Skip to main content

"Writing is hard," said Barbie.

I don't know if it's an urban legend but I've heard that Barbie dolls once came with a pull string voice box that said either, "Math is hard," or "Science is hard."

I think it was probably "Math." If it mattered which, I could google it. But google is *hard*.

Anyhow, h/t to Ann Althouse to linked to this column. Love to Write? Keep It to Yourself.

I have advice for Rachel Toor, the author.

If you don't want to hear people explain that they love to write, stop complaining about how horrible it is. You explain how a friend...
made the mistake of interrupting me on one of the myriad occasions when I was ranting about the hard work of writing.
Stop ranting.

Yes, writing is work. But constant public ranting about how much work it is is fishing for sympathy and, perhaps, praise. There are other jobs you could do. If you had a good friend who dug ditches and ranted on myriad occasions about how hard it was, would you *not* tell him how you enjoy physical labor as a break from the keyboard or else finally tell him he ought to get a new job?

Of course you would.

If you hate writing, Rachel, quit writing and find a job you enjoy.

The thing is... Barbie was right. Math *is* hard. And for those who do Math professionally, it's *work*. It's an exhausting effort to do it well. This is true for any profession.

So why was the "Math is hard" Barbie so reviled?

Answer that question and you may solve your anger problem.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tyranny.gov vs Tyranny.com

Compulsion is Compulsion, no matter who does it.  This is Brilliant Theft is Theft, no matter who does it. Freedom of Association has no room in it for *private* action   that takes that away Freedom of Association. If I have a business and have voluntary associations such that I choose to serve some people and to not serve others, that might make me a jerk and it might lose me business, it might make me smart and it might gain me business, but it's got to be my choice.  If I would normally serve the current disliked minority in my shop except for the fact that if I'm SEEN to serve them by the wrong people I'll have a private campaign against me as those people do everything possible to ruin me by preventing me from doing business physically or by attacking my customers or suppliers, then I am NOT free to make those choices. Does it really make a difference to losing my CHOICE to voluntarily associate if there's a law that says I may not serve "those people" o...

Some times some people.

 

Save the Dresden Files?

This is rather upsetting! How can such a fantastic show be in danger of being canceled? I suppose worse things have happened so I think I will at least send a post card or something to let the network know that I think that the Dresden Files is one of the best shows on television. I was just assuming that there would be a "next season" on this. If it is canceled, I will be desolate! Here's the Sci-fi channel website. There's supposed to be a link to watch whole episodes someplace on there.