The Real World must be a truly depressing place to live. It’s apparently a realm where new ideas, unfamiliar approaches, and foreign concepts always lose. I’m told that the only thing that works in The Real World is what its inhabitants already know and already do. No matter how flawed or inefficient that way may be.
People who live there are said to be living Real Life. An existence filled with pessimism, despair, and every shade of pitch black imaginable. Yet strangely, these people living Real Lives seem not to be interested in getting out. They are not looking for a change of scenery of the dreary Real World.
Instead, they’re actually trying to recruit! In arguments everywhere, they’re trying to convince those of a sunnier demeanor that they must convert to Real Life or perish. That resisting the Real World is futile. This call persists even in the face of contrary experiences. Tales of people who actually did things differently and still lived to see the sun rise in the morning.
Please don’t be fooled, there’s nothing even remotely attractive about The Real World. It’s a bleak mirage suitable only as a place of communion for those who have lost all hope.
Related: Definte the real world in 10 words or less
David wrote this on Aug 23 2007 There are 44 comments.
Walker Hamilton 23 Aug 07
In my “Real World” we get things done and ignore people arguing dogmatically in regards a process or approach.
We walk the walk without shouting our talk.
Scott 23 Aug 07
Before 1492 The Real World was flat.
Before 1514 The Real World was the center of the Universe.
Before 1837 The Real World didn’t have life that evolve over time.
Before this moment The Real World was everything you thought you knew. After this moment The Real World will be everything new you learn.
Kyle Pike 23 Aug 07
What a depressing tone for a post. I loved it though. If only my bosses read SvN…
Curt Mills 23 Aug 07
David’s on the path from programmer to preacher. Where’s the church?
Marc 23 Aug 07
@Curt You’re visiting it right now ;)
Eric Marthinsen 24 Aug 07
So, what precipitated this post? I’m sure there’s a good “banging the head against the wall” story that prefaced it. Do share!
Nancy 24 Aug 07
Are you talking about that MTV reality show? You’re right. It sure does suck.
sandofsky 24 Aug 07
Monopolizing reality is the same dogma of religious fanatics who ostricize everything to keep out the seeds of doubt.
Tony 24 Aug 07
Dude, this is the best thing I could have heard today. I’ve been running the gauntlet of IT recruiters, the gatekeepers of corporate America…. but it almost seems like what they’re pushing is too high a price to pay to get an above average paycheck. I think I’m going to go for a cool indy job that pays a little less, but one which offers a little more of a sane approach to living. Can anyone make any suggestions?
Tony – Portland OR
Christian Romney 24 Aug 07
Uggh. I just spent a horrible day there and came home bummed and demoralized. Well-timed post.
Brian Burridge 24 Aug 07
David, it’s not only a depressing place to live, it’s depressing to visit (as in eight hours a day). I would also add that those in the Real World sometimes do adventure beyond what they already know, but those few times they do, they simply adopt what other Real Worlders know, which doesn’t help at all (ie, taking on more bloated Java “solutions”).
PabloC 24 Aug 07
dude, you did’nt invent anything here. Just listen Mammas and the Pappas, “make your own kind of music” :) rock on!
Anonymous Coward 24 Aug 07
the real world is where everyone uses web 2.0 apps
Gary R Boodhoo 24 Aug 07
well said David, and let me add how as much as I’ve dismissed the “real world” as THEIR world – THEIR construct, at the end of the day I can’t look in the mirror and point somewhere other than myself. I’ll call it the work environment, the government, or whatever, but how can it be something other than the choices I make?
I’d say its impossible to spend a day there. You carry it inside – yes, but living there is another matter. Easier said than done of course when you’re in the thick of it, but that’s the only time the choice not to live there matters. Its not easy at all – that’s the point.
Fjell1 24 Aug 07
The most frustrating thing about “the Real World” is that it’s inhabited by “people”. Not individuals you may relate to, just “people”. I often hear that “people won’t like it” or “people won’t understand it” or “that’s not what people want”. Who are these people? And how come my customers know so much more about them than I do?
When I started doing user tests, I thought I would finally meet these people. But instead the recruited users turned out to be persons with individual thoughts and needs and opinions—not the “people” I had always heard about. Have anyone really met them?
LapinLove404 24 Aug 07
@Fjell1
Unfortunately, yes, I met them… There are only a few of them but they do exist.
I’ve seen “individuals” that don’t get it, won’t like it, have no needs and basicaly do not care about whatever you would do. Except if you can have their paycheck paid with less working-hours). they ahve decided that their job is dull, no matter what they do…
The problem is they are only a small minority and they still rule the Real World.
However, I sometime wonder if they have not been created by the company I work for, just to win the “people argument”...
日本語訳 24 Aug 07
リアルワールドってのは、生きていくのに、本当にヘコム場所だよ。明らかに、新しいアイデアや、普通じゃない方法や、珍しい考えが負ける場所なんだ。リアルワールドで有効なのは、そこの住人がすでに知っていて、すでにやっていることだけだって、聞かされてきた。それが、どんなに欠点だらけで、非効率的であってもね。
リアルワールドに生きる人は、リアルな人生を生きていると言われる。悲観、絶望、その他考えられるすべての暗い影で満ちている存在。不思議なことに、リアルな人生を送っている人は、そこからでたがらないようだ。彼らは、この陰気なリアルワールドを変えたいと思わないんだ。
むしろ、他人を巻き込もうとさえしている。そこここで、彼らは、明るく暮らす人をつかまえて、「リアルな人生を送れ、そうでなければ、だめになるだけだ。リアルワールドに逆らっても無駄だ」と言い続けている。本当はその逆のことが起こっているのに、こんな御託がなくならない。人と違ったことをしている人が、ちゃんと生き残って朝の太陽を見ているのに。
みんな、だまされるな。リアルワールドには、ほんのちょっとでも魅力なんかない。リアルワールドは、すべての希望を失った人が集まる、さびしい蜃気楼のような場所だ。
日本語訳 24 Aug 07
I tryed to translate this to Japanese. I think David san’s idea itself is bleak, regrettably. I am interestead in the fact that David san is still under the strong influence of REAL American calture, which values ” being positive”.
JF 24 Aug 07
Apparently loads of people…
Neil Wilson 24 Aug 07
Doesn’t it all just boil down to ‘all progress depends upon the unreasonable man’.
Note it’s the Real World that uses the term ‘unreasonable’.
Kasper Bjørn 24 Aug 07
“The Real World” is a thought. Only existing in the human mind – conditioned by earlier experiences, and therefore a bit insane to take seriously and totally insane to pull ones identity partly from it (negatively or positively – whatever that means).
In the end a thought is something that is travelling through your mind and when it does you have the choice to look at it. Like when a sound hits your ear or when a taste hits your tounge.
Now, you would never pull your identification from a smell or a sound – so why would you pull it from any thought?
junglehook 24 Aug 07
“The Real World must be a truly depressing place to live”—I am sure you have gone too far and just feeling “short of the following for what has led you here”. Well that said, I am tagging the place i feel you are at, the moment you wrote this:: “future and time travel”, “too equipped to care about hands”, “robotics & my dreams”, “machines & their kiss”, “doomed lil human world”
Deano 24 Aug 07
Sarcasm rocks!
Frank Gilroy 24 Aug 07
In other words, they are all connected to the Matrix. ;)
Lajwaram Bedranaike Silverman 24 Aug 07
My real world is a chemically enhanced joyfest where everyone is happy all the time.
Sean 24 Aug 07
Why have the “Real World” when you can be in the “Real Zone”?
;)
ChrisFizik 24 Aug 07
Ha, good morning post
Matt Gillooly 24 Aug 07
The Real World: seven strangers, picked to live in a house, to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start sticking their thumbs up their asses.
beto 24 Aug 07
Uh… first you tell us to “Get Real” and now you tell us the “Real World” sucks…
I know you get wild fun out of messing with our heads, but please stop it. Thank you.
:P
Tyson Caly 24 Aug 07
I was driving home from work last night thinking about this post and the John Mayer song, “No Such Thing” was playing in the background, and this line stood out as being rather appropriate.
“I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world, Just a lie you’ve got to rise above”
ABasketOfPups 24 Aug 07
My real world is a chemically enhanced joyfest where everyone is happy all the time.
Thank you senator, your testimony is duly noted.
matt 24 Aug 07
I think what some people might not be stating properly is that often in the “real world” there are artificial stupid requirements where some of the “Getting Real” bits around trying to keep things simple, don’t write long and elaborate requirements specifications, etc. don’t work. This difficulty in aligning the very opinionated Getting Real® way of life with the Real World® I think is what frustrates some people.
I think the easiest way to meld the two is to take as much of the Getting Real approach and apply it to the situation. There will be some situations when this will cut down on the bullshit (asking “why” is very helpful…except in cases like government standards and laws…) and there will be times when one just has to bite the bullet and deal with the automaton bullshit. Seriously though…I think what people are asking for (and why the Real World v Getting Real bit keeps coming up) is because they like the approach but want to know how to apply it to things like political constraints, etc. As opposed to simply stating “This is the way we do it bitch! Ow! Keeping it rizeal in the west loop!”, I think asking said people from the Real World what they mean / desire might shed some light on things (and possibly we all might learn from it).
Happy puppies and fuzzy bunnies to all.
Mike Also 24 Aug 07
I just came across this, you guys might want to address it. http://onstartups.com/home/tabid/3339/bid/2161/37signals-Losing-Lustre-Why-I-Miss-The-Adoring-Fans.aspx
Adam Norwood 24 Aug 07
I’ve always sympathized with this quote from Baron Munchausen (the movie, at least): “Your reality, sir, is all lies and balderdash, and I’m glad I have no grip on it whatsoever!”
Matt Turner 24 Aug 07
Your statement about peoples ‘Real World’ and how they like it reminds me of C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce.
http://tinyurl.com/3y4cr7 (Google Books Link)
RJ 24 Aug 07
It took me a few different readings to realize you’re not in any way referring to the MTV show, “The Real World” which I coincidentally hate nearly as much as you hate the mis-perception of reality.
jan korbel 24 Aug 07
The worst thing on the Real World is that is mostly populated by Normal People. You do not want to one of them… ;)
OhDeafOne 24 Aug 07
David – are you having a bad week? First “A real estate myth” and now “who wants to live in the real world”. Quite negative posts.
Christopher Hawkins 25 Aug 07
Tack 26 Aug 07
So, where should we live in besides “Real World”? You mean “Afterworld”?
Mark 26 Aug 07
The Real World is a world of gray not the black and white that you portray in this post.
It’s much easier to portray things in black and white terms, but real genius lies in successfully navigating the world of gray.
I always thought the genius of you guys was to see beyond the black and white, but maybe I was wrong.
Cheer Up 27 Aug 07
Did this post: http://onstartups.com/home/tabid/3339/bid/2161/37signals-Losing-Lustre-Why-I-Miss-The-Adoring-Fans.aspx
have anything do with the somewhat depressing mood you guys seem to be in? Cheer up guys!
Woop 27 Aug 07
The real world sucks but who cares? It’s all about manipulating your own reality baby :D
Sean 28 Aug 07
In my real world, I stopped caring what the person who says “that’s not how it’s done in the real world” thinks.
This discussion is closed.