Stop Acting Like You're Famous • Hacker News Board

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#151

Post by maximus-decimus » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 10:58 AM UTC

selestify wrote: post #103

d--b wrote: post #84

Ok the most important sentence in this essay is its subtitle: “Advice for myself around leisure activities” Personally I am no perfectionist at all, but I don’t see the fun in making stuff myself that I could otherwise buy. I took up sewing, not because I want to sew the perfect shirt, but because men’s fashion sucks. That said, I sew stuff I can wear. So it needs to look at least as good as what I could buy. I don’t…

> Maybe that would be my advice in taking up hobbies: aim to be better than the worst people who do it professionally. I guess this is my gripe with advice in general: Why should anyone else make that their aim? It’s great that it works for you, but I don’t think that’s applicable to me :)

Using something you build brings a lot of satifsaction.

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#152

Post by syndicatedjelly » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:01 AM UTC

anonzzzies wrote: post #41

I have done this all my life (which is also ‘my career’); it paid off accidentally big time in the beginning (90-00s) which made me enough to retire, but I like what I do (as per the article). Now I still work the same way but the money just isn’t there anymore, and the only thing to at I don’t do vs people who make a lot worse stuff but make millions is: get out there and act like I am a rockstar/musk. I hate that s…

I think all things you said will allow you to get rich. But more money isn’t everyone’s end goal, nor does that always lead to happiness (or even a “better” life)

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#153

Post by aerhardt » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:02 AM UTC

VelesDude wrote: post #83

aerhardt wrote: post #13

I had a goal of programming every morning for an hour, and it wouldn’t stick… Once I dropped any pretense of making money, or getting anything out of it other than enjoying the craft, it has finally stuck.

There is the idea that I kind of subscribe too but not entirely, that if you want to improve yourself - you would just do it rather than force it. In that trying to force it is like Sisyphus. In giving up the battle, you are freed up to actually do it. So your exaple is great, you had a good intention but once you gave up that structure then you actually got to the goal.

It still takes discipline, I don't wake up every morning dying to program - sometimes the task at hand is boring, sometimes the motivation is not there, sometimes a little bit of a and a little bit of b. And I still code to a good standard of quality: I try to balance not being overly perfectionist, with making my practice deliberate so that I keep improving. For example, I test, refactor, document and plan with a backlog. But removing users from the equation lifts a massive weight from my shoulders. Like the article says, I leave that for work.

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#154

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:07 AM UTC

ergonaught wrote: post #147

rogual wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And to read the opinions that other HNers spout. The comments are often better than the articles. Also, I know I'll be able to read them without fending off popups and dark patterns.

The comments here as elsewhere are overwhelmingly garbage, and generally worse than even the “bad” articles.

[deleted]

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#155

Post by odyssey7 » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:08 AM UTC

1 The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. 8 All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has already been, in the ages before us. 11 The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#156

Post by creesch » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:15 AM UTC

> Do you want to build an app or website but don’t enjoy the process of designing? Then make it ugly. Who cares!

Well... I do as the only user of what I create. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I also don't like clunky interfaces. So even though it isn't the process I enjoy doing most all the time I still put in the effort.

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#157

Post by can16358p » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:20 AM UTC

I think the emphasis is not "don't create for others" but more on "don't let people-pleasing get in front of the actual joy of whatever you are supposed to enjoy", which I'd personally agree with.

For photo example: If creating a style on Instagram for more presence and likes etc. does NOT negatively impact your photographic process and decisions, but solely build on top of the hobby that you already enjoy without social media, then go ahead.

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#158

Post by Vox_Leone » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:21 AM UTC

d--b wrote: post #84

Ok the most important sentence in this essay is its subtitle: “Advice for myself around leisure activities” Personally I am no perfectionist at all, but I don’t see the fun in making stuff myself that I could otherwise buy. I took up sewing, not because I want to sew the perfect shirt, but because men’s fashion sucks. That said, I sew stuff I can wear. So it needs to look at least as good as what I could buy. I don’t…

>Personally I am no perfectionist at all, but I don’t see the fun in making stuff myself that I could otherwise buy.

That's ok, but then there are things that are not available to buy. I want a 500-850 degrees C 3D printing hotend, which can only be built of ceramics. I'm a hacker. Gotta make it.

https://voxleone.com/2024/03/05/3d-printing-im-making-a-500c...

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#159

Post by Sirizarry » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:24 AM UTC

ergonaught wrote: post #147

rogual wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And to read the opinions that other HNers spout. The comments are often better than the articles. Also, I know I'll be able to read them without fending off popups and dark patterns.

The comments here as elsewhere are overwhelmingly garbage, and generally worse than even the “bad” articles.

Your comment certainly fits that bill. Generalizing negativity sure is constructive…

Re: Stop Acting Like You're Famous

#160

Post by probably_wrong » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 11:26 AM UTC

nicbou wrote: post #3

This is excellent advice, but there is one exception: on the internet, behave as if your username was your real name and everyone was in the room with you. Don’t use the cover of anonymity to be mean. Act as if people knew you and remembered you.

I wanted to comment something on that same vein: you probably won't be famous, but someone will definitely read your blog when considering whether to hire and/or date you.

I applaud those that bad-mouth their previous employers because it makes my daily reading more interesting, but I can't in good conscience suggest that people should do it more.