I share the same point of view “choose work” thing. Even if I agree with you, reading the post (http://danielflopes.com/choosework/), at least the first part of it, makes it feel like it's some kind of a military life, while it's not the case, at least on my side. It's all about the way you present the thing or yourself and in this particular case the post's tone is too much ”rude”, ”strong“, ”military“. It sound like cult propaganda. The second part fails to lower the stress the first part provide. Form advice: The text must be longer, with citations & explanations. Content advice: Work Work Work. What does it mean anyway? When I learn a new technology, I don't feel like I'm working, when I code at home most of the time I don't feel like I'm working... What is significant in my particular case is ”focus (on the craft)”. CS is my passion, I want to learn it, but that's not the only thing I do, as working on any target also means that I need to take the time to break the loop to breath fresh air (with or without focus on self-improvement). Good focus needs a balanced-life.
Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
21–30 of 71 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#22OP, do you have a family (e.g. significant other, kids)? The post reads a bit preachy. When I read this, I think: the only type of person who would recommend this lifestyle is an early 20-something male who doesn't have much else going in their lives. That may or may not be correct (and it shows as much about my own personal bias as it does about the post), and even if it is correct, that's not a bad thing since if t…
I consider myself to have a good life. I'm not always in the office working, and I actually spend a lot of time working out and taking care of my best friends and meeting new people.
I only try to minimize doing what in nothing contributes to my life or the others around me. That's why, for example, I like to read books that in someway intersect what I do in my job. But that doesn't mean that I never try new stuff and read a good one like "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
And for me, the best way to not "waste time" is by trying to merge your job with what you want with your life, since we already spend so much time on it.
I do not have kids. I've recently started a relationship, and I admit that I've been asking myself what's the best way to balance these. I get your point.
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#23You lost 10% because you claim things that only 22 year olds do and thus wont be delivering insights to people 32.
You have much to learn yet, we all do :)
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
That may be true - "the present hacker zeitgeist" may disagree with my point of view. Today there's an emerging trend towards working less and spending more time with family and your hobbies (in some way, the newest book from 37signals supports that). And, well, I don't disagree with that! Neither do I disagree in taking off some vacations, if that makes you feel better (and/or more productive). But my point here is…
So your point is... to be happy, choose work, where work is defined as what will make you happy?
That's the problem: vacuousness. If work is defined as what makes you happy, there's no choice to be made.
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#25I share the same point of view “choose work” thing. Even if I agree with you, reading the post ( http://danielflopes.com/choosework/ ), at least the first part of it, makes it feel like it's some kind of a military life, while it's not the case, at least on my side. It's all about the way you present the thing or yourself and in this particular case the post's tone is too much ”rude”, ”strong“, ”military“. It sound l…
Great!
Yes, my tone may look like i'm doing some propaganda. I hesitated writting with this way, but I hit publish anyway to see what happened. But it's true, it doesn't feel natural.
Thank you very much for all the other constructive feedback!
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#26what you wrote is a post that has little meaningful content or new information. it is a short and (in my opinion) poorly written opinion piece exhorting people to adopt a life style that many consider destructive and counter productive.
Thank you
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#27You lost 10% because you claim things that only 22 year olds do and thus wont be delivering insights to people 32. You have much to learn yet, we all do :)
This HN discussion is leading me to that conclusion :)
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#28The problem is you appear to live in a fantasy land. I only read the second paragraph, but it is one of the stupidest things I've ever read (sorry, that is a harsh thing to say, but I think this requires a reply this strong).
"Work from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep. Take your breakfast while reviewing your to-do list for the day. Work a few hours. At lunch, discuss with your team what’s the best solution for that problem. Work some more. At dinner, have a great meal with your loving ones and tell them what’s going on with work. Feel free to ask them for their opinion. After that, go back to work, of course – it’s time to answer to those emails, and read a decent book about a topic of your industry. Have a good night’s sleep."
This is incredibly self-centered. What about what your loved ones have been up to (as one tiny example?). And god-forbid you have any children. You need to get THEM breakfast on a morning. Perhaps, maybe, you should spend some time with your "loved ones" on an evening, other than just telling them about your work over dinner then disappearing off to work?
I would hate to be your "loved one".
CLARIFYING EDIT: This isn't intended to be a personal attack on Daniel's life (which I don't know anything about), just my raw opinions as I read the first two paragraphs of his blog article, hopefully to help him understand why some people took harshly against it.
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#29I would unsubscribe too, because I quite disagree with this viewpoint. I agree with the basic idea that humans need to do stuff to be happy - but not work necessarily. Taking care of kids is also doing something. Making a nice meal instead of microwaving, is also doing something. Those things bring satisfaction as well.
Ok. But I don't say the contrary - doing those things can also make you happy.
But using our job to achieve our life goals is one of the best ways to achieve happiness, in my opinion.
Thank you
Re: Ask HN: Why did this post cost me 10% of subscribers?
#30it's very hard to take seriously advice over long lasting happiness from a 22 year old.
Ok. That's a valid argument.