Comments on: How to do original research http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html Financial independence, frugality, self-sufficiency, ecology, capitalism, and voluntary simplicity Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:46:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Steve Austin http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-871 Steve Austin Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:51:14 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-871 I thought ERE's a particle physicist (based upon some guest post that he did w/i last couple of weeks). I thought ERE’s a particle physicist (based upon some guest post that he did w/i last couple of weeks).

]]> By: DNA http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-869 DNA Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:58:26 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-869 I wouldn't discount the fun you can have drawing analogies from biochemical engineering--hmmm, that's my guess of your discipline--to personal finance. You've already had some unusual posts that have introduced out-of-the-ordinary concepts and tools; I really don't care if they are original or not, only that they have a perspective that is drawing on other areas than the same old, same old. Without divulging too much personal information about yourself, I would like to hear more about the region of the world where you grew up and how it compares in money, planning, spending, materialism to where you live now. I wouldn’t discount the fun you can have drawing analogies from biochemical engineering–hmmm, that’s my guess of your discipline–to personal finance. You’ve already had some unusual posts that have introduced out-of-the-ordinary concepts and tools; I really don’t care if they are original or not, only that they have a perspective that is drawing on other areas than the same old, same old.

Without divulging too much personal information about yourself, I would like to hear more about the region of the world where you grew up and how it compares in money, planning, spending, materialism to where you live now.

]]> By: DJ http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-851 DJ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:22:24 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-851 One of my mentors used to say, "If it's true, it's seldom new. If it's new, it's seldom true." One of my mentors used to say, “If it’s true, it’s seldom new. If it’s new, it’s seldom true.”

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-850 Jacob Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:37:30 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-850 When I look back in my research career, I have had 2 maybe 3 (only two were actually published) original ideas that nobody else had ever thought of, literally speaking. Of course getting these ideas did require some previous knowledge, but I would not say that they are merely derived. Claiming that suggests that creativity is a purely mechanical process although I admit that lots of science is just like that. For instance, I have published north of 20 papers. This means that I have my 2-3 original ideas whereas the other 20ish are not particularly "original". This may come down to semantics. Obviously there are varying degrees of originality. When I look back in my research career, I have had 2 maybe 3 (only two were actually published) original ideas that nobody else had ever thought of, literally speaking. Of course getting these ideas did require some previous knowledge, but I would not say that they are merely derived. Claiming that suggests that creativity is a purely mechanical process although I admit that lots of science is just like that. For instance, I have published north of 20 papers. This means that I have my 2-3 original ideas whereas the other 20ish are not particularly “original”. This may come down to semantics. Obviously there are varying degrees of originality.

]]> By: Adfecto http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-848 Adfecto Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:20:39 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-848 Only a small minority of people will ever do anything truly original, and most people will go their entire life without a single original idea. Thankfully, the rest of us are able to stand on the shoulders of these few great ideas. I am perfectly happy to act like a natural born engineer and spend my life repackaging others great ideas into something that is usable by the general public. In other words, I do take original ideas and mass produce them. However, there is a certain art in the repackaging, no? Making financial basics accessible and palatable to the masses is exactly the roll that pf blogs are best at. Maximizing career, saving money, and investing in index funds is nothing revolutionary, but it is enough to put anyone (even with the lowest starting position) into the wealthiest echelons of America. Anyone can do it and we (bloggers) are here to prove it to you! I see plenty of reason to strive for that goal and help others along the way. I think you have yet to really push into revolutionary territory. Early Retirement Extreme presents ideas that may be new to some, but in reality just about everything is repackaged from the ideas of others such as Henry David Thoreau. Transcendental "Frogpondians" still come off to me as selfish and too quick to advocate Utopian ideas rather than realistic solutions. I admit freely my blog and others like it aren't revolutionary (that's not the point). At the end of your post you were wise to take a step back and admit that your ideas aren't all that original either. If you are struggling to find new insights I recommend you stop taking yourself so seriously and just write. It is when you feel pressure to challenge the status quo and be profound with every post that you loose your human voice. Then I have no reason to read your blog rather than just pick up Walden again. Only a small minority of people will ever do anything truly original, and most people will go their entire life without a single original idea. Thankfully, the rest of us are able to stand on the shoulders of these few great ideas.

I am perfectly happy to act like a natural born engineer and spend my life repackaging others great ideas into something that is usable by the general public. In other words, I do take original ideas and mass produce them. However, there is a certain art in the repackaging, no?

Making financial basics accessible and palatable to the masses is exactly the roll that pf blogs are best at. Maximizing career, saving money, and investing in index funds is nothing revolutionary, but it is enough to put anyone (even with the lowest starting position) into the wealthiest echelons of America. Anyone can do it and we (bloggers) are here to prove it to you! I see plenty of reason to strive for that goal and help others along the way.

I think you have yet to really push into revolutionary territory. Early Retirement Extreme presents ideas that may be new to some, but in reality just about everything is repackaged from the ideas of others such as Henry David Thoreau. Transcendental “Frogpondians” still come off to me as selfish and too quick to advocate Utopian ideas rather than realistic solutions.

I admit freely my blog and others like it aren’t revolutionary (that’s not the point). At the end of your post you were wise to take a step back and admit that your ideas aren’t all that original either. If you are struggling to find new insights I recommend you stop taking yourself so seriously and just write. It is when you feel pressure to challenge the status quo and be profound with every post that you loose your human voice. Then I have no reason to read your blog rather than just pick up Walden again.

]]> By: mysticaltyger http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-847 mysticaltyger Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:55:31 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-847 You are soooooo right-on about this! I see the herd mentality among academics all the time. Great post, Jacob! You are soooooo right-on about this! I see the herd mentality among academics all the time. Great post, Jacob!

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-846 Mrs. Micah Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:34:08 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-846 I don't think I'm really looking for originality in my PF. In my writing, yes to an extent, but in the blogosphere I'm looking more for ideas and support. :) Plus...originality is a myth of modernism. Everything is derivative on some level. Your choice of phrase reflects the books you've read, for instance. It makes sense that if you don't want to be too derivative of the mainstream blogosphere you wouldn't spend too much time reading it. That doesn't mean people don't come up with great ideas that it's quite possible nobody would have thought of. And filtering your environment to allow in mostly the influences you most approve of is probably a good way to do so. :) I don’t think I’m really looking for originality in my PF. In my writing, yes to an extent, but in the blogosphere I’m looking more for ideas and support. :)

Plus…originality is a myth of modernism. Everything is derivative on some level. Your choice of phrase reflects the books you’ve read, for instance. It makes sense that if you don’t want to be too derivative of the mainstream blogosphere you wouldn’t spend too much time reading it.

That doesn’t mean people don’t come up with great ideas that it’s quite possible nobody would have thought of. And filtering your environment to allow in mostly the influences you most approve of is probably a good way to do so. :)

]]> By: Steve Austin http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-837 Steve Austin Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:20:26 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/how-to-do-original-research.html#comment-837 Pure, virgin originality is a rare flower. I look for it everyday but have yet to see it (and I won't stop looking). For me, others are the source of things that are new, at least new to me. Where I think there is much to be seen in others is not what they say, but what they do not say. I look for the ideas that come from others but that those others do not realize they hold. This is not just about active collaboration (though that can be just as useful as going it alone) but of passive emergence, i.e. swarm intelligence and all that related work. The marketplace genius of many individuals collectively solving a problem that not one (or even several) of them individually could solve and perhaps not even grasp. Pure, virgin originality is a rare flower. I look for it everyday but have yet to see it (and I won’t stop looking).

For me, others are the source of things that are new, at least new to me. Where I think there is much to be seen in others is not what they say, but what they do not say. I look for the ideas that come from others but that those others do not realize they hold. This is not just about active collaboration (though that can be just as useful as going it alone) but of passive emergence, i.e. swarm intelligence and all that related work. The marketplace genius of many individuals collectively solving a problem that not one (or even several) of them individually could solve and perhaps not even grasp.

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