Comments on: The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen (and Weapons of Mass Distraction) http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:47:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: David http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-164735 David Thu, 09 May 2013 08:55:24 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-164735 Hey Tim,

Great post….

Have you thought about how similar this is to the concepts in Nicholas Nassim Taleb’s new book Antifragile…?

Letting small bad things happen… protecting yourself against negative black swans…. whilst opening up to the positive ones.

Really cool how your philosophy and life is essentially an Antifragile system – getting stronger and more effective with volatility (in this case: your ‘bad things’)….

rather than the bulk of workers who set up fragile systems, where if (or more likely: when) a black swan happens, like a missed month of work due to illness, then their life might fall apart because they spent it setting up the wrong status quo (e.g. “I am always here to be interrupted and am at your beck and call, whoever you are and regardless of how important it is”)

Just some thoughts for you….thanks for changing my life!

David

]]> By: Jared http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-157203 Jared Sat, 16 Feb 2013 10:23:06 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-157203 Markedly better may not be a proper term now, mild nose bleeding today with accompanied soreness, seeing about scheduling an ENT visit. Hoping this is just a coincidence !

]]> By: Jared http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-157196 Jared Sat, 16 Feb 2013 06:52:58 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-157196 Just as an update I requested a refund, looks like they are all for it here’s the message I received:

Thank you for contacting with us and sorry for the inconvenience, the painting no risk for the health but no excuse, we will send return label to your email,please send it back ,we will fully refund you upon receiving them

Thank you

Annnie

Peculiar to say the least, but at least I’ll be getting a refund. I’ve sealed off the weights and effectively sanitized the environment I tried cleaning them in. Feeling markedly better today – albeit the lingering chemical smell.

Let’s hope exposure to that pseudo chrome won’t bite me in the ass years from now lol.

Hope you’ve been well in this off-holiday season!

]]> By: Jared http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-157147 Jared Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:49:51 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-157147 Hi Tim,

I doubt this will reach you but I figured I’d give it a shot. I recently purchased a 100lb chrome plated dumbbell set off ebay for a little over $100, upon receiving it (with free shipping no less) I noticed a powerful smell coming off the chrome plates. I tried washing and scrubbing them – no substantial improvement. What concerns me is that in just a day I’ve developed respiratory issues, sore nasal passages, red inflamed skin on my hands, and a sore throat. This doesn’t feel like a cold or flu bug, more like an allergic response.

They say caveat emptor, but I’m concerned, is it at all possible that these weights came directly from an unregulated factory in China? Could these in fact contain a powerful carcinogen like Hexavalent Chromium known to cause cancer and other issues? I noticed on the invoice it said it came from an unrelated company “SY Supllies” Misspelled and all.

I’ve been burned by Ebay for counterfeit earbuds and other merch, this is the last time I buy from them, I’m seriously concerned however that this person might be selling cancer causing weights to unsuspecting customers. Is there any way to find out? I don’t have the funds to test the materials myself but here is the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321042041233?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I don’t want to seem like a hypochondriac, but it is a genuine concern.

Cheers Tim I hope this reaches you.

]]> By: Mark http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-125453 Mark Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:44 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-125453 The difference between the two philosophies is that in one, you own the work, tasks and the outcomes. In yours, however, the work owns you. In the latter case, a sense of being hostage eventually sets in and the resentment that comes with it. I have said that in our workplace we now regrettably have all become a 24/7 business model. That may be your reality, but that also works against the notion many have that they really are in control or even could be. And it sure ain’t healthy. And the day your company shows you to the door for because of what they say they need, despite all that obsession, the lesson will come home about what your investment really produced.

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