HackerNews is full of these kind of people
Contributor: Hey guys, I wrote this proof of concept in a fortnight that does something fun!
HackerNews: Why the fuck would you do that, you nincompoop?
Contributor: I... thought it would be fun after shitty days at work
HackerNews: You could be spending your time making money or contributing to $subjectivelyMoreImportantProject. Be ashamed
People who can't accept that some people just want to have fun and do what they like.
Judging by the name alone, you'd think that HackerNews of all places would understand doing things for shits and giggles.
This was nothing like your interaction though. Asking why doesn't mean they don't acknowledge the other person doing it for fun, it's just that they are curious if there's a reason.
-Haha, why?
+Found it cool and felt like it.
-That's cool, I used to play X when I was younger but....
It can also just be a conversation starter, nothing wrong with asking why.
I only realised it later that many people have a transactional view of life. They think everything single activity must have a purpose. And while they not actively seek it, at the back of their minds they expect some sort reward. Like, the dude who scoffed the guy learning to play flute probably only wants to learn new skills if it impresses others, like a girl or something.
While everything you said is valid, sometimes that question is pure curiosity. "Because i want to" is completely valid, though I'd love to know what the inspiration for that desire was. Did you hear a really cool battle song? Some orchestral piece that sounded great? A friend recommended it? Couldn't find an ocarina? Jamming to some folk metal?
I swear I'm inquisitive!
That whole "Why do I have to learn this? I'm never going to use it!" attitude from school. Learning a new skill is the reward. I love learning new skills. It's my hobby. I'm never going to be an expert in anything, but I get to learn a whole bunch of interesting things.
I have been asked why the things I do are always so hard (implying that probably I just suck). It's true, I do suck at most things I do, because I seldom do the same thing for a very long time.
Still, that only works so long as learning the skill can be made fun and rewarding. I think school failed at this in many cases.
As someone with ADHD, life is exactly this: negotiating with your brain to do the unrewarding thing by including a reward (i.e. buying a $40 pair of fluffy socks to make laundry end in a pleasant feeling). My "did a good job" dopamine response is hella muted and it makes anything that isn't an immediate need or spur-of-the-moment whim get prioritized very poorly. Having a "transactional view" may be less about personality and more about mental makeup.
I never thought about it that way before!
Everything doesn’t have to be transactional, but there are a lot of activities that will eat away at your time and your life to your detriment. I like getting stoned and goofing off as much as the next guy, but sometimes it is a good idea to intentionally choose activities that add value to yourself or your life rather than ones that don’t.
I have a friend who spends nearly all of his time playing video games and smoking weed. There is no value judgment there, but I know it has caused him to miss a lot of opportunities for romance, career advancement, new experiences, and a lot more. It makes him miserable, but he refuses to acknowledge it is a problem, and acts like I’m a jerk if I try to bring it up.
So I guess my opinion is that everyone is entitled to do as they will, but it also behooves you to keep trying new things, especially when you are objectively not happy with your current situation.
That's a fair point. But I suppose even with leisurely activities, it could help you improve your other activities, mental faculties and functioning, depending on how you do it or what that activity is. Playing sports is maybe fun but it also improves your ability to work in a team, which is important in a workplace. Depending on the videogame you're playing, it can also be educational and improve temperament. I learned lots of history and geography playing Hearts of Iron. Also funny enough, at the time, I thought I might be wasting time trying to get past a difficult section in Call of Duty: World at War over and over for at least one hour. But for some reason I thought to myself I won't be a quitter. Playing that game ironically developed my perserverance.
I think it depends what that "time wasting" activity is if you could reflect on how that would make a positive impact on you. Albert Einstein plays violin when he needs time to think of solutions to a problem. And if you know how he came to the idea of theory of general relativity, it does sound more creative than scientific. He did say imagination is more important than knowledge.
I'm just trying to carry the conversation forward.
You are succeeding
Maybe, making fun of people playing the flute, IS what he wants to do...
Just saying
Maybe not considering that possibility IS what he want to do.
Lol good point though.
He laughs until that guy learns how to summon teleporting tornadoes.
Everybody when I started learning Norwegian. I dunno, I just felt like learning Norwegian.
A lot of people I know did the same when I bought a guitar and am learning it. “Haha, why are you doing that? Midlife crisis? You have kids!” Maybe because I always wanted to learn guitar and can already play four instruments?
I did notice the same people who mocked me for pursuing interests all like to watch sports for hours on end.
I’ve been tempted recently to pick up a pocket trumpet to pick up my skull from high school. I’m always just worried about annoying the neighbors lol.
pick up a pocket trumpet
Are you absolutely certain this isn't a weird euphemism for masturbation? Because it sure seems like one!
pick up my skull from high school
Were you in a very faithful production of Hamlet or did you just collect bones? 🤔
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him.
Do it! Just get a mute and play. Playing an instrument is a lifelong joy.
Yes. It would be good to play regularly without, though. And at serious volumes, too. But playing an instrument is great in any case. And trumpets mute really well. A flute like in the comic, for example, doesn't unless you box the whole thing somehow.
I really like the Yamaha silent brass system, too. It's stupidly expensive, but works nicely and the headphones are a neat option.
Haha! Why?!
lol .... you're also not aware of the fact that I really don't care what you think.
How you think of me is none of my business.
As someone who's been learning the flute since October, I resemble this remark.
ALSO, for those who think transactionally and can't understand why, I tout the brain benefits of learning musical instruments, especially as The Brain ages
Thought it was a knife for a bit
Would be cool if somebody photoshopped the last panel into him holding a switchblade or something XD
Anyone that knows me long ago learned to not ask me why I'm doing a new thing. It's because I fucking want to, and if you asked about it, I'll educate you ALLLLL about new thing I'm into. Nowadays my friends just make note of it and move on unless they want in on whatever it is.
