Vanity Metrics

Julian Shapiro · 31 Oct 2020

Julian Shapiro did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
You can train yourself to notice, in real time, when you are working on the wrong thing.

Their wordsYou can train yourself to identify when you’re working on the wrong thing—in real time as it’s happening.
Our reading
Reading many books is a vanity metric for adults; the reward is in learning efficiently and making things.

Their wordsReading many books is a popular vanity metric for adults.
Our reading
Most friends are not friends but acquaintances.

Their wordsMost friends aren't friends. They're acquaintances.

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The other pieces are the ones whose claims are worded most like this one's. That measures language, not agreement: they may argue the opposite.