Ask HN: What is a way someone demonstrates value in your opinion?
Specifically outside of a money or economic context.
What creates value behind money? Can you name anything?
What creates value behind money? Can you name anything?
Perhaps the single greatest value add delivered by a person is through simplicity. When there are only two things to consider the clearest path forward is a straight line between the two points. When there are more than two things, as is almost always the case, the path forward is less clear. More challenging still is that this is a calculus problem, artifacts in continuous states of transition, as opposed to algebra problem of fixed data points.
When there are many variables at play the clearest path forward is often lost. It takes a brilliant person to find that clearer path, and thus add value. Brilliance is the most appropriate combination of qualities that provides for the best solution and is not necessarily higher intelligence. As Paul Graham would say this is often counter-intuitive to what you would expect or what might appear obvious.
Not just traditional volunteering but teaching others, assisting co-workers, helping around the house, etc.
If you don’t help (at work, home, whatever), you will never gain my respect. Money and/or social status do not change that fact.
People are valuable to each other in different ways depending on your own personal values. Personally, I value people more who (in no particular order):
- have a willingness to help others without recognition or reward
- have a desire to learn and change/improve oneself
- have a well-informed set of personal values
- are willing to contribute to the community
- lack greed or addiction to consumerism
- are willing to do the difficult tasks
- reject the idea of holding power over others
- reject ideas of personal or demographic superiority
My local small engine shop provides value by servicing my mower cheaper than I can myself (and while I continue doing other things)
My dishwasher provides value because I'm not stuck doing the dishes
My colleagues provide value by giving me data I need faster than I can find it, or by doing something I cannot
Etc etc
Most preschools here provide minimum care and nutrition. They'd beat crying kids until the kids fall asleep. Food would be porridge, with a budget of one whole chicken per month. They end up undernourished with no love. They learn to hate school. They end up underproductive and often dangerous because they loathe everything associated with school - math, science, literature, work. Some end up hating authority.
I pay more for my kids' early education than I paid for my college education, because I want them to know that learning can be fun, even if it's just the first few years. But to get that, I think the teachers themselves need to be paid pretty good rates.
etc.