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Comment by hoodwink | Hacker News Reader

Validation may be a positive side effect, but maximizing individual productivity is a subject of genuine interest for many people, myself included. Look at www.lifehacker.com. I don't think that website exists as a conduit for authors' self-esteem. Look at the success of Tim Ferriss. Examples go on...

OP clearly put a lot of work into researching various methods, tried them out on himself, and wanted to share the results, maybe even give back to the "productivity community." I appreciate that.

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I think there's a clash between lifehacker/Tim Ferriss and '[wanting] to share the results, maybe even give back to the "productivity community"', rather than an affinity as you seem to suggest. The former are profit-generating enterprises whose business is selling productivity techniques. Lifehacker is fairly authentic, but a Gawker-owned for-profit nonetheless while I don't personally place Tim Ferriss far from Tony Robbins et al. Whether that's overly harsh or not, I don't think either are comparable to independent folk posting their productivity systems on their personal blogs when their businesses are not related to selling books of those techniques, or making money from ad revenue their productivity tips attract.

I'm cynical, but '[wanting] to share the results, maybe even give back to the "productivity community"' doesn't seem like a complete answer to me. And I'm not trying to get anyone to admit secret motives, I just think there are subconscious things going on when people post their productivity solutions, and I'm trying hard to figure out what they are.

Maybe you should author a summary of your findings ("A Novel Theory on the Subconscious Motivations of Personal Productivity Articles") and then we can analyze the subconscious reasons driving your quest.

A mirror in a mirror :)

EDIT: I think OP did confirm that he believes his own intent was to share with the community, but one can debate whether or not he is a fair judge of his own motivations.

This is funny, but it's only a mirror in a mirror if I write and post the article. Why one would do that is exactly what I'm trying to understand.

But then, I have been commenting actively here and "Why do that?" is almost the same question. Trying to step away from myself and answer honestly I think it's because I've been a lurker on HN for years but don't feel like a proper HNer without 500 karma. A few weeks ago I tried to start posting more. It's difficult, because before I click reply I always try to rigorously break down my motives. Usually I don't like what I see, and close the tab.

A large percentage of writings on the internet are motivated by unhealthy narcissism. Well, why don't we just replace "writings on the internet" with "things people do"?

Then share a complete answer with your thoughts, instead of being cynical :). That would be more constructive than posting such comments, wouldn't it ?

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