Thursday, January 11, 2024
a concise theory of notes about notes
Previously:
- notes on notes
- 2020: meta meta
- 2020: the zettelkasten / the zeitgeist
I came across an argument about what exactly makes something a zettelkasten, and then thought: “Zettelkasten” is a pretty great example of how one of the best ways to fuck up a neat idea is to have a bunch of people get really excited about it.
Taking notes is one of those things in the unfortunate position of being:
- Surprisingly deep as a subject
- Capable of being focused back on itself
I guess nearly any practice can disappear up its own asshole under the right conditions, but some are extraordinarily susceptible.
That’s my working model of what happens. If you can say a lot about something, and you can use the something to say it, well, watch yourself. You might just be teetering on the edge of the pit. People should get a warning about the risks of this drilled into them right around the age they’re ready for something like The Neverending Story or The Princess Bride.
This post is mostly just the short version of meta meta.