Hacker News Reader

Comment by ScottStevenson | Hacker News Reader

>Why does this happen?

I wrote about a hypothesis here: https://medium.com/@scott.stevenson/how-to-finally-make-some...

Most of us are scared by the ambiguity of actual creative work, so unless we are under the threat of deadline, we seek out "structured games" to play so that we can put off the anxiety of freeform work. These games are:

(1) Tool Game: Researching and setting up tools (2) Learning Game: Books, podcasts, courses (3) Maintenance Game: Cleaning up our desktop, desk, house, etc. (4) Process Game: Setting up new processes and following them

The knowledge that things are actually easy and straightforward means we actually need to do the creative part of the work--many people are not ready to face that knowledge.

View on HN

> (1) Tool Game: Researching and setting up tools (2) Learning Game: Books, podcasts, courses (3) Maintenance Game: Cleaning up our desktop, desk, house, etc. (4) Process Game: Setting up new processes and following them

I…I…I am triggered by this.

So it’s as if, people such as myself are on the hunt for artificial positive feedback loops that are functionally beautified masks of procrastination. Fueled by, perhaps a subconscious lack of confidence, or a sense of ignorance. Something to that effect.

So now imagine an entire department, teams, organizations all suffering from this? This can explain a lot.

I wouldn't write these off entirely. One of their positive outcomes is that you get to switch. Switching is important so you don't get bored or fed up. Just don't take these things too seriously, and don't stick your newfound hype into everything. Let things breathe, sleep on them. For like a few months or years.

I appreciate this piece of insight. It’s helping me find a balance.

This is exactly what I have been doing for so long (~2 years), I get hyped about a new project, delve into the "best" way of solving the problem and encounter 4-5 shiny new things, spend an unreal amount of time scaffolding and using new tech to create a base framework for whatever I am doing, and then when I actually have to solve the problem my productivity stagnates and I procrastinate more.

Even now I am conflicted/lost on what to do, this response is tbh a cry for help from people who have encountered something like this. Any insight would be great.

I call these games ‘using emacs’. (as an emacs user)

I use Arch, btw.

I am certainly guilty of those, but I would point to larger pressures at the team and org levels - continuing to do things "the old way" (regardless of how old, just "the way we have been doing them") means no budget for big new projects to "modernize" apps and systems, no chance for managers to put their stamp on things with big new projects, etc.

Based on this description, I should vary my playing of games.

Anyway, I find the usage of the term "game" to be quite odd. Why not "strategy?" I'm not sure I agree with the overall point, but enjoy how you've operationalized/categorized behavior in this way. There is value in that.

I used the word game because game implies a sort of "formal structure" or "submission" to a set of rules and constraints. This kind of structure relieves us of the anxiety of choice. It's so powerful it can be euphoric, that's why people pay for others to dominate them . I think it's also why we get into drug habits and a lot of other vices that add structure to our lives.

It's fine in moderation but tackling ambiguity regularly makes magic happen.

Isn't this literally just self-sabotaging? :)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com