Linkology: The Best of the Internet for 12/16/11
Do you overthink things? Does this article sound like something you need?
I have chronic, epic, daily failures with this, as I can overanalyze what gym socks to wear on what day given forecasted temperatures, footwear expectations and workout frequency (this is a real example, one that’s even scarier and more anxiety-inducing when I see it all spelled out in front of me). There’s nothing I don’t break down into a multi-factored decision matrix that I don’t get the urge to put into an Excel pivot table. Packing for a trip involves so many variables and forays into weather forecasts and terrain research that I have thought about building a server — an Anxiety Server, if you will — to help me with all these gymnastics.
I am not kidding. Trying to go on gut feel is a great idea/goal for me, but one that requires discipline and a sturdy mental tire iron with which I can beat back my OCD into its little cave. There’s all sorts of material out there about how we should get back in touch with our intuition, with our gut, to life a simpler, happier life. Me, anything that doesn’t involve a list or a computer to help consider the variables is clearly ineffective.
People who don’t know me often say, “Man, that’s impressive. I don’t see how anyone would have the mental resources to juggle all of that.”
People who know me say, “This is why you’re so messed up. You spend all your energy worrying about wearing your old socks first so you don’t wear out your new ones that you can’t remember that spreadsheet you were supposed to put together.” (Right now, some of my MIPRO colleagues are nodding.)
The upside to this is that over the past two years or so, I can literally consider variables most people wouldn’t even think about. I do outwardly appear organized. Some even call me ‘smart.’
The downside is that I have 11,000 screaming voices in my head and only the ones belonging to giant mental closet-beasts can get my attention. And those, naturally, are the most insecure jerks of the bunch.
Intuition? Gut? Yeah, they pretty much get washed away in the noise.
I often pretty much serve the wrong master. I read on the interblogtubes that this a growing epidemic among people who juggle 20 different things every day and stare at 30+ browser tabs for a living. I’m starting to believe it.
The downstream consequence? My son, age 7, is starting to show signs that he can say some pretty smart things as a result of his fledgling overthinking habit:
Me (to son, at dinner table): Do you know why people started using bread for sandwiches and hamburgers?
Son: (thinking, making pensive gestures and all) Because the bread traps the heat and keeps food warm?
Me: No, actually, to keep your hands clean. But I’m going to love the Ferrari I have when you’re a famous physicist, you little Junior Overthinker, you.
He’ll be a super scientist in ratty socks. Hooray?
With that out of the way, here are some links to ease you into something more coherent than what you just read:
Is Siri Apple’s broken promise?
Cello Wars: a Star Wars parody lightsaber duel. Pretty awesome.
The most popular how-to guides of 2011.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
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More links:
MIPRO Consulting main website.
