Things I Should Have Known at 20 • Hacker News Board

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#21

Post by pyre » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:03 AM UTC

cferwin wrote: post #19

dfc wrote: post #9

I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from an elder. I am 32 now; I got over thinking about who was cool and who was not when I was 15. I would add something about not burning bridges.

It probably has something to do with the "don't waste time being shy" one. Spending time with outgoing ("cool") people could help with that.

I think it has to do with not being average/mediocre. Basically hang out with people that are pushing the envelope (for various definitions of envelope), and hopefully you will be lifted up too.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#22

Post by alanh » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:06 AM UTC

This isn’t a permalink, and it took me forever to find one (neither title nor date are permalinks? conventions mean nothing?)

Submission URL should be changed to: http://inoveryourhead.net/20-things-i-should-have-known-at-2...

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#23

Post by crusso » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:09 AM UTC

dfc wrote: post #9

I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from an elder. I am 32 now; I got over thinking about who was cool and who was not when I was 15. I would add something about not burning bridges.

Far from silly. The characteristics he mentioned on this one: (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.)

Those are mostly about developing the characteristics of a leader -- someone others admire and want to follow.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#24

Post by squidpie » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:13 AM UTC

This list highlights the one lesson I see repeated in almost all advice about life: "Be an Extrovert, and if you aren't, act like one."

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#25

Post by bretthoerner » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:24 AM UTC

rauljara wrote: post #18

The list is all phrased as commands. I can't stand that. There is no one way through life, and I wish people didn't act like just because it worked for them it will work for everyone. Find people that are cooler than you and try to be even cooler than them seems like a particularly terrible command to give in general. So many of the people I admire the most just don't care so much about image. And I've met too many p…

Given the "I" in the title I'm pretty sure he's trying to speak to his past self.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#26

Post by dfc » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:28 AM UTC

crusso wrote: post #23

dfc wrote: post #9

I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from an elder. I am 32 now; I got over thinking about who was cool and who was not when I was 15. I would add something about not burning bridges.

Far from silly. The characteristics he mentioned on this one: (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.) Those are mostly about developing the characteristics of a leader -- someone others admire and want to follow.

How many adults talk about Alice being cooler than Bob? Furthermore ambitious and laid back?

  am·bi·tious (adjective)
    1. Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
    2. Intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve.

  laid back (adjective)
    1. Relaxed or unhurried.
    2. Free from stress; easygoing; carefree.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#27

Post by westicle » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:36 AM UTC

rauljara wrote: post #18

The list is all phrased as commands. I can't stand that. There is no one way through life, and I wish people didn't act like just because it worked for them it will work for everyone. Find people that are cooler than you and try to be even cooler than them seems like a particularly terrible command to give in general. So many of the people I admire the most just don't care so much about image. And I've met too many p…

I feel a no true scotsman coming on, but are those people actually cool? Or are they just posers?

I read the advice not as "spend time with people who have a well engineered social image" but "spend time with people who are genuinely more interesting, knowledgeable, capable, effective than you are".

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#28

Post by DigitalSea » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:43 AM UTC

The only way to succeed in life is to fail. This article reads like it is a definite list of commands and rules to abide by for a great life forgoing the fact that no two lives are the same. There are a few good tid-bits of info in this article, but if there is one thing in life you should know it's you will fail and thinking that learning from the mistakes of others will safeguard you from failure is a sure fire way of being doomed to a life of failure.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#29

Post by prophetjohn » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:43 AM UTC

fumar wrote: post #5

It is a pretty solid list. I am 25 and these are things that would have helped me at 20. I am trying to accomplish some of these now. 3. I used to read a book per week. I stopped and now I need to get back. 9. I never thought I would be a conservative person. I see the difference between my younger cousins and I. 10. I am jobless. I definitely am trying to eliminate costs. 13. I started taking Udacity classes. I have…

13) A word of advice based on what I perceive your experience level to be: focus more on really learning Python than amassing a list of languages with whose syntax you are familiar. Once you master Python, then Java, Ruby, etc. will be easy to learn. Employers understand this. The ones you want to work for, at least.

Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20

#30

Post by prophetjohn » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 3:45 AM UTC

dfc wrote: post #26

crusso wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Far from silly. The characteristics he mentioned on this one: (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.) Those are mostly about developing the characteristics of a leader -- someone others admire and want to follow.

How many adults talk about Alice being cooler than Bob? Furthermore ambitious and laid back? am·bi·tious (adjective) 1. Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. 2. Intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve. laid back (adjective) 1. Relaxed or unhurried. 2. Free from stress; easygoing; carefree.

Regardless of who talks about them, I think these are both desirable qualities in a human.