HN Theater @HNTheaterMonth

⬐ jlos

Having seen this for the first time, it seems the video is some kind of absurdist double entendre: it combines insightful comments about mindfulness while seemingly satirizing the entire enterprise of it at the same time.

Some supportive points for mindfulness:

- Treating everyday things like works leads you not enjoying them and doing them poorly. Yet the bulk amount of time in your life is spent doing these very activities.'

- Finding enjoyment in perfecting simple things actually makes a lot sense, as its presented.

- If you stub your toe, drop a dish, etc, and don't practise doing the movement properly you are likely to make the mistake again.

Support in Absurdist:

- He puts the radio, with its neatly wrapped cord, under a sink.

- "Gentle old cop making a soft arrest"

- the contrast between 'gentle' and 'soft' with arrest is clearly absurd.

- 10 month year with 26 days

- Taking your time in a gun fight.

Support for Satirizing (comical critique):

- The objects are clearly magical.

- The utensils instantly drop exactly where they need to without sorting.

- The toothpaste cup basically cleans itself.

- The chair actually does move in front of him.

- The contrast between the do-easy mindfulness and the ignorant way of living are infomercial-level exaggerated.

The ending summarizes the absurd double-entendre: a gun-fight is a simple movement done very well in a zen sort of way (the trick to moving fast is to practice slowly), but at the same time its clearly absurd. Its also a gun-fight. You don't have time.

Really great video. I'll be watching it again

⬐ jadbox

I think true brilliance that lies in making a statement that cannot be fully interpreted as supportive, critical, or satirical. On one hand, it allows the viewer to project their oppinion onto the medium. On the other, the medium reveals a value to an viewpoint/lifestyle while also being critical of it.

⬐ hirundo

The first, and non trivial, step, is noticing that you aren't doing it easy.

I've been working in very tight spaces where I twist myself into pretzels trying to get at a particular spot, all while wrapped up in a homemade hazmat suit, to the point where I can hardly breath or see. It has gotten better after I established one rule: No Stress Positions. Meaning, do whatever it takes to get comfortable before proceeding.

Before, if my back would start to hurt from a difficult stance, I wouldn't really notice, I'd just speed up to try to get it done before my back gave out, frequently botching the job and cutting or scraping myself in the process. Now, I notice that I'm breaking The Rule, think about the topology, reposition myself, maybe add cushions, maybe spend some time to move things out of the way. Fixup my mask and goggles, and then take my time.

Before I'd only take notice of my discomfort on failure, when I just couldn't do it anymore. And that resulted in a strong desire to quit. Now I spend the effort to get myself in an "I could do this all day position", and I can do it all day. I think the same thing applies to washing dishes or making breakfast. First step, just notice that you aren't doing it in easy mode.

It's summed up by the old Two Bulls on a Hill joke.

⬐ rubicon33

How does one apply this "easy mode" to software development?

⬐ Jtsummers

TDD or other approaches which shorten the feedback loop, a bit of planning, selecting a task-appropriate language and task-appropriate libraries (either standard to the language or external), frequent refactoring.

Don't spend a manic day writing 10k lines of code and only compiling it at the end of the day. Don't go in without a plan and develop the structure in an ad hoc fashion. Don't delay refactoring until after the first 100k lines are written. Ideally never even write 100k lines because you've selected an appropriate language and libraries to let you write something that closely matches the problem domain.

Use templates/frameworks where possible for common activities. These don't even need to be heavy weight, but relates back to using libraries. If you're making your 100th CRUD site in some language and you don't already have a default structure, you're doing it the hard way.

⬐ zokier

Especially how do you avoid trying to boil the ocean while trying to "do easy"? I feel you could spend a lifetime to get truly comfortable, to not get constantly hit by small snags and papercuts.

⬐ brudgers

Use the same tools year after year.

⬐ dkarl

Improve developer ergonomics. Standardize the boring parts of your projects. Simplify code. Fix flaky tests and flaky automation.

Keep a calm, steady frame of mind, so you have a more uniform appreciation of time passing. Don't fall into a busy frenzy or a puzzle-solving trance that allows a haphazard or complicated way of doing things to feel quicker than it really is. Don't let boredom blind you to the virtues of smooth, simple things.

A common mistake people make is identifying boring, predictable tasks as the most urgent focus for improvement. This is misguided. A task that is boring and predictable is already well-engineered. It can and should be further improved by automation, but much bigger gains come from standardizing the tasks that seem to go differently every time, the tasks that are typically handled by the most experienced developers. Making an "interesting" task boring saves much more effort than the subsequent step of automating it.

⬐ stephen_cagle

First, I agree. Second, I don't know if I would call it a mistake as much as non-optimal.

I would say that getting the boring & predictable ones out of the way frees you from keeping them in mind. This allows you to address the ones that "go different every time" without keeping track of the details.

Removing the boring/predictable stuff also means you can enter flow much more quickly (and regularly). I find that for me programming is more of a psychological game than a technical one. The ability to quickly get into flow is of very high value to me. However, in other domains and with other people "standardizing" the "offbeat" task may yield greater productivity gains.

XKCD made a comic about automating task -> https://xkcd.com/1205/

⬐ s3tz

It goes for almost anything. I think a good way sum it up would be: Don't pretend it's something it's not. For whatever reason.

⬐ gypsyharlot

Excellent advice! Thank you for sharing

⬐ dsego

Festina lente = make haste slowly. There's another similar saying, not sure about the translation, but something along the lines of "the longer way may be quicker than the shortcut".

⬐ zengargoyle

Practice slow, learn fast. Practice fast, learn slow.

⬐ dbtc

slow is smooth and smooth is fast

⬐ cassepipe

Related : "Sometimes you cut corners, sometimes the corner cuts you"

From the movie : "How fast can you take your time?"

⬐ Jtsummers

Another saying: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Apparently from the US Navy SEALs though I didn't learn it from that context (best effort to recall my first hearing of it was my dad, who probably learned it in a military context as he was a USAF pilot).

He also taught me the phrase "lazy man's load", in reference to trying to haul everything from the car to the house at once. Taking less each time reduced the risk of an accident (like dropping a bag of groceries or having the bottom tear out because it's not properly supported), even though it means more trips it (usually) produces the better result. Which also seems appropriate here, the lazy man's load is born of haste and is decidedly not the easy way in many, if not most, situations.

⬐ huge87

The same is true for a lot of performance stuff, like racing, or basketball. Basketball coach Phil Jackson writes that when you move quickly, do not hurry or rush. Don’t go so fast that you start making mistakes. In racing, “do easy” is even more applicable. Overdriving the car doesn’t find you much more lap time. The fastest, most consistent drivers are smooth. So yeah, “do easy” or “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast” aren’t as esoteric as they may seem at first.

⬐ potta_coffee

Was going to say this too ("slow is smooth..."), this is a common mantra in the USMC and there's real truth in it. If you perform a task 10k times, slowly and smoothly, it will become muscle memory and speed will come on its own.

⬐ hummusandsushi

I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the video was and the message is very clearly and directly applicable to how we carry ourselves in day-to-day life.

If you perform your actions single-mindedly and with purpose, you will find that they become easier and more efficient. It is not a question of exerting more effort, but exerting it in such a way that none goes to waste.

⬐ cleansingfire

Love this since I saw it ages ago, and despite a bit of Burrough's woo, it helped me to be careful, and strive for physical grace, in the things I'm doing. Personally, I tended to physical extravagance, and enjoyed that as a goofy hyper teen, all edges and elbows. This provided a surprising rationale and reminder to move more carefully. Now, I reconsider when I find myself flailing or thrashing, so that instead of pushing harder, or searching for bigger hammers and longer levers, I pause and reconsider. It's a bit of nonviolence to the world that results in care for yourself, with impacts like walking more gracefully, or remembering to turn a wrench so that you don't injure yourself when it slips.

⬐ JohnDeHope

I really enjoyed the absurdist element to this. I think he is simultaneously advocating mindfulness and making fun of it, both earnest and satirical, obviously silly but also serious. Absurdism is great.

⬐ DrOctagon

Agreed. The message would be way too earnest without the absurdist elements.

Come to think of it getting frustrated with our interaction with inanimate objects is completely absurd. DE is like the opposite of slapstick.

⬐ obventio56

All comments so far seem not to realize this is satirizing mindfulness

⬐ nepthar

Why do you think it's satire? I didn't get that read.

⬐ obventio56

I guess it’s just the premise.

Retiree transforms his life and solves all his problems by doing exactly what he was going before only... more carefully? And duel is certainly absurdist.

I enjoyed the film, but I think it’s intention is largely opposite what is being received here.

⬐ chasebank

I don't think it is satirical.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/9aa3vy/do-easy-william-s-bur...

⬐ C-x_C-f

While the video certainly contains absurdist elements (the duchess scene gets me every time), I've always seen it as being sincere in tone. It feels a bit like a fable or a parable, in that it contains deliberately unrealistic parts to get the point across, but remains in good faith nonetheless.

⬐ abledon

if you watch the video after 3:50, it starts to crack into non-seriousness. esp when it gets to the shot of the guy zipping up his open fly

⬐ uoaei

Just because it's not something typically shown in film doesn't make it absurdist.

⬐ tantalor

Is this sincere advice?

- Walk across a room with care

- Open a window with care

- Shoot a guy with care

⬐ uoaei

Yes? What's your problem with it?

Have you ever heard of Zen Buddhism? All the "advice" you get from Zen teachings is pretty similar to this, except with more focus on not-doing as an approach to doing.

⬐ timeon

I always thought it was about obsession.

⬐ dang

It's more interesting than that. Burroughs was one of the Beats after all.

⬐ obventio56

Hi dang

⬐ dang

Articles about it:

https://dangerousminds.net/comments/william_burroughs_gus_va... - "Buddhist noir" - nice.

https://www.openculture.com/2018/07/discipline-d-e-gus-van-s...

⬐ stephen_cagle

I don't know why this style appeals to me so. I like that it is poking fun at while also embracing what we would call mindfulness. I like the fact that you can take most anything from it. May just be a reflection of being tired of the prescriptive (usually appeal to authority) style of so many videos/books these days.

⬐ gfiorav

I get the irony here, but regardless:

I'm European and live in the US. When I've travelled to the Middle East and Japan, both places struck me for people doing exactly what this video suggests.

Such a calm, methodic way of handling things... made me realize that to them, we probably appear careless.

⬐ 99_00

Love to smoke pot and do something like this. Love that it's a thing and I can attach a label to it and the idea of doing poorly executed sequences again, better. Going to try to do this more often in everyday life.

⬐ yboris

I re-watch this video about once a year for the past decade.

My take-away for myself is to stop getting angry at some stupid things I get angry at. To try to make stupid chores into elegant mini-games instead (speed run it optimally, etc).

⬐ alexdgourlay

Sampled in this track by techno duo Minilogue

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZznUiv1Q5s

⬐ tomduncalf

Aha I was just about to post this. Great track. First heard it in Efdemin's mix CD "Carry On, Pretend We're Not In The Room" which is a good one: https://open.spotify.com/track/4r3NSfFXLdmTu5TDTETXF2?si=kNJ...

⬐ C-x_C-f

Funnily enough, this track is credited in the video description of the OP video under the "Music in this video" section, complete with an ad for YouTube premium...

⬐ dusted

Anyone else feeling the beauty in this ?

It's like hearing my own thoughts reinterpreted and spoken out aloud. It's how I've always enjoyed doing things, just so, efficient, precise and elegant.. I wonder if there's a connection between that and being slightly on the spectrum..

⬐ RandomWorker

I have surprising many of these OCD tics when cleaning the lab. This is surprisingly useful when working in a lab, cleanliness and order is paramount for health and safety. Then the videos divulges into some western saloon thing. :P

⬐ sidcool

I watched it but did not get it. ELI5 anyone?

⬐ dsego

Do things with intention and don't rush.

⬐ qntty

Basically mindfulness before it was a thing

⬐ abledon

more like trolling mindfulness

⬐ hnedeotes

You mean B.C.?

⬐ uoaei

Mindfulness existed long before hippies and yuppies re-appropriated it.

⬐ jlos

I think its intentionally mixing messages. It combines sincere insight into the benefits of mindfulness. However, the world the narrator speaks in is clearly a fantasy world detached from reality. The video both makes a profound case for mindfulness while satirizing its own arguments.

⬐ dbtc

To see it in action, watch a pro sushi chef

⬐ aargh_aargh

Same video, 2x better quality (240p vs 480p):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pjQ0FNzkLQ

⬐ dang

Ok, we've changed to that from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoOUBETTyMI above. Thanks!

⬐ 1970-01-01

I hope nobody actually does this crap. Its not healthy.

⬐ mannanj

Why don't you tell us an alternative rather than just shooting down without solving the problem?

⬐ 1970-01-01

You can't understand this is comedy/satire? See also:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0239404/

Same writer and director.

⬐ Slow_Hand

The text is sincere while the video is absurd. People can still understand the video as comedy/satire, but the point of the original text is still valid and useful.

What do you find to be unhealthy or objectionable about the message of the text? It’s as if you believe that people in this thread who are discussing the merits of the text are going to act absurdly like the young man in the video.

⬐ 1970-01-01

Yes that's it, I believe that people are going to act absurdly like the young man in the video. It actually happens.

⬐ howlin

So far the comments here lack much context. The film here is what I believe is a student project of Gus Van Sant who went on to be a professional movie director. The narration is from William Burroughs, who's most famous for "Naked Lunch".

One interesting fact about Burroughs is that he was a chronic drug abuser and managed to shoot his wife during some sort of drug fueled accident. The message in this little piece can be easily interpreted as Burroughs trying to analyzing his own mistakes that lead to her death.

This is really just scratching the surface of how odd and complex Burroughs' life and psyche are. If you are a fan of surrealism, the beatnik movement or other larger than life writers like Hunter S Thomson, it's worth giving his work a chance.

⬐ JadeNB

> This is really just scratching the surface of how odd and complex Burroughs' life and psyche are. If you are a fan of surrealism, the beatnik movement or other larger than life writers like Hunter S Thomson, it's worth giving his work a chance.

The movie Naked lunch, nominally about Burroughs, is also very much worth a watch.

⬐ pitspotter

Maybe the 'Do Easy' strategy helps a drug user to cope with the low dopamine levels during the hangover period, i.e. when not high.

⬐ dang

The story is by Burroughs but that narrator is not the dry, timeless Burroughs voice, which sounds like...papyrus with ancient secrets inscribed on it, which has seen it all.

Edit: here's the Voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-p68gSp4eE#t=5

Edit 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ajahePtEaY#t=66 (music by John Cale)

Edit 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daYvKq87cv4

Edit 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9kwcJpX_Zg

William S. Burroughs

  Dead City Radio (1990)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pn79iNS-Js

  Discipline of Do Easy (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pjQ0FNzkLQ

  Ah Pook (1979-Poem, 1994-Animation)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3kz4AUHe1M

One of the 'beat poets' and pioneer of the "cut up", a semi-randomized collage of slicing, duplicating, and splicing media. The effect seems to create awareness of the medium itself.

  (The Cut Ups, 1966)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_hztHJCM4

  Speaking on his Cut Ups (1983)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NU3dIdqIBw