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Explain Like I'm Five · by Jonas Schneider · 2026-09-20

Pick one for the rest of the month with an ambitious constraint

I started this becuase my busy month felt a little stuck, and questions seemed like a manageable place to experiment. The funny part is that the smallest change was the one I kept

68 sparks · 58 comments

Comments

Aisha Rahman · 17 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly becuase it feels easiest to live with. The busy month version is even more interesting

Camila Soto · 12 likes

I picked Not for me mostly because it feels easiest to live with. That is where the boring checklist helps

Midnight Otter · 3 likes

short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes

Mariam Al Mansoori · 10 likes

yes, definitely got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. The 4-minute rule is underrated

Sophie Gagnon · 10 likes

not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. The lunch break version is even more interesting

Sleepy Rider · 1 likes

@sophiemakes92 I laughed, but you are not wrong

Cozy Marauder · 10 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. That is the kind of detail beginners miss

Isha Menon · 10 likes

I wonder how much of this depends on timing

Curious Atlas · 9 likes

surprised more people aren't choosing Yes, definitely. It seems like the practical answer. For me it came down to the conversation

Omar Hassan · 2 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating

Paolo Garcia · 9 likes

Not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. The quiet constraint is probably the real story

Haruto Sato · 8 likes

The context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite. I would love to see a follow-up after 6 weeks. This is kinder advice then most of the internet manages

Ayesha Khan · 11 likes

noted, and thank you

Olena Shevchenko · 4 likes

This. Exactly this

Imogen Clarke · 1 likes

That is a good boundary

Maya Williams · 1 likes

Thanks that actually helped

Daan Bakker · 8 likes

Honestly, great taste

Mehdi Benali · 5 likes

Surprised more people aren't choosing Not for me. It seems like the practical answer. The low-effort version is probably the keeper

Brave Panda · 5 likes

Honestly, great taste. The low-effort version is probably the keeper

Pixel Otter · 0 likes

Thanks that actually helped

Chinedu Adeyemi · 5 likes

I picked Not for me, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. The delightful part is easy to underestimate

Rapid Mango · 4 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. I would test it for 7 days before deciding

Tola Ibrahim · 4 likes

Surprised more people aren't choosing Not for me. It seems like the practical answer. I learned that one the expensive way

Urban Fern · 2 likes

Not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. That is where the boring checklist helps

Jonas Schneider · 2 likes

@in_otter Exactly; the hidden cost is energy

Pablo Martín · 2 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Hugo Martin · 0 likes

Exactly; the hidden cost is energy

Urban Fern · 31 likes

@brave_coder16 Noted and thank you

Nicolás Díaz · 1 likes

This is the kind of disagreement I like

Midnight Otter · 0 likes

that is fair, but I still worry about maintenance

Wei Lim · 1 likes

I had the same reaction to still

Sleepy Coder · 6 likes

@brave_coder16 Beautifully concise

Maya Williams · 1 likes

That is a much better way to say it

Jonas Schneider · 9 likes

That is the part people skip

Urban Fern · 1 likes

I like this more then the top-level advice

Urban Fern · 0 likes

Beautifully concise

Aarav Sharma · 2 likes

anecdote beats theory here

Urban Atlas · 1 likes

adding this to my notes

Urban Fern · 0 likes

This. Exactly this

Bianca Santos · 2 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error

Huy Le · 1 likes

adding this to my notes

Ren Suzuki · 2 likes

I am saving this for the next time I overthink ambitious. I would test it for 7 days before deciding

Ananya Rao · 2 likes

Yes, definately got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. I learned that one the expensive way

Lena Müller · 2 likes

Yes, definately got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. A little friction removed goes a long way

Curious Lantern · 1 likes

there is a hidden assumption here that not everyone shares

Avery Johnson · 1 likes

yes, definately got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error

Tola Ibrahim · 1 likes

Not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. The 3-minute rule is underrated

Jonas Schneider · 0 likes

short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes

Cozy Rider · 1 likes

I picked Not for me mostly because it feels easiest to live with. This would have saved me alot of trial and error

Chiara Romano · 1 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. The chaotic constraint is probly the real story

Aoi Ito · 1 likes

Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. I would write it down before changing anything else

Sara Hosseini · 1 likes

Not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability

Zofia Kowalska · 1 likes

I picked Not for me, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. I keep a note about explainers for exactly this reason

Haruto Sato · 0 likes

not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. A little friction removed goes a long way

Gentle Baker · 0 likes

I picked Yes, definitely, mostly becuase it feels easiest to live with. The social part surprised me too

Ananya Rao · 0 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Aoi Ito · 0 likes

Excellent timing; I was just thinking about pick. It sounds small, but the tiny repair matters

Grace Parker · 0 likes

I found this disappointing because it skips the hardest part. The chaotic constraint is probably the real story