spencer's paradoxes

Spencer's Paradoxes delves into the intersection of technology, creativity, and personal growth, examining the role of communal computing, the creation and purpose of small web tools, and the exploration of self through various creative outlets. It reflects on life's paradoxes, emphasizing self-discovery, the embrace of mundane moments, and the pursuit of a fulfilling, interconnected existence.

Personal Growth Technology and Community Creative Process Self-Discovery Digital Tools and Spaces Mindfulness and Presence Life Reflections and Philosophy

The hottest Substack posts of spencer's paradoxes

And their main takeaways

75% mini-essays experiment (73-76 📝)

19 implied HN points • 26 Oct 21
  1. The author is conducting a 75% mini-essays experiment.
  2. The experiment shows that quantity can lead to quality.
  3. The author finds the experiment to be a valuable exercise in tracking their thoughts and ideas.

manifesting and fire (68-72 📝)

19 implied HN points • 22 Oct 21
  1. Manifesting involves having full control of your mind, body, and whole being.
  2. Humans tend to stop themselves from doing good things to protect themselves from the bad.
  3. Controversial desires may provoke others, but it's important to take what you want.

re: take back the future, the magic is ours

19 implied HN points • 15 Oct 21
  1. The author has written a response to a magazine manifesto about technology and agency.
  2. The response discusses fighting for more agency in the software we use daily.
  3. The author has other mini-essays available to read as well.
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paradox of apps, opportunity, and intensity (59-62/100 📝 )

19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
  1. Social apps have misaligned incentives with what is best for individuals and communities.
  2. Link rot kills our digital history.
  3. It's important to embrace your intensity and live fully to experience all that life offers.

pitiful rage (mini-📝 46/100)

19 implied HN points • 29 Aug 21
  1. Encountering pain can lead to more pain
  2. Rage can transform into pity
  3. Inspiration for creative expression can come from real-life encounters

re-solved problems (mini-📝 45/100)

19 implied HN points • 27 Aug 21
  1. Sometimes companies try to solve problems that are already solved, leading to redundant features and products.
  2. It's important to focus on creating software solutions that are specific to the actual needs of users and companies, rather than one-size-fits-all options.
  3. There's a growing movement towards open source and community-driven governance models, highlighting the importance of collaboration and shared progress.

liminal illusions (mini-📝 44/100)

19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 21
  1. The post discusses the author's experience in Vegas and why people are attracted to it.
  2. The author is experimenting by publishing 100 raw, lightly edited mini-essays.
  3. Readers can find more of the author's longer pieces on their website.

kindness journal (mini-📝 43/100)

19 implied HN points • 25 Aug 21
  1. Keeping a kindness journal can help boost your mood by recording acts of kindness and appreciation from others.
  2. Consider adding compliments you receive or give to the journal to spread positivity.
  3. Sharing nice memories or thoughts with others can help normalize kindness.

fake money (41/100 mini 📝)

19 implied HN points • 23 Aug 21
  1. The post discusses the concept of fake money and its effect on joy and love.
  2. The author is experimenting with publishing 100 raw mini-essays.
  3. The post includes a haiku about fake money and real life.

decisiveness (40/100 mini 📝)

19 implied HN points • 22 Aug 21
  1. As we grow older, our goals and desires may become more ambiguous and broadened.
  2. Being decisive means being true to our whole self, even the unconscious desires we may not want to face.
  3. Embracing play and setting up intentional structures can help us be more decisive in choosing what we truly want.

weary faces (39/100 mini 📝)

19 implied HN points • 20 Aug 21
  1. The post is about weary faces lit by spotlights
  2. It explores untapped desire spurred by twilight
  3. The writing discusses messages in translation and decoding challenges

digital capitalism (mini-📝 38/100)

19 implied HN points • 19 Aug 21
  1. The internet magnifies both the good and bad aspects of humanity right next to each other.
  2. Internet users are characterized as insatiable consumers of endless content.
  3. Top internet companies structure a reality where all shared appearances serve as implicit transactions for profit.

personal panopticon (mini-📝 37/100)

19 implied HN points • 18 Aug 21
  1. Maintaining access to data across different platforms is challenging for users
  2. Companies can break APIs without incentives to maintain them
  3. Creating a personal data repository allows control and proactive capturing of digital content

a switch, a reflection, and a commitment

19 implied HN points • 07 Aug 21
  1. Switching teams can lead to new growth opportunities and exploration.
  2. Reflecting on personal growth and mindset changes can bring gratitude and affirmation.
  3. Committing to progress in small steps can help conquer challenges and achieve goals.

the same thing (mini-📝 33/100)

19 implied HN points • 28 Jul 21
  1. Persistence is key to success, even if it means repeating mistakes to learn.
  2. True wisdom comes from deeply experiencing advice and life lessons, not just hearing them.
  3. Repeating actions, even when frustrated, can be a way to understand and achieve new depths of experience.

the technology paradox (mini-📝 31/100)

19 implied HN points • 20 Jul 21
  1. Tech industry conversations tend to dominate all topics, resembling career fair discussions.
  2. Our relationship with technology is complex - critiquing inequality but also aiming for a healthier software-society bond.
  3. Technology brings both positives and negatives, inspiring movements for reshaping tech industry with a human-centric focus.

the gaps (mini-📝 30/100)

19 implied HN points • 17 Jul 21
  1. The author wrote a poem and posted it on their website.
  2. The author is experimenting with publishing 100 raw, lightly edited mini-essays.
  3. The author's longer pieces can be found on their website.

dauntlessness (mini-📝 24/100)

19 implied HN points • 18 Jun 21
  1. The importance of taking risks as an artist to create something new
  2. Overcoming imposter syndrome by starting fresh in a new place
  3. The value of dauntlessness and intensity in pursuing career goals

The Silo Culture (mini-📝 19/100)

19 implied HN points • 03 Jun 21
  1. People often live in silos, sticking to familiar groups and interactions.
  2. Modern emphasis on individualism can lead to feelings of isolation and comparison.
  3. Breaking down silos can promote cross-pollination of ideas and perspectives for a healthy society.

commitment and obligation (mini-📝 18/100)

19 implied HN points • 24 May 21
  1. Commitment is not always a choice, sometimes it feels like an obligation.
  2. Getting caught up in commitments can lead to burnout and frustration.
  3. It's important to consider what you truly want to dedicate yourself to, to avoid feeling trapped.

remixing

19 implied HN points • 15 May 21
  1. Remix culture is becoming more popular, especially in creative works like music, art, and writing.
  2. There is a tension between remix culture and the current success-driven mindset in society.
  3. Creating economical incentives for embracing remix culture involves leveraging open-source contributions for premium services and revenue.

making sh*t (mini-📝 15/100)

19 implied HN points • 07 May 21
  1. Quality is a complex concept that is closer to feeling than science, and can't be directly taught like facts.
  2. To truly understand quality, you need to engage in the process of making things and figuring out what works.
  3. Making 'bad' things is essential to learning and unlocking the components of creating 'good' things in any context.

how i found my snow (mini-📝 13/100)

19 implied HN points • 01 May 21
  1. The post is a short story about finding 'snow'.
  2. There's a link to the full story on the author's website.
  3. This is part 13 of an experiment to publish 100 mini-essays.

slow burn (mini-📝 12/100)

19 implied HN points • 29 Apr 21
  1. The book 'Never Let Me Go' creates a sense of unease and mystery that keeps readers engaged.
  2. The story focuses on relationships and the systems at play in a world where characters are less than human to everyone else.
  3. The book's lesson encourages making a difference, fighting for goodness, and raging against a bleak natural order.

realizing an idea (mini-📝 11/100)

19 implied HN points • 27 Apr 21
  1. There are two modes of creation: triaging tasks and realizing an idea.
  2. Tackling tasks triages-style is efficient but limits creativity outside existing patterns.
  3. Approaching tasks with the aim of realizing ideas is essential for innovation and new paradigms.

zoom fatigue and low pressure contexts (mini-📝 7/100)

19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 21
  1. Digital social contexts often create pressure and drain our energy.
  2. Creating lower-pressure environments can help us express our authentic selves online.
  3. Zoom fatigue highlights the need for safe spaces to share ideas and connect digitally.

why do uncomfortable chairs exist? (mini-📝 5/100)

19 implied HN points • 16 Apr 21
  1. Uncomfortable chairs exist due to a disconnect between design and functionality.
  2. Many products, including chairs, are designed for profit and novelty over necessity and comfort.
  3. Society should shift towards designing products to last, be adaptable, and support sustainable living.

samishii and nostalgia (mini-📝 4/100)

19 implied HN points • 15 Apr 21
  1. Nostalgia enhances the experience of traveling through a city at night.
  2. Places we've been to hold onto a piece of us, creating a unique bond.
  3. The Japanese concept of 'samishii' describes a deep loneliness that can be overcome by adapting and reclaiming joy.

blazing lights (39/100 📝)

0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 21
  1. The post is part of an experiment to publish 100 raw, mini-essays
  2. The content reflects feelings and uncertainty in a poetic way
  3. The author is working towards 100 public pieces as part of the experiment

silent conversations (mini-📝 25/100)

0 implied HN points • 20 Jun 21
  1. Exploring new cities alone can be a spiritual experience.
  2. Our purchases reflect our mindset and emotions.
  3. Intimacy in transactions is often lost in the pursuit of efficiency.

the first substack post and a new piece!

0 implied HN points • 28 Sep 20
  1. Critical re-evaluation of Silicon Valley and societal identity
  2. Struggling with achieving good in the world versus intentions
  3. Reassessing choices and values in a changing world

📬  Postal Portals: The Languishing Hole - Avery

0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 21
  1. The post explores the concept of feeling stuck and lacking direction in life.
  2. The author reflects on the pressure to conform to societal expectations and the fear of losing personal freedom.
  3. There's a theme of seeking clarity on one's true desires to avoid falling back into a state of feeling trapped.

📬 Postal Portals - Avery #4: Rage for Expression

0 implied HN points • 15 Jun 21
  1. The author has been going through a self-discovery journey, facing different aspects of their identity.
  2. The author is rejecting societal norms and pursuing authenticity and personal expression.
  3. There is a shift towards pursuing personal growth and experiences, rather than chasing external markers of success.

trust (mini-📝 23/100)

0 implied HN points • 16 Jun 21
  1. Trust is crucial for feeling secure and capable of taking risks.
  2. Creating a trusting environment involves external settings like community support and internal spaces for peace and exploration.
  3. Imagine safe and peaceful scenarios to enhance your internal and external trust.

📬 Postal Portals - Avery #6: different selves

0 implied HN points • 15 Jul 21
  1. Our different selves emerge in various environments and situations.
  2. Our surroundings heavily influence our identities and which aspects of ourselves are highlighted.
  3. The Internet has caused us to develop multiple personas, creating challenges when these identities intersect.