The Duality of the Self, desk edition

[Randorama]

I am a quite orderly and clean person, and tend to organize things in a simple yet efficient way.

However, my working desks are usually a testament of the everlasting power of Chaos. I always leave notes, CDs, USBs, pens, etc. lying around at an arm's reach, always changing their intended position. I can't work in any other way, especially when I am producing something new. And, I always know where my stuff is, regardless of the environment.

My wife finds this amusing, especially since I keep any other part of the house clean and well-organized. She thinks that I must suffer from some bizarre form of split personality, which she mockingly called the "Yin-desk & Yang-rest syndrome".

Do you also have a similar split in some behavior/habit of yours?

[gct]

No, I am a slob in every living and work place. I do keep a clean kitchen however.

[GaijinPunch]

I like to let all areas of tidiness (accept hygiene) get a little dirty then clean. If they never get cluttered, I don't enjoy them clean.

[Ed Oscuro]

I have a similar sort of problem, but more so with digital files. Lots of stuff categorized into folders (it would be rather silly not to do something like that with tens of thousands of digital photos) but lots of just useless stuff or stuff that's not categorized. I like to think of it as stuff that hasn't reached the drain yet (or maybe I could say those files are in a superposition of being categorized and scattered).

A useful cure to that kind of problem was suggested by my philosophy of science professor - the Common Book approach. Just write down, in the same text file (or something like that) a few notes and the source of what you might find useful for useful projects. I was already doing that - just on specific projects, instead of all projects where it would be useful. The advice made me realize it would be a good idea to universalize that approach (time constraints willing, of course).

[DEL]

Rando wrote;

My wife finds this amusing

WIFE! - Wow. You're married now
Congrats.

As for my desk, I tend to use stick it notes and a huge pad of paper to keep track of things. Near chaos, but not quite.

[sven666]

I am also very organised but whatever my current workspace is always looks like complete chaos, its not a problem or keeping me from acheiving things tho.

I never leave a mess when work is finished so its not a problem for others either.

[Randorama]

@Del: Yeah, easiest way for her to get a VISA, in Europe. We could never give a toss about getting married, to the effect that when we go out, we usually forget our wedding rings

Speaking of files, I always make a mess of the desktop environment, but I organize every other directory in a very orderly and principled way. I usually have files with data structures, for ease of reference and for other users to easily access data.

Yes, even pr0n

[D]

I´m so chaotic, that when I change the sheets, my gf thinks I´m having an affair
And that´s actually a true story. And allegedly I am the jealous one...

[mesh control]

I like my work area clean, but my desk at home is a wreck. Speakers with papers, maps, books and music stacked on top of each other and my laptop buried somewhere underneath it all.

My car is worse. I never wash or clean the damn thing and use it mostly for road trips.

[Ed Oscuro]

@Del: Yeah, easiest way for her to get a VISA, in Europe. We could never give a toss about getting married, to the effect that when we go out, we usually forget our wedding rings

Charles Murray is going to give you a stern talking-to, young man!

Speaking of files, I always make a mess of the desktop environment, but I organize every other directory in a very orderly and principled way. I usually have files with data structures, for ease of reference and for other users to easily access data.

Yes, even pr0n

Especially pr0n! How could you keep it from overflowing into everything otherwise?!

[Randorama]

Charles Murray is going to give you a stern talking-to, young man!

...We need to talk about your reading list, Ed. You're forgiven if you read this kind of articles when on the toilet, though.

Especially pr0n! How could you keep it from overflowing into everything otherwise?!

Well, I block the wife to one movie per day max, and a total cap of 20 files in total.

[Ed Oscuro]

I just needed a quick 'n' dirty reference to The Man's opinions on the True Causes of poverty there. Clearly, you haven't enshrined enough of those genteel high-class values in your treatment of marriage, which I guess means that you're doomed to be poor. DOOMED! ...but yeah, you can have your thread back now.

And who wants to read something from an American conservative during an already vulnerable moment? You don't want to shit out your brain, man. But I did want to read this article to be conversant on Murray's foolishness without having to listen to him in NPR interviews again. Edit: I see...this article is incomplete at best, unfortunately, even (or perhaps especially) as a criticism from philosophy.