Jamie Zawinski, whose delightful blog I recently rediscovered, addresses this point in a post I read just this morning:
Scroll down to the section header “ON BLOCKING.”
I am forever advising people, “Why hit Reply when the Block button is right there?”
But the struggle is real. I feel it too, especially these last few days. There are so many people who are wrong on the internet. So many! You don’t owe them your time. Block with righteous glee.
It helps if you think of the “Block” button as the “Go **** Yourself” button.
haha. Years ago I wrote a script that sent a one-line reply. “I’m sorry. I don’t argue with the Internet”, and then moved the sender into the SaneBox Black Hole. I stopped sending the message though. It felt kind of childish in hindsight.
I’d rather have gray hair than no hair.
I’m an outlier here as I’m retired and really have no need for much of what’s discussed.
But I do receive enough nuggets to make following MPU worthwhile. As “retired” seniors my husband and I run a small business renovating houses. Never thought we’d be doing this at this time of our life but enjoying it very much.
I’m a 79 year old woman who bought a Mac 7 years ago after a lifetime of using PCs. I’m so glad I did and listening to MPU has helped tremendously along the way.
@MacSparky Congratulations! I realize it took a lot of time and thought to come to this point: as it should. It’s a big decision. I hope it all goes well for you moving forward. I’m certainly going to keep listening and relish your insights and suggestions.
After my laugh-it-off comment to you earlier, I got to thinking about a Robert A. Heinlein line about how many great ideas and how much great work has been lost to the world because of belittlers.
This is why more and more I am becoming cautious about leaving negative reviews. Bad service at a restaurant? I’m not the restaurant police – let somebody else warn the world.
Best wishes @MacSparky in this new stage of your life. You will continue to be successful as long as you continue to pour your heart in what you do. It really comes through in your podcasts how much you like doing this.
Congrats MacSparky! As someone who has considered “jumping off the cliff” as you did this is inspiring. Although for me it would be continuing the same career, which admittedly is not quite as exciting.
I wonder if that is why some doubt the change - a lawyer is a known commodity. Making money on the internet is still relatively new in comparison. You can go on the web and quickly find out what salary a lawyer makes, that’s tough to do with something like MacSparky Inc. (Though I would love to see a behind the scenes of something like that, if even for one of your Field Guides project, not the whole operation. I realize that’s a personal thing and understand if that’s a no-go.)
Congratulation, @MacSparky. The advice my parents offered me when picking a career. Find something honest and noble.
Anyway, I was partly surprised when the news was announced. If I was in those shoes, a law degree and years of practice, that would be hard to give up. However, burnout, a change of pace, and different area of focus is refreshing.
