Comments on: Meaningful Work

By: Matt Creelman

Matt Creelman — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:59:53 +0000

If the profit motive drives much of this, then astute developer will be inventing a game in which we write on-line essays and the program evaluates the contents and posts responses. An engaging essay generates a greater number of responses and a greater variety. We win red points for generating disagreement and blue points for approval. We can win further points by responding to the responses, although there is an atrophy function that requires more effort when entering this stage. We never meet anyone who responds, because they are computer generated, but we get a sense of meaningful achievement. “minds” are being connected.

By: Samuel Williams

Samuel Williams — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:29:19 +0000

You must be doing something right then!

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:06:35 +0000

It is precisely my goal to offend people who are leading meaningless lives when they could be doing so much more. If I can plant the seed that helps them grab onto some meaning, then I’ve done my job here.

By: brandi belle

brandi belle — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 06:52:29 +0000

Samuel, I have to disagree with you on something you said in your reply. How is he offending people by what he said? That’s totally the opposite from what I got out it.

By: Samuel Williams

Samuel Williams — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:57:40 +0000

I enjoyed your thoughts. I think you are generally going to offend people when you tell them that xx% of their life is meaningless – probably because deep down they actually regret it.

In many ways, its also possible for something which seems inconsequential – and may be provably inconsequential – to develop into something meaningful in the future. From one point of view – the evolution of one kind of fish into another kind of fish might seem irrelevant – but it might have been the path that lead to amphibians – its hard to have the foresight of greatness.