feeling compelled to post this new yorker reject from years ago, for some reason
01.03.2026 20:02
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feeling compelled to post this new yorker reject from years ago, for some reason
Hallucinations compound:
1) A worker uses an LLM to generate a report.
2) A manager uses an LLM to extract insights from the report.
3) An exec uses an LLM to turn the insights into a memo.
4) Another manager uses an LLM to summarize the memo.
Each person human-washes the text for the next person.
What rules do you live by? I want to know.
This is research for my next book. You get a chance to win $500 worth of prizes and signed books.
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ. And the questions may be help you. Thanks.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
I want YOUR life philosophy. Will you share it with me?
This is research for my next book. You get a chance to win $500 worth of prizes and signed books.
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ. And the questions may be useful to you. Thanks.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#rulestolive
I want YOUR life philosophy. Will you share it with me?
This is research for my next book. You get a chance to win $500 worth of prizes and signed books.
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ. And the questions may be useful to you. Thanks.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#rulestolive
If you're free in 4 hours, join me live to talk about how to live well and why most books on this subject don't help much.
A fun one I've heard is: "I use the golden rule, until someone doesn't do it to me. Then all best are off." LOL
It's a lot more honest? But doesn't sound as wholesome.
So what rule do you live by?
I'm writing a book about these questions and your answers can help. Thanks.
We all break them - but we don't think about this as much. Saying a nice sounding rule is easy. But being honest about how we live up to it is much scarier.
We break our rules all the time and it's those exceptions that may define us more than the rules themselves.
What rules do you live by?
I've asked dozens of people this question and most of the answers are the same. People quickly say "be kind". "Follow the golden rule." Nice, but obvious.
It gets trickier when I ask a tougher question: when do you break your rules?
Scott Berkun's Rules To Live by book project - live event
I just finished the first draft of my 10th book and I'll be on Zoom talking about it - you should come ๐
Tentatively titled Rules To Live By, it's a better way to think about self-help and philosophy.
It will be fun & as interactive as you like. Hope to see you.
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Scott Berkun on unlearning the false design beliefs that are holding you back. https://ow.ly/zcwZ50XGlNr
Scott Berkun on avoiding the five habits of the worst designers. https://ow.ly/56fK50XtxYK
โIt may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.โ
โWendell Berry
โPeople will come to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to thinkโ
โ Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985)
There are activities in life where the goal is to be perfect. And there are activities where the goal is to express who you are and your personal experience in being you. These are rarely the same activities.
Denver had 22 turnovers (on 16 steals) to OKC's 9. Stat of the game IMO.
What is the best creative work you have done in your career?
Here is a test you can take about great work and what it really means.
whydesignishard.substack.com/p/the-greatn...
Incredible productivity hack that will save you way more time than integrating AI into your workflow
Here @berkun.bsky.social does a great job of collecting thoughtful questions proposed by Neil Postman that every designer needs to consider before launching a new project: https://scottberkun.com/2016/the-7-questions-for-any-technological-idea/
For those in the South Seattle area I'm coming your way tomorrow.
It is never too late to dream
Need an excuse to buy more books? Now you have one! Saturday is Indie Bookstore Day! Show your favorite indie some love.
Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore day. I love locally owned bookstores and try to support them whenever I can.
Most of my books are available through @bookshop.org, which is a great way to get books and support independent stores.
bookshop.org/lists/scott-...
Ha! Some older homes here in the U.S. have the same design. It's kinda fun in a twisted? It's like "do a science experiment in thermodynamics while trying to wash your hands"
Here's my list of inventions I wish existed.
scottberkun.com/2008/ten-inv...
Yes. It would need an infinite life battery too.
My dream invention is a hypocrisy detection machine that continually informed people of their double-standards. Whenever we start saying something that conveniently contradicts a stated belief, it would start beeping and get louder and louder until we stop.
"All of lifeโs problems arise from trying to do other peopleโs tasks for them, or trying to get them to do yours." - Oliver Burkeman
The quality of cockpit design has more to do with crashes than pilots' skills.
whydesignishard.substack.com/p/rethinking... by @berkun.bsky.social
I'd add the detrimental effect of detailed up-front specifications on design as a major root cause (exemplified by the F-35 story).