Overrated is a good question

uncovering taste

Eric Stefanski, Hits, 2022

Negativity is fun. This is an expansion on what I previously wrote:

It’s also boring to be positive about things. Being positive is the agreeable thing to do—the default perspective. You’re positive when you’re trying to be polite and not piss anyone off or disqualify yourself. When you say you don’t like something, that’s less agreeable. You run the risk of alienating someone or coming off poorly, and it’s this risk that gives people the sense you’re being authentic.

Asking someone what they think is overrated is a great question. Just make sure you hold the line on what counts as overrated. Here’s why:

• It’s good material to connect on, especially if you have the same or opposite opinions.

• It’s not a common thing to ask. The novelty can lead conversation to unexpected places.

• But the best thing it does is reveal something about their taste. Also asking for something they think is underrated is the ultimate combo. You figure out where they form their own opinions, detached from popular sentiment and external influence.

Things I think are overrated

• Titanic

  • This movie has no business being 3+ hours long. You need Godfather-tier acting and writing to pull that off, which this movie doesn’t come close to.

• Contra

  • I mean, it’s interesting and you should consider a visit for the novelty, but definitely not worth a Michelin star and $150+ per person.

• Milk Bar

  • I don’t know why anyone goes here.

• Los Tacos No. 1

  • Mostly a symptom of all Mexican food in NYC being extremely mid.

• Work-life balance

• Getting good grades

  • Depends on what you want to do (grades are probably important if you want to go to grad school), but I think students spend too much energy relative to what it get’s them + don’t consider the high opportunity cost.

• Working on things that are “venture scale”

• Solo travel

  • It’s about people, not places.

• Being “interesting”

  • I will probably have an entire post dedicated to this, but it’s something I feel strongly about. Within the tech/tech-adjacent circles I’m part of on the internet, there is a concerning amount of emphasis placed on having friends that are smart, thoughtful, and “interesting” people. Not saying those are bad traits (they’re very good traits actually), but they really shouldn’t be in your top five characteristics to look for in close friends, IMO.

• The AMEX Platinum card

• Self-help books

• Museums

Things I think are underrated

• Jurassic World

  • This movie is fun and endlessly rewatchable.

• McDonalds

• Joining Twitter

  • Legitimately life-changing for me. Why we aren’t encouraging all young people to do this, I do not know.

• Group trips

• Sitting in silence, together

  • It’s peak connection.

• Attending college sports games (D1)

  • Some of the most intense camaraderie I’ve ever felt. Pure energy, in the best way possible (I say D1 because I think there is a minimum threshold of spectators in the stadium for this to work).

• Pickup basketball as a way to make friends

• Being a vibes/energy person

  • In tech, there’s lots of status associated with being highly technical/a great engineer. However, just as important are people who consistently bring positive energy to a team. Someone who shows up day in, day out and makes everyone else happier and work more fun.

• The AMEX Gold card

• Listening to the same song over and over again

  • Especially useful for when you’re working.

• Academia as a career

• Lifestyle businesses

• James Harden

• Finding fulfillment outside of work/career