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What's the most important problem in the world that one can work on? (lemmy.world)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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Cross-posting a 2023 Hacker News thread:

Everyone has different perspectives and values, so what do you personally think is the most important problem in the world right now? Is it something that one, or a group of early enthusiasts, can work on?

The original quote is from Aaron Swartz:

Life is short (or so I’m told) so why waste it doing something dumb? It’s easy to start working on something because it’s convenient, but you should always be questioning yourself about it. Is there something more important you can work on? Why don’t you do that instead? Such questions are hard to face up to (eventually, if you follow this rule, you’ll have to ask yourself why you’re not working on the most important problem in the world) but each little step makes you more productive.

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[–] 1 point 10 months ago* (2 children)

according to whose standards?

i like to read books and learn and try new things. i also of a lot of athletics, like half marathon type stuff.

a lot of people think i'm a massive asshole for doing these things, as me merely talking about my interests and lifestyle 'triggers' them, as in makes them feel insecure about themselves. also they were not making me popular, famous, or rich, so what is the point of any of it?

according to my exes i would have been a better person if i gave up all my hobbies, got a soulless corporate job to make as much money as possible, and then spent most of that money on them...

a lot of people's desires/goals require other people being subordinate to them, including you. and if you don't comply, they will think you're a shitty person.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (1 child)

    I don't really understand where you're coming from here or rather what exactly you talk about. You reading, learning and doing athletics is exactly what I meant in my comment, so I think it's amazing you're doing those things.

    But also yes, I intentionally made this comment because it seems like as you experienced, a lot of people need to do more of it, including your exes.

    And the "being subordinate" is also exactly what I meant, they see you being amazing and comparison leads to them feeling bad about themselves, which is obviously your fault /s.

    Are you lonely?

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago*

    People do things for social approval. That's my point. Social approval requires meeting other people's standards, not your own.

    And when your standards are not in synch with the people around you, it's miserable and leads to conflict.

    Where I come from 'bettering yourself' got you socially shitcanned. And that's true for a lot of parts of the world and family relationships.

    The mantra of meritocractic achievement is only social and rewarding among the upper middle classes, in the USA at least. If you existing outside of that, you people often regard 'self improvement' with hostility.

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