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"I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products"

Can you rephrase this criticism in a way that meaningfully contributes to the discussion? All I see is your personal judgementalism directed at someone's phrasing.


You haven't seen the Scott's Tots episode of The Office, have you?

Seriously though, I didn't have that reaction. We each bring our own individual expression to everything we do, that's not sad or cringey at all. The author is looking for a way to use his unique gifts in a way that is satisfying and valuable. The problem he solves and the way he solves it will be unique to him. Or in other words, "expressing himself through his products."


The arts and crafts world is full of people expressing themselves through products. Independent software doesn't have to be different.


The arts is full of people expressing themselves for pay below the poverty line, often not expected or wanted as remuneration for their expression. Treating business as expression and calling it the same thing as actual art is quite oblivious to the reality.


I made the original comment, and I think we see the world in a different way. This is how I see it:

Creating a business is a creative act. It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination.

I do think it's an expression of yourself, you're packing all you've learned into something that you think will be valuable to other people. Your personality is reflected in your product, so is your voice.

Ultimately it's up to the creator to treat their business however they seem best. If you want to be all about profits, good for you. If you want to explore ideas, try things and enjoy the creative process while slowly building revenue, also good.


> It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination.

Yes, because this applies to virtually every human endeavor (even though I find tech types have a tendency to discount the former in areas outside their expertise).

The thesis of this old post is the counterpoint: https://idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blowhards.htm


Take a look at Jonathan Blow's products. You can see art and software coexisting.


Both kinds of activities, the one that you characterize and the one that the parent comment characterizes, occur in the art world.


That says a lot about you, but is, in itself, not a very useful contribution to the discussion.




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