Comments on: why make stuff?

By: Wes Clark

Wes Clark — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:52:55 +0000

I had to go through chemotherapy last year. I was really scared of what it was going to do to me. So I got overexcited about a ‘little’ project I had brainstormed months before.
It turned into a 4 month engineering nightmare. Everyday I was running out to buy electronics, reading reference manuals (because I don’t know anything about electronics) and getting pricing from major companies. Once I had it finished and working, I casually asked around to see if anybody was interested in it.
Nobody was.… lol.
So I just posted the majority of my projects documentation on my web site.
The truth is, it would have been excellent if someone took my project and ran with it ; but I knew that probably wouldn’t happen and still I needed to complete it for my own sanity. To keep my mind off of other things.
Necessity is the mother of invention.

By: Kjell

Kjell — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:31:03 +0000

I love this.
I get depressed when I’m not making things. It’s not that important what it is, but it must give a feeling of having accomplished something. It’s a rewarding process to talk yourself into starting an almost impossible project, work hard, and maybe long. Surprisingly often, the impossible project turns out to be well within reach, and you manage to produce something really nice. It’s only about daring to start.
And then move on. That’s the part I have to get better at.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 01:10:41 +0000

I really like this manifesto.
If there would be one thing I would add to it, it would be addresing the part about changing the world.
Dare to change the world in a good way– because you can. You can change someones life with something you’ve created, and by changing their life, you’ve changed their world. You can change the world with something you make, whether it be by failing or succeeding. With every sentence you craft, or every perception you slightly alter, with every person you interact with, and every face you express– you’ve changed someones world. Don’t dare to just change the world– you change someones world every day. Dare to change somesones world in a big way, giving them the gift of a passion to do the same.

By: nancy

nancy — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:22:50 +0000

I got. Thank you for the explanation. I like creating, too.
Do we still have people like Van Gogh in this world, who just create in a crazy void? I think we do. What group should we put people like him in? Starving? But is it the food or money these people lack? Sanity? Or the love, dare I ask, mark?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:38:15 +0000

Making/creating stuff is my whole reason for existing in this world. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating something real, be it art, writing, furniture, whatever.
I’m guessing “working artist” is supposed to be the opposite of the ‘starving artist’ although not not likely associated with the ‘famous and/or wealthy artist who makes a living off his artwork’ …

By: Huw

Huw — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:12:32 +0000

Hallelujah brother! NOT making stuff has been making me sick, honestly. And the urge to make is spilling out like … a what? volcano? barf the morning after the whiskey? wave on a beach? take your pick. Thanks Mark. Short Manifesto idea’s a cracker Hugh. Also cheers for the alternative ten commandments among others.

By: nancy

nancy — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 02:39:24 +0000

A working artist is similar to a working mom? Or what does that mean?