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Comment by less_penguiny | Hacker News Reader

I'm at a juncture – my last project wound down and I'm considering where to take my career next.

Basically my main two options are:

* start another technical company and go all-in

* freelance half of the time, spend the other half on the LessPenguiny project. Monetization would be nice, but it isn't necessary. I'd sacrifice cash for impact in this area.

As for future pieces, I've analyzing my data (about 2000 observations, already coded) and I've got a lot of material on:

* why some people seem so impossibly warm

* how conversations get started between strangers (not in a pick-up way, but more in a normal day-to-day way)

* why some people are fascinating conversationalists

* compliments — are they good or do they make people uncomfortable?

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Instantly signed up for your mailing list. Was super bummed to see there was only one article on your site!

Also, I think you can hit a great niche. I've never found any sort of super qualitative examination on social interactions like you have done. Traditionally HtWFaIP is the 'go to' book for this kind of stuff, but its age shows a little and leaves a lot of implementation details in the dark.

I mean, acronyms are fine but what is HtWFaIP supposed to mean?

Article related funny thought: you're bragging about being in enough on a certain study area that you recognize/use foundational texts by acronym even if they're complicated.

I believe the acronym stands for the title of the book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

If it in any way matters, I'd be very glad to read some insights on why some people seem so impossibly warm (assuming you don't mean "body temperature"). My fondest memories of meeting people for the first time is always meeting people who exude genuine warmth and I'd really like to be like them some day.

I'm interested in the compliment one! If is see someone compliment-worthy, I nearly universally don't give the compliment. Ex, "that's a wonderful dress" as I pass someone on the train. Instead of potentially brightening someone's day, I'm worried I'll be considered some creep.

Yep, it’s definitely tricky gauging when and how to complement a stranger. I find it quite fun complimenting my friends and acquaintances. It’s really just quite funny to see a person’s reaction to a completely “curveball” type compliment that you throw at them out of the blue.

I can remember a specific time where I complimented a stranger. I was probably around sixteen or seventeen. A young lady was sitting in front of me on the bus and obviously quite nervous. I noticed that she would repeatedly dig in to her handbag, get out her makeup, make the smallest adjustment to her face, then put her makeup away again. She must have done this four or five times, putting the entire makeup box away and getting it out again each time. I told myself if she does it one more time, I’ll say something. Lo and behold she starts to get her makeup out again, so I tapped her on the shoulder. She spun round, and I said “You’re pretty enough.” She beamed me a huge smile, sheepishly said thank you and wished me a good day when she got off the bus.

> why some people seem so impossibly warm

Not to be confused with the manipulative charisma of a narcissist, these peeps are just a little bowl of Californian sunshine. I'm always downlow super jealous because as far as I can tell it's completely effortless and unforced. I can switch it on but there's a small yet infinite difference. Pheromones? Excess oxytocin? Or is it metaphysics?

Well - good luck whichever path you take. Re your future pieces they all sound interesting.

Out of interest are you a natural intuitive "people person"? I am not - which is maybe why this stuff is so interesting to me. But when it's explained the explanations often feel "right", I wouldn't say emotions and interactions go entirely over my head.

Definitely not a natural intuitive "people person" though I am outgoing and get great joy and energy from meeting new people.

I was informally diagnosed with Asperger's by teachers at school. Also I didn't really get my social life together until I started doing what I do best — analyzing the crap out of how it all works.

There have been times where I’ve off-handedly complimented someone, and their ensuing uncomfortableness makes me feel uncomfortable. Would love to read your insights on the topic!

All great topics. I have subscribed and looking forward reading each of those.

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