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

MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

fora.tv

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 28 posts

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#11

Post by brandong »

peregrine wrote: post #9

Wow. I find that when I start projects I have his sort of obsessiveness but as the project continues I start to loose it. Oh ADD you've cursed me.

These are the type of projects that are picked up and dropped repeatedly. And as such, they are years in the undertaking.

I'd go so far as to say an ADD-type personality (the kind who is always in the midst of a million projects, but completing none) is the most likely candidate for pursuing these type of projects. It might not even be something you realize until years in-

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#12

Post by speek »

brandong wrote: post #11
peregrine wrote: post #9

Wow. I find that when I start projects I have his sort of obsessiveness but as the project continues I start to loose it. Oh ADD you've cursed me.

These are the type of projects that are picked up and dropped repeatedly. And as such, they are years in the undertaking. I'd go so far as to say an ADD-type personality (the kind who is always in the midst of a million projects, but completing none) is the most likely candidate for pursuing these type of projects. It might not even be something you realize until years in-

I believe that's called Nerd ADD (even if you're a geek).

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#15

Post by jrockway »

jd wrote: post #10
timr wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's great, but I think I'm going to be pretty sick of it by the time I've seen the tenth presentation on web programming that's been done in the same style.

When you have 50 pictures in a presentation about web programming, about half of them tend to fall into the lolcat category. Of course that grows old quickly. But in a presentation about the dodo every picture is both relevant and interesting. The 60th picture is as engaging as the 3rd. In other words, with web programming pictures are used because text is boring and the presenter wants the audience to know he doesn'…

Incidentally, most presentations that I've seen that have contained lolcats have been by people who do "work at IBM". I've used a lolcat once or twice, but I stopped after I noticed that :)

Apparently it is now cool to use the word "fuck" a lot, since the corporate types seem to have trouble emulating this. Even that is getting old now, forcing speakers to be even more obscene. My favorite example was a friend describing mod_perl during a talk -- "When all you have is a nailgun, everything looks like the Messiah". I am not sure what was funnier, that remark, or the horrified look on people's faces.

Either way, it was better than a lolcat.

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#17

Post by timr »

jrockway wrote: post #15
jd wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you have 50 pictures in a presentation about web programming, about half of them tend to fall into the lolcat category. Of course that grows old quickly. But in a presentation about the dodo every picture is both relevant and interesting. The 60th picture is as engaging as the 3rd. In other words, with web programming pictures are used because text is boring and the presenter wants the audience to know he doesn'…

Incidentally, most presentations that I've seen that have contained lolcats have been by people who do "work at IBM". I've used a lolcat once or twice, but I stopped after I noticed that :) Apparently it is now cool to use the word "fuck" a lot, since the corporate types seem to have trouble emulating this. Even that is getting old now, forcing speakers to be even more obscene. My favorite example was a friend descri…

That was kind of what I was getting at...soon, we're going to be seeing lots of picture-filled presentations on AJAX, where every other slide is a profanity. ;-)

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#19

Post by kqr2 »

iamelgringo wrote: post #7

Adam's wife must be a very understanding woman.

Actually, his "obsession" has been life long so she must have known what she was getting into (or perhaps its even why she was attracted to him). :-)

He gave a very similar talk at this year Maker's Faire in the Bay Area. On display, they had quite of few his prop recreations he's made since he was a teenager (e.g. Indiana Jones whip). His attention to detail is simply awe inspiring.

Re: MythBusters Co-Host Adam Savage on Obsession

#20

Post by 12ren »

jd wrote: post #3

Note the unique presentation style - story with flashing images. It's surprisingly appealing. Even simple slides like "Anyway." that stay for just a second or two keep the viewer from getting distracted. The whole "less words more pictures" philosophy has become really popular lately, and it seems this has taken it to a new level. Bonus points for style and execution.

It's the planned spontaneity that makes the "Anyway." slide work. His setup and delivery of this line is so enthusiastic, natural, sincere that it couldn't be planned... yet there's the slide. Cute theatrical technique.

Here's an idea: treat the slides like a ventriloquist's dummy, so that they counter your argument, mock you, undermine you. You could have a conversation. You'd need theatrical skills to pull this off.

Please reply to this comment if you try this out!

Post reply on HN