I just loved it!! For example, I know how to knit, not to make money from it but because I love seeing how different ways you push and pull and tangle the thread/yarn creates something unique each time. And I love to do other things because it leads to a different "rabbit hole" that is new and amazing
I loved reading this. As a self-development junkie, I feel like I'm always supposed to be "efficient" or I'm wasting my life. This helped me sort of rekindle that fire in discovering things just for the sake of discovery. Thank you!
It’s never been about the results of it all, it’s always been about the process. Exploring out of curiosity and learning from it isn’t something that you obtain, it’s something that you do, and doing takes effort, and effort equals value.
Thank you for leading us to the Carr book. I endorse the sentiment of this entirely on knowledge and history and learning from the past too - as you’ll see from my articles.
I’ve just started out here, but am loving how much I am learning. Ideas fizzing like champagne bubbles.
Wow, what a great piece! You wrote about Carr saying that the internet has trained us not only to want but to expect answers right away, and it reminded me of my younger sibling. When doing homework, they expect to have the answers to the questions right away, asking for help when the answer isn't immediate, rather than sitting with the question and trying to work through their thoughts. It makes me particularly worried for future generations of children who are practically being raised by the internet.
I think we could all use a little more useless knowledge lol
but your point about AI got me wondering: did we actually shift towards "craving useless knowledge" since the spread of AI & summaries? or have algorithms improved in a way that allows niche content to finally reach "the right person", causing increased interest in "useless knowledge"? we've always been seeking hyper-specific knowledge, as u mentioned, but its interesting to analyze AI's role in all this. I personally believe the internet made sharing this knowledge easier—but how do we conclude a correlation between AI/Wiki summaries & craving 4 real research? not saying there's no correlation because there definitely is, but it brings up some interesting questions
Resonate with this so much <3 I find it so sad that universities and colleges are no longer institutes of knowledge but training centers for "practical skills". Nearly everyone I know has been forced to strip themselves away from their passions and curiosity simply because they could never pursue them in the real world or because tuition fees is too high to spend on just knowledge.
I watched a YouTube video on the continuum hypothesis. That is a piece of that doesn’t have practical use in anything. What makes it appealing is that it says something fundamental of the nature of mathematics. Going deeper is what makes ancient history, astrophysics, and philosophy. We want to peak behind the curtain of the universe.
not too long ago, i had to write about nicholas carr’s article you mentioned for a class assignment so i like that you referenced it. i love coincidences/full circle moments like that.
I resonate deeply with Mary Midgley’s perspective—that knowledge shouldn’t be judged solely by its immediate usefulness. In a world obsessed with utility and outcomes, there's something profoundly human about learning out of curiosity and connection.
That’s why I learn Sanskrit, Indian History, and Hindu Dharma—not just for practical benefits, but because they make me feel rooted. It’s a way of honoring my ancestors, of walking a path that has been tread for centuries. It gives me a sense of belonging, like I’m part of something timeless and much larger than myself.
And perhaps most importantly—I simply enjoy it. And sometimes, that’s reason enough.
Our brain is like a crow. We crave the strange and interestingly pointless things. Life is so interesting that even the most mundane stuff is interesting. Like the history of floor fans, or the history of common food items. Everything is a rabbit hole, if you care enough.
I know I'm a month and a half late, but I just wanted to share that I write about (needlessly, one might say) ornate words and their strange etymologies. I think that might count as useless knowledge! Here's my latest post if you're interested😊: https://paleopragma.substack.com/p/tawdry
I just loved it!! For example, I know how to knit, not to make money from it but because I love seeing how different ways you push and pull and tangle the thread/yarn creates something unique each time. And I love to do other things because it leads to a different "rabbit hole" that is new and amazing
I loved reading this. As a self-development junkie, I feel like I'm always supposed to be "efficient" or I'm wasting my life. This helped me sort of rekindle that fire in discovering things just for the sake of discovery. Thank you!
no knowledge is useless if applied right!
It’s never been about the results of it all, it’s always been about the process. Exploring out of curiosity and learning from it isn’t something that you obtain, it’s something that you do, and doing takes effort, and effort equals value.
I finally read all the saved posts of yours I’m literally obsessed keep posting amazing content bestie 🩷🩷
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed!! 🫶🫶
Thank you for leading us to the Carr book. I endorse the sentiment of this entirely on knowledge and history and learning from the past too - as you’ll see from my articles.
I’ve just started out here, but am loving how much I am learning. Ideas fizzing like champagne bubbles.
Wow, what a great piece! You wrote about Carr saying that the internet has trained us not only to want but to expect answers right away, and it reminded me of my younger sibling. When doing homework, they expect to have the answers to the questions right away, asking for help when the answer isn't immediate, rather than sitting with the question and trying to work through their thoughts. It makes me particularly worried for future generations of children who are practically being raised by the internet.
I think we could all use a little more useless knowledge lol
really liked this! 💗💗
but your point about AI got me wondering: did we actually shift towards "craving useless knowledge" since the spread of AI & summaries? or have algorithms improved in a way that allows niche content to finally reach "the right person", causing increased interest in "useless knowledge"? we've always been seeking hyper-specific knowledge, as u mentioned, but its interesting to analyze AI's role in all this. I personally believe the internet made sharing this knowledge easier—but how do we conclude a correlation between AI/Wiki summaries & craving 4 real research? not saying there's no correlation because there definitely is, but it brings up some interesting questions
Resonate with this so much <3 I find it so sad that universities and colleges are no longer institutes of knowledge but training centers for "practical skills". Nearly everyone I know has been forced to strip themselves away from their passions and curiosity simply because they could never pursue them in the real world or because tuition fees is too high to spend on just knowledge.
I watched a YouTube video on the continuum hypothesis. That is a piece of that doesn’t have practical use in anything. What makes it appealing is that it says something fundamental of the nature of mathematics. Going deeper is what makes ancient history, astrophysics, and philosophy. We want to peak behind the curtain of the universe.
A fantastic read.
Wdym
not too long ago, i had to write about nicholas carr’s article you mentioned for a class assignment so i like that you referenced it. i love coincidences/full circle moments like that.
I resonate deeply with Mary Midgley’s perspective—that knowledge shouldn’t be judged solely by its immediate usefulness. In a world obsessed with utility and outcomes, there's something profoundly human about learning out of curiosity and connection.
That’s why I learn Sanskrit, Indian History, and Hindu Dharma—not just for practical benefits, but because they make me feel rooted. It’s a way of honoring my ancestors, of walking a path that has been tread for centuries. It gives me a sense of belonging, like I’m part of something timeless and much larger than myself.
And perhaps most importantly—I simply enjoy it. And sometimes, that’s reason enough.
Our brain is like a crow. We crave the strange and interestingly pointless things. Life is so interesting that even the most mundane stuff is interesting. Like the history of floor fans, or the history of common food items. Everything is a rabbit hole, if you care enough.
can someone recommend useless knowledge substacks?
I know I'm a month and a half late, but I just wanted to share that I write about (needlessly, one might say) ornate words and their strange etymologies. I think that might count as useless knowledge! Here's my latest post if you're interested😊: https://paleopragma.substack.com/p/tawdry
second this!