Thread by @alanlaidlaw

How I'm using @RoamResearch.
An ongoing thread.
/// >> @ ~

I started out by watching some tutorials on how others use Roam:
How to create an Asana-style 'My Tasks' view in Roam Research () by @RosieCampbell
Writing Inbox System in Roam Research () by @ShuOmi3

Introduction to Personal Knowledge Management in Roam () by Anonym.s

(many more)

These were great but I knew it wasn't going to stick. I’m never going to type out `#upcoming` for every little thing I have to do. Worse still, I’m not going to delete `#upcoming` and type `#today` in its place.

I’ve been down this road before.

One month I’m using `#today and the next month I’m using `#next-up` and the next month `#top-priority`.

I do not like long-term relationships with words.

#///
So I use `#/` instead. A lone backslash roughly means “thing to do next.” And then a query for `#/`

`#//` means “middle-stuff” and `#///` means later. Now switching TODOS is just one keystroke.
Right now, I'm using @RosieCampbell's format (thanks!):
Recently Assigned
Today
Upcoming
Later

What I like most about this slash notation is that I get to procrastinate. I don't have to put things in buckets. (This is possible bc of Roam's bi-directional links.)
All that matters is that these items exist on the same spectrum. That spectrum could be time, complexity, etc

For my work Roam graph, the slashes suggest a different spectrum. I can even type `#//\` to indicate that something is blocked.
Currently trying out `Goals/, Goals//, Goals///` One `/` suggests a little habit while `///` suggests a big dream.

How else could this be used?

Links >>
Quick tip: When I make a block about a topic, I still want to link to the source. So I just use [>>](source url)
Saves me a click.
There's a hundred ways to skin a cat in Roam, so this is probably short-sided in some way. (I'd love to hear about other methods.)

I like to keep track of what I write, but I don't want to put all my writing in one place. So my shorthand for "my observations on x" is just` #>`
Additionally, it's really easy to search for my thoughts about anything.

Again, I don't have to give it a name like Observations or Reflections. It's just `>.`

I have a page called "On Roam" to collect what others are adding to the conversation. [[ [[>]] [[On Roam]] ]] may look funky, but I can distinguish my thoughts from others pretty easily.

Isaac Newton @

I use a similar format for persons of interest. Still tinkering with it, but I'll typically append #@ to a Person of Interest. One time is enough for them to appear in a Rolodex of sorts. (alternate: [[Isaac Newton [[@]]]] - discuss!)

The advantage of nested notations is that I get a link to the glossary right next to the title. Really useful if you want to keep a bag of fancy words handy.
Ex: Proprioception[[*]]

The asterisk is after the word so that it doesn't get in the way of search queries. I'll typically just do this the first time the word comes up, but it's an evolving process.

#:) <-----------> #:\
I got this idea from @Conaw's story about an early user and I love it. I just tweaked it with a touch more laziness.

https://twitter.com/Conaw/status/1280329222498578432

I hoard links. Often, the link will be some sliver of news about climate, politics, or technology.
But it's never *just* technology, is it?
It'll be like: technology, society, economics, ecology, loss of jobs, AI, speculation, systems 🧐, VR for dogs.
That's just not sustainable

But more often than not, the story will be net good or net bad. Same goes for UI. So I just tag it with a #:) or a #:|

It's a meta-notation for emotions (or first impressions at least).
ex: [[Robinhood's UI killed youth]] #UX #:|

Not 🤯🤯🤯, but that's kind of the point.

And now I get a glossary of all kinds of things in the world that are good or bad.
Is it a poor man's Zettelkasten? Maybe.
But comedians might like this approach. It's an attempt to manifest oblique connections across O(n2) domains. @RobertHaisfield - was this like your method?

~~~ MYSTERY~~~
Finally, there are patterns that defy any categorization. If I read about a law or paradox or anything that seems like there is a lesson under the surface with broader application, I'll tag it with #~
I don't need to name it because I wouldn't know what to call it.