Juan David's Newsletter - November 20th, 2022
The Interesting People Paradox
Hi there,
Thanksgiving break started on Friday, and I came to check out Ann Arbor and see friends.
The university has lots of monumental buildings and spread-out locations. I’m stunned at how remarkably similar colleges are. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the same dining hall takeout containers, and my jaw dropped when I saw almost identical architecture.
But I enjoyed the place; there’s something nice about it. From Joe’s Pizza and the North Quad Film School basement to the dining hall guest swipe and late-night conversations, Ann Arbor will be a fond memory. The 20° windy degree weather and the captivating Saturday night snowfall after watching The Menu made this a great trip.
It’s either all of that, or I’m becoming a Midwesterner.
The architecture, the school, or the Midwestern vibes don’t make a place. The people do, and they are the future.
No matter where you go, the college discontent from interesting people1 is real. For instance, like many other interesting people I know, one of my friends thought college would be the time of his life: meeting lots of cool people, learning a lot, and reaching his potential.
Even in a school of almost 40,000 people, there aren’t that many “interesting” people. I feel the same; my school is even larger, nearly 60,000. In Where are the "smart" people?, I wrote about this sentiment of cool and interesting people being spread out in colleges and struggling to find their people.
Being interesting, wanting to build great things, and attempting to do what you love seem to be exotic ideas. I suppose everyone is destined to become a consultant, investment banker, or whatever generic title people consider safe. NUTS!
And no, it’s about us being unable to find them, us thinking we’re better, or us working all the time. There just aren’t that many interesting people in colleges these days. You may argue, “You’re probably in the wrong places.” My friend is considering switching to fancy East Coast schools or even the Palo Alto one. But to be brutally honest, the situation is even worse. Often these students are the most NPC because they followed the system to the limit. This isn't even a joke. There have been countless times when I talk to these kids, and you can't literally have a conversation with them.
The attentive reader may wonder, “So, how did you meet your friends in Michigan?”
You couldn't have asked a better question; the answer is the INTERNET! I build cool things. They build cool things. I share my ideas online. They share their ideas online.
Discord servers and Twitter. That is where the most interesting people are, and that's where I've met the coolest people. It sounds so weird to say, but it’s true. By far, the most interesting people I’ve met are all across the country and worldwide. It’s people who use the internet to build, share, and do what they love doing. Self-taught, permissionless, and with lots of energy.
I still think a physical place where everyone is closer together would be the dream. San Francisco seemed to be such a place. Austin kind of seems like this. New York is up there. Bell Labs was definitely one of those. Network States may be the answer. Or perhaps, that is how things will be until we get a bit older. Until then, Twitter will still be the most interesting place to meet interesting people2.
I don’t dismiss the 60,000 people in my school. There have to be more interesting people than I know!
I try hard to find them by saying “Hi” to random people, hosting meetups with the coolest people I know, creating the UIUC Talkshow, and telling friends to introduce me to other interesting people. I’ll continue trying.
But let me tell you one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever discovered: anyone has the unbelievable power to attract people at your same wavelength by writing online.
My essays and, of course, this newsletter send signals to everyone and anyone in the world 24/7. Then, the signals come back to me in the form of opportunities, emails, and interesting people.
And my friends, that is precisely how I will solve the Interesting People Paradox.
Have a great Thanksgiving. I’m especially thankful to you for reading every week.
Ciao,
Juan David Campolargo
Interesting this and interesting that? But…
What the hell do I mean? I keep saying interesting everywhere, and that’s intentional. There are no prerequisites, qualifications, or patterns. It’s a feeling, and once you know, you know. If I try to describe it, it’s that nonstop energy of wanting to live to create a world that doesn’t exist... doesn't exist yet. That “yet” is the most powerful force in the universe.
Such is the nature of interestingness. By the way, I mention “interesting” 21 times.
Hey, so I have to add. There is usually something interesting about most people you meet. It might not even be on your radar as a thing that's cool or to look out for, but I don't think classifying people as interesting or not interesting works (not sure if that's your intent tho). E.g someone I know who followed a very classic path showed me how to execute with relentless intensity (which can be translated elsewhere). Another mechanical engineer I know was refreshing to be with because he was very grounded as a result of his religious practices but still had a modern attitude.