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Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#121

Post by glitchc »

Mostly opportunity. I find many problems in computing very interesting across diverse fields, despite the fact that I have a PhD (which usually implies close study of a very narrow area). Am an applied researcher: I can’t do pure theoretical work, but I can understand it in a knowledge domain, look at the problem and find the appropriate solution given existing knowledge, often developing new tech in bringing that idea or variant to life. I often borrow from completely different areas, including biology, which is a gold mine of elegant and efficient solutions. Phd means I often bring more rigour (better quantification/rationale/metrics) to the solution that quite frankly wasn’t possible before.

I know I can’t develop quantum mechanics from scratch and am happy with this limitation. Would much rather use it to build a quantum drive anyways.

Being happy with your limitations is crucial for personal happiness. And lots of sleep. It is needed.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#122

Post by bjelkeman-again »

Initially I decided to work on something that interested me, so I ended up in IT and gradually worked my way to the point when I could start my own company.

After some time I decided I wanted to work on things that makes a significant difference to other people (preferably those that have it the hardest) and/or the environment. It turns out there is a ton of stuff to do that I find give great meaning to my life.

One of the organisations I helped create is https://Akvo.org

Akvo now has one of the largest databases of water wells and water sources, covering primarily West Africa but also other regions, with a good data collection and visualisation system. Additionally we have integrated field usable water quality sensors with smartphones for faster and cheaper data collection.

To answer the question: I work on both what I want to work on an what I think needs to be worked on.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#123

Post by hartator »

bullen wrote: post #118

I always knew multiplayer was my passion, so I built a platform that would change multiplayer for the better: http://fuse.rupy.se/about.html It took 20 years, 10 years to learn how I wanted to build it and 10 to actually build it. IMO healthcare is not a solution to anything, good food and people are much better doctors. Energy is not a solution; but the problem of this century, AI is complete baloney. I also learned…

Pretty impressive. Are you working on this full time?

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#124

Post by porphyrogene »

dpcan wrote: post #117

Unhappiness. I find myself constantly drifting toward entertainment. I made mobile games for about 4 years, and now I run an escape room business. I guess I'm trying to get rid of sadness one small bit at a time.

I value entertainment immensely but saying that it solves unhappiness is like saying that prostitution solves loneliness. Unhappiness is a core element of the human experience. It is not solvable because it is not a problem.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#125

Post by ianai »

Try them all somehow. I’m not sure what you mean by healthcare, but that field can be misleading. There’s always a strong demand for nurses, for instance, partially because being a nurse is different from what people expect nursing to be like. Many people leave nursing sooner than it took to get into it.

Trying to find The One True Solution is itself a problem. One approach is to try in ways that failure isn’t tragic.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#126

Post by gtirloni »

Kaveren wrote: post #110
PedroSan wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hear hear. Life happens to you. All you can do is try to make sure you enjoy the ride. When you are younger you think you can have it all, but that isn't the case. So many things can disrupt your path, the list is endless. Best advice is to follow your instincts, not your rationale. Life isn't a choice. It's some sort of roadtrip. You don't know how or where it will end and what will happen along the way. You may dec…

This is not the mindset that people who achieve anything have. It's a defeatist attitude. Many people have, to use the saying, had it all, and many have fought past roadblocks to get there. People who let life wash over them never get anywhere.

You both are right. The secret is to balance both world views according to your values. It's never a black/white decision.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#127

Post by anotheryou »

h0mEDw wrote: post #119
anotheryou wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My employer is a big fin-tec company, the product does not work well, revenue comes from long contract times where people can't get out again (even worse: selling dreams that usually burst), if anything we can provide some sort of e-commerce optimization which either makes people buy more s * or makes them buy it at one instead of the other vendor.

So, if I understand correctly, the source of bullshit here would be some sort of soft coercion/engineering of consent? Over something that people don't need/shouldn't need? I.e. something like working on ad campaigns for cigarettes?

there are multiple layers of bullshit:

- big player fin-tec: it only makes numbers grow for rich people

- selling dreams: preying on peoples hopes, knowing they probably won't come true

- broken product: not selling value

- long contract times: just shady

- e-commerce: Coercion in to buying stuff they wouldn't have bough otherwise or simply funneling the money to our clients instead of others. No benefit for society either way. It doesn't even have to be cigarettes, could be butter or anything.

Re: Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your lifetime?

#129

Post by schizoidboy »

nsomaru wrote: post #20

The focus should not be on "what," but on "why." I just got this advice the other day and it's liberated my thinking. I was (am) stuck in a rut believing that if I just find something I am passionate about it would alleviate the sense of purposelessness that pervades. Not so. Some people can work just for material benefit to themselves and their families. However, eventually that juice runs out because money is just…

Summarized by Nietzsche: "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."
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