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Comment by dpcan | Hacker News Reader

What the hell is wrong with HARD???? Why is everyone so lazy? We are going backwards as a society. I was raised thinking that if it wasn't hard to do, it wasn't worth doing. Every uphill path should not be looked at as an arduous journey, but as an adventure with an amazing reward at the top.

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Something being difficult and worthwhile doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient use of your time. And it doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t make those things easier. Building a computer is hard. It’s also worthwhile. I’ve built a few. But I’ve bought a lot more. It usually isn’t worth my time, effort, and energy.

And having conversations about the difficulties is how people, especially people on HN, will better understand the problem and come up with a solution that will (hopefully) leave everyone better off.

Nothing is wrong with hard. But complaining about hard things, sympathy, and recognition of the difficulty is also a large portion of what makes doing hard things tolerable. Trying to shut it down will have the opposite effect of what you want.

> If it wasn't hard to do, it wasn't worth doing

That might be true but if something is hard that doesn't mean it's automatically worth doing. Video conference learning might be both simultaneously hard and completely worthless.

You're right. My point is more that parents need to work really hard to be involved and turn that boring video class into something productive, interesting, and worthwhile.

I'm with you, we should approach problems with optimism not fear. However, teaching that approach to kids is a long term strategy, and helping them adapt to a new routine is a slow process, it's less about the difficulty and more about the emotional cost that you have to pay to succeed.

I have three kids, all elementary school age and I am prepping to start the school year all remote. I'm not afraid of the challenge but i'm honest with myself that it will take a toll on my kids and my marriage that I cannot avoid. No matter how hard I work, it will take time and getting into the routine cannot be done overnight.

It's okay to be daunted by that prospect.

So why don’t we make everything as hard as possible? Ditch the washing machine, wash your clothes by hand. Skip the grocery store, go hunt for your food instead.

> if it wasn't hard to do, it wasn't worth doing

that's a very narrow minded way of looking at the world. Kind words, hugs are very much worth it

The point is that the things that come easy for us are usually those that we value the least, so, after we put in a lot of hard work and time on something, and we had a great accomplishment, we'd say "if it wasn't hard to do, it wasn't worth doing." It's a self pat-on-the-back.

But I totally understand how if you applied this saying to EVERYTHING then it wouldn't make sense, or be seen as "narrow minded" I suppose.

I mean, fishing is pretty damn easy, but every trip I take is worth taking for the peace of mind.

This comment is lacking in empathy. Not all situations can be solved by the same logic.

I'm sorry, and I agree, it wasn't. It was a frustrated post and I'm being down-voted because of it :/

I like your take on life - thanks for reminding me of this little fact.

I assume this is sarcasm, but if not, prepare for down-votes because absolutely nobody agrees with me.

have you been taught to tell hard from bullshit? i've been taught that hard and worthwhile are orthogonal and the amazing prize at the top sometimes is just the fact that you've made it, thanks, now get the f* back down you idiot.

Yes, sometimes I cannot tell the difference between hard and bullshit. And yes, I can be a complete idiot sometimes. So, thanks?

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