Hacker News Reader

Comment by philsnow | Hacker News Reader

I'm no lawyer (nor do I have any knowledge of how the law is different in Australia), but this might cause trouble when the employer asks whether trevaa used any of the company's resources to work on his side project.

If he's using their time / lights / heat / AC / lunch / asking coworkers / etc, to read about topics that are directly applicable to his side project, that muddies things considerably even if he's otherwise kept separation strict.

Consider taking it one step further, and bringing in your own laptop (even if you're not connected to their wifi) to work on the side project in your underutilized time. That's probably too far, but is it really any farther than reading books ?

One thing that you might find more productive than playing games on your phone that seems unequivocally "safe" in this context is meditation. An hour or two of that might help make better use of your ~5h at home in the evening.

View on HN

In any technical job you learn things that are useful in future jobs. I don't see how a lawyer could possibly object to "I was studying to improve my skills and enhance my value to the company". I certainly don't see how meditation would be better in this regard - that's just as much "using company time to get better at my side project", and there's less of a case that it helps you at your employer.

That's advice definitely from someone who doesn't meditate regularly or has felt the benefits of doing so :).

It's not about what I think the benefits are, it's about what the company and/or its lawyers think the benefits are.

Again, a response from someone who doesn't understand meditation. It does increase learning and self improvement to a greater level than virtually any other task. Why? Because it develops metacognition. You can find many resources and videos documenting the benefits of meditation, the brain structures it changes, improvements to executive functions, self control, motivation, etc.

Then how come those monks that invented it didn't contribute to science, didn't take over the world, etc?

Uhhh what? Lol? Monks did not invent Meditation :). Humans have used meditation for thousands of years. Some of the best world leaders use meditation...

Monks additionally do contribute to science. A lot infact. When i've visited monistaries neuroscience is often a key theme and they'll explain how different interactions literally affect you're brain chemicals.

You know that individuals who are going through horrific experiences can stumble on meditation themselves? They realise they can use it to draw strength to help them deal with situations by using it. They arnt taught, they don't come across the information on the internet. Only when adults do they realize that there's a name for what they have been doing.

People think that meditation is just "for relaxation". It's not. That is one SMALL benefit if you only use it once or a few times a month briefly. The other many other small benefits i've found from meditating once a week. And on the scale of benefits, I would say increased self-discipline and control of my own mind, motivation, concentration, happiness is in the "small benefits" category. And I have ADHD so these small benefits improve life immensely for me.

People who have trained for years can use it to generate an experience similar to an LSD trip. You can look at the positive effects of LSD in scientific experiments yourself.

Hope that somewhat answers your questions :).

Oh, question, why would a Monk want to take over the world? They have no need for power or power over people. Only personal power, taking on personal challenges and bettering themselves as people because by doing that you help better people around you.

If i'm happy, i'll help others around me be happy. If i'm depressed, others will pick that up and also feel more depressed.

They are interested in helping people to help people learn by their own experiences because we are all individuals. It is NEVER about controlling or imposing their way of life onto others.

This is just my personal experience around Monks and I could be incorrect. I'm sure someone will be able to give an entirely different interpretation from their experiences.

It is a valid point that you should not develop your side projects on your current company's time/resources without their permission. That said, general self improvement (learning new skills, areas of expertise) is always protected, and developing better relationships with your peers is also always protected. Both of those things make you a more valuable employee (both to your current employer and to future employers). And applying those skills to 'fix' problems around the office is also always protected as you're clearly working in the interest of your employer.

It's good to hear that my initial impressions about this may not be correct, thanks!

Reading a self-help book might be directly applicable to his side project, too, giving him skills to discipline himself for instance. (I could use a little of that in my side project!)

I'm not a lawyer either, but my example is different from yours is VERY different from bringing in a laptop and working on the project in your spare time.

I'd personally risk reading about, say, development (since I'm employed as a developer) and not really worry about it. If I'm working on billing software but reading about the entertainment industry (and building an entertainment-industry application), then I think we've got concerns.

I guess I'm trying to say that I don't think becoming a better developer in your spare time is wrong in any regard. It benefits you, your employer, and your side project.

That said, I don't think the GP really mentioned a subject. Maybe he's reading fiction?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com