Oddbean new post about login | logout Is it too late for me to get into programming, hardware engineering, physics, philosophy, ancient greek, and woodworking?
All of those? Yes, if you want to achieve mastery. No, if you just want to enjoy them.
Let me add welding. Also, yes mastery.
Well, that's a lot harder and is more difficult now. Not impossible, but you have to be willing to allow yourself to suck while being very repetitive.
My father-in-law's father did a lot of very cool metal work art that's around my wife's grandmas house and it does make me think about how fun that would be. But seriously though, I get it, and frankly I'm not a fan of people who drop $10,000 to pick up a hobby talk about it for 2 weeks and then storage all the shit. I am going to start studying the ancient greek though, it seems like the more important endeavor at the moment
Lol! The friend who's shop I was in yesterday knows a guy just like that. Bought top-level stuff and has no effing clue what to do with it. He has a very long-suffering wife.... 😅
I guess if you have money to burn...but sometimes these folks insufferably make you listen to their new hobby and you just _know_ it'll be over in 2 weeks.
Yup. ESPECIALLY after they ask for advice, then ignore it.
That's really the thing isn't it.
Yeah. But hey, that is how we can end up with better equipment for the fiat in the future, or even better stuff with BTC!
I'm bullish on the future.
Seriously tho', I've recently returned to reading the Bible and my good friend is a classics and ancient greek guy (in addition to be an excellent lawyer) and his insights into the word based on returning to the original greek are so fuckin' valuable it's a wonder people can read the Bible in English at all.
That’s an interesting list. Wondering how you came up with those disciplines?
Well I've been an amateur computer enthusiast since I was a kid, but never got good programming and want to learn more about the interface between programming languages and the physical stuff. Physics because when the aliens come I don't want to look like such an r-tard. Philosophy because engaging with your own mind is the lever that moves the world. Ancient greek because I've recently returned to reading the Bible and I want to understand the intentions of the word better. Woodworking because everyman should develope a skill with his hands (particularly when I've spent a career cultivating the use of language, I could use something silent and useful).
Love the explanation. It sounds like you already have some progress on each. So not sure why you think it’s too late? In reality no one knows how much time we have left. You might be too late for everything or you might have 100 years of time. I wouldn’t worry about if you’re late. I’d just say start. It can be a self fulfilling prophecy. You think you’re late so you don’t start and the longer you wait to start the more late you become. Progress not Perfection (aka Mastery). 🫡
Dude, this is such an encouraging response. Thank you! You converted my tongue and cheek exasperation into motivation.