The authoeflects on the pitfalls of prioritizing cleverness over substance in their notes and writing. They acknowledge the tendency to fill pages with useless, witty remarks rather than genuine insights. In contrast, they share a rare instance where a straightforward factoid was recorded, highlighting the value of simplicity. The tone is self-deprecating and humorous, with the author poking fun at their own desire for cleverness and the absurdity of certain game ideas. This introspection serves as a reminder to strike a balance between creativity and authenticity in one's work.
Key Points
The tension between cleverness and authenticity in note-taking and content creation.r
The role of performative identity in shaping creative output.r
The blurring of lines between meaningful information and entertainment in personal notes.
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Original Article
Brevity soul'd or no, wit can also be the enemy of honesty; a fundamentally performative pin brooch with an artificial sheen. When I go back over my notes after playing a game, at least two-thirds of them will routinely be useless and powerfully crap jokes I've written in lieu of practical points because - even in a document no-one but me will ever read - I cannot bear to cease reminding myself that I'm an implausibly clever sausage.
Occasionally I do remember to just jot down an unadorned factoid. "Cards wot do two things (Gloomhaven)" says my notes on this puzzle game. I've had my eye on it for a while, mainly because making your game star a ghost with an axe and calling it Axe Ghost is some premium Nic Reuben bait, especially if the ghost also has normal human arms for some reason.
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