[rus20376]

This is fun to read, but from my personal perspective it all seems quite depressing. About half way through this list of stuff I start to think existentially: would I be happy if my life was constructed like the author’s? I like much of the same sort of stuff after all. But at some point I got bored with reading yet another cool random book or fiddling with an interpreter for a little toy language.

I wonder, does the author really find deep life satisfaction in all this? Presumably the answer is yes, but that doesn’t match my intuition which intrigues me somewhat. Is the satisfaction gained, at least in part, from the performance of making this sort of list and getting external approval from HN, conference audiences, etc? Is the production of this list and the stated desire to speak at conferences a statement that all the journaled activity is not enough, that it cannot be done privately? That if done privately, anonymously, it really is just not that great a way to live your life?

I am happy that I don’t live alone diving so deep into various hobbies that I ultimately start hitting the firmament underneath. What my life would look like had I not gotten married and had children is not so hard to imagine when I read these sorts of blogs, and I smugly think I am better off.

[fogus]

That’s a lot of words to pass judgment on someone you’ve never met and know nothing about. The strawman that you’ve created doesn’t resemble my life at all, but you go on feeling smug about being better than the construct in your head. Whatever helps you to sleep at night I guess…

[fellowniusmonk]

Some people literally just can't let themselves believe others enjoying their own (different) lives at their own pace.

As if every alternative road has to be imagined as a less satisfying road to validate their own chosen path.

As if the diversity and multiplication of "search paths" through "reality space" is somehow sad or worse or less moral or less virtuous.

Which is absurd of course.

As for me, sometimes I take bad paths just for fun because I'm more curious than cautious.

"This is probably terrible, let's check it out."

And boy is it fun for those of use who like to explore the edges, and I like to imagine that all those taking more traveled paths are also enjoying themselves and the life they have!

[anthonypasq96]

you sound insecure. that guy was making a thoughtful self-reflective observation and it seems like he hit a nerve.

[stinkytaco]

This could also be an investment in future happiness. Part of the point of journaling and documenting is to later revisit and unlocking memories one might have not accessed in some time. This is part of the reason Spotify Wrapped and similar "recaps" are enjoyable. People enjoy seeing what they were like. In many ways we are the product of things we do (whether that be consuming or creating) and exploring those things at a future date is to be in conversation with ourselves.

Things like this are also a way of expressing and sharing gratitude, which is a cathartic exercise to engage in periodically. Putting into words "these are things I enjoyed" is worthwhile, in my experience, and sharing it is a small extra step. Additionally, sharing it can be a gift to the future. I can't tell you how much I appreciate effort my parents took to document parts of my childhood (vacations, accomplishments, daily life, etc.) and I know other children feel the same. It's the kind of window to the past that is only open through efforts like this.

[npodbielski]

> Part of the point of journaling and documenting is to later revisit and unlocking memories one might have not accessed in some time. This is part of the reason Spotify Wrapped and similar "recaps" are enjoyable.

Wow. I hate that. I was doing diary when I was like 10 years old and when I was actually reading that after few weeks it was terrible. Pure cringe and whinings. With music it is not that visible but there are still few bands I cannot stand anymore, and I was litnening to them extensively few years back, like Neurosis.

But as a pure informational referrence... Sure!

[cj]

> What my life would look like had I not gotten married and had children

For every person that feels better off in that situation, there’s another person who feels trapped and tied down and unable to pursue their passions.

Different things make different people happy. And that’s okay.

[bananalychee]

This remark always comes from people who do not have children. I have never seen a parent express regret over building a family.

[sbochins]

What a bizarre comment. It’s not clear if you are upset about you not being able to dig deep into these subjects or what your deal is. The post is about things this guy thought were interesting this year. Why the hostility?

[benrutter]

> I wonder, does the author really find deep life satisfaction in all this?

I have no way of knowing (unless they comment yes/no here). If they do, good for them! But also, I don't think that's the claim in the article, it's literally called The best things and stuff in 2025, not The essential meaning of my life in 2025.

[jiscariot]

I like when people explore deep interests and share them. Especially, someone who has been doing it for 15 years, consistently. A pre-AI window of humanity. This stuff is more important now, than it ever was.

Thank you for sharing with us how you are happy that you have a wife and kids.

[pjm331]

Different people like different things

[theletterf]

The post is brilliant, interesting, and deeply performative. It can be all those things, and more. It feels like being shown a display case at your friend's private library ("Did you read them all?" "Oh, these are just for this week" — Umberto Eco used this reply when folks asked him about his 50k books). Obscure references, namedropping, the right doses of self-deprecation, the footnotes (gosh, the footnotes!)

Nobody writes like this just for themselves. It's for the show. It's their mansion of words and it's there to wow bystanders. Mind you, I'm not condemning, just merely stating why the post somewhat irks me. However, I respect the intellectual depth of the author; I might even have a beer with them (though it couldn't be a standard lager, I guess). The Internet would be a better place if it'd be full of content like this post.

Edit: I'm commenting on the post, not on the author. I don't know them. I'd love to.

[fogus]

Using "performative" as a pejorative is dismissive. I like to read and I like to write. These are my hobbies and as a result posts like this come out. I will not apologize for finding certain topics exciting and being excited by a desire to share my excitement with the world. You say that the "Internet would be a better place if it'd be full of content like this post." I agree, and so I share.

By the way. I don't like beer.