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Mike Tomlin spent 12 years building a Minecraft city

670 points · 170 comments · CoryOndrejka

  1. CSMastermind · · focus · HN ↗
    For those who don't know Mike Tomlin is the former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the second longest tenured coach in the league, and never had a losing season before resigning his job last year.

    The idea of any NFL head coach having time to do this, especially a winning one, is absurd.

    1. fittom · · focus · HN ↗
      It's absurd, but he partly reflects on that himself: "But more than anything, it was therapeutic for me. Some mindless entertainment. I'm not a big TV watcher. It allowed me to detach from the realities and the pressures of life."
      1. InsideOutSanta · · focus · HN ↗
        This guy makes good choices. While I get upset on Reddit, he's happy building his city. I need to rethink my life.
        1. 9dev · · focus · HN ↗
          Whatever you do, don't take up Factorio.
          1. tim-kt · · focus · HN ↗
            Factorio is to me what Minecraft is to Mike Tomlin. I give it a full recommendation. Oh, is it autumn already?
            1. kakacik · · focus · HN ↗
              ... and life moved a bit further in those months. Experiences that could be had, meeting people that could have happened.

              If its really relaxing to you, I rest my case. It wouldn't be to me, in same way no computer game or general computer activity ever could. Physical movement, ideally in the nature, the wilder the better. If you live too far reconsider permanently improving QoL by moving closer. Recharges batteries like nothing else.

              There is still tomorrow to be more active, right, to catch up. But not with the same mindset that wasted today or yesterday.

              1. tim-kt · · focus · HN ↗
                I'm a somewhat ambitious climber (mostly indoor, however) and am in general very active. Factorio is an effective way to keep my brain busy as sometimes I get overwhelmed with my thoughts. But of course it is not the only thing that I enjoy and the remark about autumn was an exaggeration. I'm also very much against considering days "wasted". Sometimes I just need to take a day off and spend it at home, as long as there is a balance.
              2. ddosmax556 · · focus · HN ↗
                Beautifully put, better than I could have, why I don't touch games in general. They're amazing, but they make you feel like you're advancing, achieving, experiencing, when really you're not, you're barely doing anything than jumping into the future. But, as I understand you to mean as well, not everyone is like that, for some it feels to bring balance. In particular, if you're a coach, surely you have no shortage of human interaction, or being outside, doing sports, and networking. But it's not for me for sure.
                1. 9dev · · focus · HN ↗
                  I'm not sure if you do yourself a favour with that ambition. If you enjoy games from time to time, you're not "wasting" your life. You are doing something that fills you with joy. Striking a balance is of course important, but allowing yourself to relax from time to time and just have a little fun is too.
                  1. ddosmax556 · · focus · HN ↗
                    For sure. Just like movies. Everything in moderation. But I won't buy 60 bucks AAA games, they're either a time sink, or a waste of money. Indie is enough. I uninstalled Factorio after having spent 90% of my free time on it for a few days.
          2. joquarky · · focus · HN ↗
            That game is a time machine that only goes forward.
            1. 9dev · · focus · HN ↗
              If only its duration control wasn't broken. Every time you use it, you land way too far in the future...
        2. hax0ron3 · · focus · HN ↗
          But the pleasurable sensation of seeing those numbers next to the up arrow!
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