PG: Disconnecting Distraction • Hacker News Board

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#111

Post by pcmcg » Sun, May 18, 2008, 5:11 AM UTC

First off, how ironic is it to stumble on this post when in the act of procrastinating?

It's also true that most of our economy revolves around "time wasting" actives, especially with the Internet (e.g. google, facebook, youtube, amazon, ebay). But then look at most major inventions in the last 2000+ years, and almost all can be qualified as being used as distractions. (e.g. alcohol, religion, music, books, painting, cars, airplanes, telephone, movies, TV, VCR's, Tivos, phonograph, vinyl, CD's, sports). I wouldn't want to be in a world without such a variety of distractions.

The happiest people will be those that overlap their preferred distractions with their vocation.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#112

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 5:43 AM UTC

rms wrote: post #64

noahlt wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> then I quit [whatever] because I got addicted to computer websites. I suspect that's where most people reading this site are.

It's a solid step up from WoW.

yeah. It's still reading, and most of it is either educational or pseudo educational. Well.. at least if you waste your time where I waste mine. HN, Slasdot, Linux Today, Free Software Daily, Freenode (irc), etc.

However, I should be coding my app. I've spent most of the day working on a mock up so it's ok to spend a few minute here right?

I should also be doing homework.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#113

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 5:49 AM UTC

anr wrote: post #84

nostrademons wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something I realized after I wrote that comment: all the side-projects mentioned used the same toolset as the main project, but used it for a different purpose. So for example: 1.) Scrutiny was a quick PHP-based course evaluation system, done entirely when I should've been working on a large PHP rewrite of a HP fanfiction site. It took 2 weeks, vs. 3 years for FictionAlley (all part time). 2.) Bootstrapacitor was a q…

"[P]rocrastination is actually a subconscious lack of competence." I agree, I think a sense of "perceived incompetence", insecurity and confusion can lead to procrastination. Trying to define a problem well, or breaking it into smaller ones, can help a lot. The same logic can be applied to projects. Keeping up with Reddit and HN can also lead to frustration (yes I see the irony :), there's so much happening in web de…

http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/index.php

I like this guys idea's on procrastination. I've been using it today I think. I should be doing homework. Instead, I've been working on my supposedly less important (definitely less urgent) startup. I've also been avoiding that business plan I want to write.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#114

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 5:56 AM UTC

maxklein wrote: post #9

An alternative is this: What I do (using my super secret self designed software) is that I monitor my usage of the internet, and for every hour firefox is open, I send $10 to my credit card account. So while I procrastinate, I lose cash money but repay my debts.

I'm not sure whether you are rewarding or punishing yourself.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#115

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:06 AM UTC

domnit wrote: post #98

I'm not at the point where I need to disconnect my laptop, but during exams last week and the week before that I used this user stylesheet in Firefox: @namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml); @-moz-document domain(twitter.com), url-prefix(https://www.google.com/reader/), domain(news.ycombinator.com) { body { display: none; } } It would have been easy to turn off if I had to (I didn't), but it worked great when I…

I almost like this the best of all the stuff on here. you are tricking your brain.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#116

Post by hsuresh » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:15 AM UTC

Wondering if anyone has tried meditation as a means to solve this problem. I am no expert in this, i do it only occasionally. But i have noticed that i seem to have better control over me on those days when i meditate.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#117

Post by andreyf » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:16 AM UTC

nostrademons wrote: post #27

I've found that it never works long-term. Your habits just adjust to the new situation. Every year ('cept the last couple, when I've been working) I go on vacation for 2-3 weeks to my parents' summer cottage, where there is no Internet access, no cell reception, not even a touch-tone phone. I find that I'm super productive for about the first 3 days, and then I end up playing a lot of Hearts. Without the different en…

I think Chuck Palahniuk was the first to say life was nothing but one addiction replacing another. It was in "Choke", if I remember correctly...

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#118

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:38 AM UTC

DaniFong wrote: post #103

I used a poor person's variant on the 'internet computer' solution. I didn't have internet at home at all. If I wanted to get on the internet, I had to wander on down to a cafe and use their wireless. This took a while. In particular, it shut down at 12. One could continue to work by plugging in outside and kneeling in the darkness. If you did this, you were certain to have better things to do than procrastinate. I d…

I had something similar once. I had to drive to the library. They closed at 9. I unfortunately didn't get a lot done. I get a lot more done when I have the internet anytime.

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#119

Post by xenoterracide » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:40 AM UTC

ddelony wrote: post #31

I like the idea of two different computers. Knowing the kinds of people who read PG essays and frequent HN, the "work" computer would invariably be some flavor of Unix. Perhaps you could get rid of X and just run in console mode. This would mean even fewer distractions.

yes and then if you want to surf you must use links :P

Re: PG: Disconnecting Distraction

#120

Post by andreyf » Sun, May 18, 2008, 6:41 AM UTC

pg wrote: post #88

noahlt wrote: post #43

That's fine if you're PG and you write all the software yourself, but what if you're using a web framework or other open-source tools and need the web to access documentation or ask questions?

This is what I meant when I said the long-term solution might be software that controlled how you used the Internet, rather than simply turning off wifi.

> This is what I meant when I said the long-term solution might be software

And I thought that was just a not-so-subtle plug for YC-funded companies ;)

PS - I guess these things aren't intentionally PR-ish. If anyone spends time talking to startup founders who are solving problems, it's only natural to start incorporating these problems into your world-view...