Top all-time · #14752
Richard Smith
Personal blog · richardswsmith.wordpress.comwritingphilosophyculture
Richard Smith's personal blog at richardswsmith.wordpress.com covers writing, philosophy and culture. Since 2022, 5 different Hacker News readers have linked it 7 times, most often “Vonnegut: ”We are on Earth to fart around, don’t let anybody tell you different””. It is still writing: the last post was on 2026-10-29, and you can follow it by feed.
Too few sampled comments (6) to say how often HN recommends it.?
Why HN links it
HN readers link these posts for historical anecdotes and quotes, such as Schopenhauer's conversation topics, a Vonnegut line about fooling around on Earth, and a Naples professional mourner.
Summarised by Claude from a sample of 6 HN comments that link here. Each comment is marked recommending, critical or neutral (citing without judging); how this works.
Most-linked posts?
- Vonnegut: ”We are on Earth to fart around, don’t let anybody tell you different”3 people · 4 mentions · first linked 2022-08-27
What Hacker News says?
Vonnegut said it best: https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/we-are-here-...
Comment linking /2017/11/18/we-are-here-on-earth-to-fart-around-and-dont-let-anybody-tell-you-any-different/
on “Playing in the Creek”Submitted Vonnegut: ”We are on Earth to fart around, don’t let anybody tell you different” as a story · 28 points
HN discussion“I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different.” Kurt Vonnegut [0] You have nothing to regret, and don’t look back, only forward. There is no such thing as wasted time as long as you are enjoying yourself. People like Carmack are the exception to the rule, they are the 0.0001%, trying to compare yourself to them is irrelevant. 0: https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2017/1…
Comment linking /2017/11/18/we-are-here-on-earth-to-fart-around-and-dont-let-anybody-tell-you-any-different/
on “Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?”This sort of thing exists at various times and places that value appearances a lot. A description of an "uncle from Rome" as a professional mourner in mid-20th century Naples: https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2018/10/11/a-zio-di-rom... (fascinating book, Naples 44 )
Comment linking /2018/10/11/a-zio-di-roma-an-uncle-from-rome-highly-desirable-at-neapolitan-funerals/
on “What happened to blogging for the hell of it?”Back in the times of Schopenhauer, [english officer] conversation revolved around a trinity of topics: horses, hounds, and women. Back in twentieth century Silicon Valley, [sw geek] conversation revolved around a trinity of topics: bikes, computers, and women. https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/schopenhauer...
Comment linking /2017/08/29/schopenhauers-wager/
on “The bike collection of Robin Williams”"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you any different." https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/we-are-here-... Spending less time on social media probably is a good thing but not because it's unproductive, but because it tends to make people less happy.
Comment linking /2017/11/18/we-are-here-on-earth-to-fart-around-and-dont-let-anybody-tell-you-any-different/
on “How to Add 10 Years to Your Life”My favourite Schopenhauer anecdote: https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/schopenhauer... (when I related this anecdote to a young lady of my acquaintance back in the 20th century, she suggested S' list could be updated to "bikes, computers, and women"; what would be a good triple for the 21st?)
Comment linking /2017/08/29/schopenhauers-wager/
on “Schopenhauer on Reading”