world where everyone has all the world knowledge available at their fingertips would be wonderful.…

> How wrong were we

Nowhere! Social media brought out the true character of people; most (many?) of us are negative species, mix that along with bad people.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#98

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:04 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#99

Post by autotune » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:07 PM UTC

I've been working on two things:

1) method acting

2) being on the run for a $5 taco thief

I am dead serious.

Re: Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?

#100

Post by Waterluvian » Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 9:08 PM UTC

Working on nothing is when I get my best work done. I’m sure there’s science behind it, but I very consistently return to the piano better than when I left off. And all my major code solutions come to me after a few days off.