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Tog's Paradox

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260 points adzicg | 10 comments | 22 Oct 24 12:05 UTC | HN request time: 1.176s | source | bottom
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nine_k ◴[22 Oct 24 14:31 UTC] No.41914693[source]▶
It looks almost as if humans have a nearly infinite backlog of things they would do if they only had time and capability, and a limit on the amount of effort they are capable of exerting per day. Then, once new tools increase their productivity and free up a bit of resources, they pick more desiderata from the backlog, and try to also accomplish that. Naturally they seek more tools for the newly-possible activities, and the loop closes.

This applies to any activity, leisure emphatically included. Travel became simpler → more vacations now involve flying a plane and thus obtaining tickets online and thus comparison-shopping, aggregating reviews of faraway places, etc → omg, vacation travel is complex again. It just allows to fulfill more of a dream.

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1. TheJoeMan ◴[22 Oct 24 15:07 UTC] No.41915028[source]▶
I like to apply a similar lesson taught to me about content to consume - with the internet, there is a nearly infinite stream of entertainment and news, and it can feel overwhelming. In the past, our predecessors could read their 1 local printed newspaper and be "finished". So you have to change your thinking, to be we are able to curate a high-quality stream that constantly flows by, and when we desire, we can dip in and scoop up 1 serving.

To your comment about vacations, the issue is people subconsciously want to ensure their trip value is "maximized" - oh no, do I have time to see all 10 best spots in the city? Or some historical building is closed, and you read online how it's a lifechanging experience to see, and now you feel left out. So you have to push that aside, follow the 80/20 rule, and appreciate what you ARE able to do on your trip.

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2. MichaelZuo ◴[22 Oct 24 17:40 UTC] No.41916695[source]▶
The interesting question is, why do so many people value spending time ‘maximizing’ with uncertain prospects more than extra time to enjoy the trip?
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3. bioxept ◴[22 Oct 24 18:06 UTC] No.41916956[source]▶
How do you curate the content you consume? And how do you prevent yourself from consuming non-curated content and loosing yourself in it?
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4. Eisenstein ◴[22 Oct 24 18:53 UTC] No.41917434[source]▶
I think people are different that way. When I visit a city on my own, I tend to just wander around and find a nice spot or meet some interesting people and do whatever flows from that. Whereas when I am with certain friends or family, there is always a schedule and a destination.
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5. gukov ◴[22 Oct 24 19:30 UTC] No.41917822{3}[source]▶
Well, travelling as a group of people almost always demands having a plan, otherwise “we’ll just wander around until we find something interesting” is a hard sell to get everyone on board.
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6. Vedor ◴[22 Oct 24 19:41 UTC] No.41917934{4}[source]▶
Fair point. And that's why I prefer to travel alone or just with my fiancee. It's just much easier to, well, wander as you please.
7. mfro ◴[22 Oct 24 21:26 UTC] No.41918896[source]▶
Feed readers and self discipline I would guess. I don't want to pay or host a feed reader right now, and I'm bad at self discipline, so I just limit what social media I use to HN and some blogs.
8. andai ◴[22 Oct 24 22:50 UTC] No.41919522[source]▶
> In the past, our predecessors could read their 1 local printed newspaper and be "finished".

HN front page is almost slow-moving enough to replicate this experience! (This appears to be by design?)

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9. kylebenzle ◴[22 Oct 24 23:23 UTC] No.41919799[source]▶
Dang has mentioned that getting the front page refresh rate was one of the hardest things to get right!
10. jumping_frog ◴[23 Oct 24 03:41 UTC] No.41921582[source]▶
"Everything Everywhere All At Once" tried to capture this feeling of digital abundance and diversity of viewpoints / experiences. Best explained in the following video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvclV0_o0JE

Here’s the thing: We don’t need an actual multiverse to put cracks in the clay pot of our mind when we already have devices for careening through the endless imaginations of the multitudes, when we exist in an environment where you can encounter the personal stories and experiences from people on every continent, all who are living their own unique life in just a few minutes, all from the comfort of your own toilet. When more interesting ideas and concepts, and people and places can fly by in the space of one 30 minute TikTok binge then some of our ancestors experienced in the entirety of their localized illiterate lives.The internet, for those who are inspired to spend lot of time on it and use it in a certain way, for those who envelope themselves in it’s self-referential world of constantly evolving novelty and imagery, will inevitably have a profound effect on the way you see the world.