We can probably all agree that necessity and a certain degree of laziness are the mothers of invention, but where do you draw the line between labeling someone as lazy (in the negative connotation) vs labeling them as being ingenious (in the positive sense).

I’ve caught myself a few times recently calling someone lazy because they were trying to employ some clever way to avoid working harder and then it made me start to question when someone earns the derogatory term lazy vs being crowned with the positive title of being ingenious or clever.

It comes down to results.

If they take the easy route, and the results suffer, they're likely to be labeled as lazy.

But if they take an easier route, and still achieve the desired result (or especially better), they're likely to be labeled as ingenious.

Does it lead to increased productivity? If so, it's creative and probably has positive adoption qualities.

These people need guidance, but we very much need them.

quote:

Originally posted by CEShooter:
We can probably all agree that necessity and a certain degree of laziness are the mothers of invention, but where do you draw the line between labeling someone as lazy (in the negative connotation) vs labeling them as being ingenious (in the positive sense).

Just because you want to make something easier or more effective/convenient doesn't mean you're lazy.

quote:

I’ve caught myself a few times recently calling someone lazy because they were trying to employ some clever way to avoid working harder and then it made me start to question when someone earns the derogatory term lazy vs being crowned with the positive title of being ingenious or clever.

If they're able to meet deadlines or produce what's asked of them in less amount of time than required, why does it matter?

When I lived in Canada, I had some people over for Canadian Thanksgiving (yes, I celebrated Thanksgiving twice that year). I bought a spatchcocked turkey from the butcher and smoked it on my BGE.

A fellow American expat was dating a Canadian and brought him along. He saw the automated watering system on my garden, and the automated setup on my BGE (digital meat probe with remote for meat, digital temp controller for BGE, stainless wine bucket turned into a shroud for temp controller fan, and DIY waterproof box for my temp controller) and declared "you're smart lazy." He explained further, "You're willing to put in up front work to automate stuff so you can be lazy in the future."



BTW, that's version 1 of DIY waterproof box for my temp controller. Version 2 eliminated the need for the brick to keep lid on as well as made a separate port for data and power, and Version 3 eliminated the plastic fracturing from UV exposure (i.e. I painted it and left a viewing window on north side).

My old boss used to say give a lazy man a hard job and he will find the easy way to do it.

The line between efficient and lazy is a blurry one... Guess the results are what define it.

Efficiency means getting more done with a given effort.
I don’t see that as laziness.
Being a slacker so others have to do your work is a completely different matter.

One gets paid, the other doesn't.

I think it all depends upon how cool you come out looking.

The entire difference, IMO, between being lazy and being efficient is what you do with the time you save.

If you do nothing with the time you saved, you're lazy. If you go do something else productive with that time, you've been efficient.

Sometimes appearance enters into the equation.

Our Costco has two people who never seem to be doing any damn thing.

They stand out to me because I notice that most of their coworkers appear to be involved in a task or going somewhere to achieve something.

These two that stand out to me (practically every visit)
Are either talking to each other or avoiding a task or a customer.

They busy themselves by looking around to see who is watching them do nothing.

quote:

“I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid, and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent — their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy — they make up 90% of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent — he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief.”

... General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord

Lazy people will find ways/excuses to not get the work done.

Ingenious people will find a way to get the work done more effeciently.

It is the inflection point between:



and

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Sometimes appearance enters into the equation.

Our Costco has two people who never seem to be doing any damn thing.

They stand out to me because I notice that most of their coworkers appear to be involved in a task or going somewhere to achieve something.

These two that stand out to me (practically every visit)
Are either talking to each other or avoiding a task or a customer.

They busy themselves by looking around to see who is watching them do nothing.

They might be loss prevention people. My costco generally has one or two of them around the check out area in street clothes. They seem to talk to each other often.

I'm always looking for the easier way to do something. Does that make me lazy? Sometimes, sure. But if I can't find an easier way, I get the job done when it needs to be done. I think it's what happens when you can't find a better way that marks the difference. But yeah, I can be lazy sometimes.

quote:

BTW, that's version 1 of DIY waterproof box for my temp controller. Version 2 eliminated the need for the brick to keep lid on as well as made a separate port for data and power, and Version 3 eliminated the plastic fracturing from UV exposure (i.e. I painted it and left a viewing window on north side).

“the best part is no part” Elon Musk…

When people work smart or efficiently or invent an easier way to do something or make a product for that purpose, I wouldn't call that being lazy.

In fact I don't recall seeing anyone that met that description, making a habit of being lazy.

It is said that hard work, sacrifice, and dedication will pay off someday.

Laziness pays off right now!