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Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

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Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

#1

Post by pshyco »

After being a HN regular for more than two years, I've now changed the way I think. That is the only way I can get over this and stop going crazy.

When you scroll through all these pointers and read some of them, I used to feel like I'm the worst programmer in this world. I know nothing. While I'm fixing these bugs, changing label names and doing CRUD on web, others are making millions with startups, writing books, making cool softwares etc etc.

Now I'm changing the way I think.

There are 1000s of posts in HN. It touches many subjects. I'm just an OK programmer, not a superstar or rock star as they say. I try my best to do my job and improve myself and enjoy life.

Out of 30 posts on the main page as I see now, one is about games industry, one about anti-virus, radio technology, Elm, Apk Tool (whatever that is) - none of these matter to me at this time and I don't worry about it. I don't have to learn that. I dnt have to make another tool. Yeah its nice to know things but its not necessary.

This is how I think these days and I'm at ease. No pressure no rush.

Re: Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

#6

Post by hanniabu »

I tend to like it. I'm competitive by nature so seeing what everyone else is doing gives me motivation to keep striving and seeing my goals higher. I may not ever catch up and be in the talking edge, but it at least keeps me on my toes and prevents stagnation.

Re: Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

#7

Post by atmosx »

sanosuke wrote: post #4

This is great hahaha, I thought I was the only one feeling that way, such a relief. I'm doing the same thing as You.

No, that's a recurring theme, on "ASK/Tell" actually. I believe that most programmers feel that way, but I am not sure if it's a matter of personal treat or skill.

Re: Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

#8

Post by mindcrime »

Yes, in a way. It's both a blessing and a curse. I definitely learn a lot of cool stuff from browsing here, and I enjoy the comments and discussion (most of the time). I would definitely say HN has added value to my life. BUT... on the flip side, yeah, it has also added stress and fear and confusion, etc in other ways.

The feeling of needing to churn constantly to "keep up" with tech is probably exacerbated by hanging out here so much. And I find myself drawn off onto a lot of tangents, reading books or papers or articles or something that I found here, that aren't necessarily something that I Really Need To Do Right Now. And since I want to learn every programming language, use every database, try every tool, play with every neat new gadget, etc., that I come across, I definitely feel overwhelmed sometimes and HN adds to that.

But, I figure it it wasn't HN, it'd be something else. I subscribe to the Apache Incubator mailing list and just the new project proposals there leave me with the same feeling sometimes. And if I wasn't on HN, I'd be on Reddit or something, or even just checking Google News, and I'd still feel overwhelmed and frustrated at times. I've just kinda learned to deal with it. shrug

Re: Ask HN: Does Hacker News make you overwhelmed or frustrated or worried?

#9

Post by hacknat »

abstractspoon wrote: post #3

As a programmer in my 50s I'm comfortable with my coding skills and am now interested in broader material so I filter HN by 'software' and that gives me just 20 hits a day which is feels manageable.

Do you do this manually? If not, care to share your filter?
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