Why I believe Roam is Antifragile
a thread by yours truly
a thread by yours truly
https://twitter.com/roamhacker/status/1308503256495202306
Quick recap on Antifragile:
There is a concept that a spectrum exists measuring things weakened by stress (fragile), unaffected by it (robust), or strengthened by it (antifragile).
We had no word for the last one so @nntaleb invented "antifragile".
There is a concept that a spectrum exists measuring things weakened by stress (fragile), unaffected by it (robust), or strengthened by it (antifragile).
We had no word for the last one so @nntaleb invented "antifragile".
Information overload: the negative state humans enter when they've received too much information or data.
This flow of information could be seen as stress and we as humans with internal memory capacity weaken if we receive an overabundance of it too quickly.
#fragile
This flow of information could be seen as stress and we as humans with internal memory capacity weaken if we receive an overabundance of it too quickly.
#fragile
Contrast that with Roam as an external memory source. The more data you throw at it, the stronger it gets.
More connections are made and more information is available when you need it.
More connections are made and more information is available when you need it.
Roam isn't fragile (weakened by stress).
And it's not just robust (unaffected by stress).
It's actually strengthened by this type of stress (hence antifragile).
"But how?" you ask?
"I'll tell you, Twitter friend!" - Me.
And it's not just robust (unaffected by stress).
It's actually strengthened by this type of stress (hence antifragile).
"But how?" you ask?
"I'll tell you, Twitter friend!" - Me.
1 - Things that are antifragile love randomness and uncertainty.
The only way to get a measure of order and control is if you embrace randomness.
It exists. It's inevitable.
To disregard it invites it to come crashing in and destroying what you're doing. Embracing it gives you the ability to have control.
It exists. It's inevitable.
To disregard it invites it to come crashing in and destroying what you're doing. Embracing it gives you the ability to have control.
Roam was designed not dependent upon fragile folders and hierarchical tags but instead with bidirectional links and references.
It doesn't shy away from randomness.
It embraces it.
It doesn't shy away from randomness.
It embraces it.
And I mean, FULLY embraces randomness and chaos.
Just look at my graph overview!
Just look at my graph overview!
2 - Things that are antifragile allow us to do things without understanding them...and do them well
There's no way to understand how the notes you take today will benefit you tomorrow.
That's why you take them today.
Roam understands that and helps you out with the ability to find and resurface information you provided in the past not knowing you'd need it today.
That's why you take them today.
Roam understands that and helps you out with the ability to find and resurface information you provided in the past not knowing you'd need it today.
Because that information is available when you need it, it's so much more valuable.
It's so much easier to type "[[" or "((" and look for what you need than go digging through old notebooks (analog) or folders (digital).
It's so much easier to type "[[" or "((" and look for what you need than go digging through old notebooks (analog) or folders (digital).
3 - Things that are antifragile have more upside than downside from random events
Unlike a paper notebook which gets confusing and out of order when unexpected notes are entered, Roam accepts random events gracefully.
In the middle of taking notes on Amazon Web Services and decide to read a book on spirituality (I'm not the only one, right?) You're notes are never out of order because there is no strict hierarchy in the first place.
Heck, add a grocery list in for good measure.
Heck, add a grocery list in for good measure.
Each thing benefits from being in Roam without downsides. Random events are good and work well regardless of when you add them.
4 - Fragility and Antifragility are degrees measured on a spectrum
I'm not saying Roam is the most antifragile thing ever invented.
But consider a spectrum of the following:
- paper notebooks
- scraps of paper
- "red bears"
- word documents
- "green elephants"
- Roam
I believe Roam to be the most antifragile of all of them...by far!
But consider a spectrum of the following:
- paper notebooks
- scraps of paper
- "red bears"
- word documents
- "green elephants"
- Roam
I believe Roam to be the most antifragile of all of them...by far!
Depriving systems of volatility leads to atrophy.
Too many note taking applications have atrophied over the years.
At every turn the application AND the development team at Roam are willing to embrace randomness. (Thank you Roam devs!)
Too many note taking applications have atrophied over the years.
At every turn the application AND the development team at Roam are willing to embrace randomness. (Thank you Roam devs!)
5 - Though shalt not have antifragility at the expense of others
Antifragile things don't derive their upside at the expense of others. If so, they'd be dependent on them and fragile by definition.
Roam doesn't care what else you use in partnership with it. Go ahead, use your scraps of paper and Evernote. It doesn't negatively affect anything you put in Roam nor is Roam threatened by their existence.
Others don't need to fail for Roam to succeed.
Others don't need to fail for Roam to succeed.
Why does any of this matter?
I am fragile. Roam is antifragile.
It makes me a better person. So yes, I'm obsessed with this.
I am fragile. Roam is antifragile.
It makes me a better person. So yes, I'm obsessed with this.
Living through the shit-show that has been 2020 and having to grasp at sanity has reminded me of how fragile we as humans can be.
The fact that Roam is antifragile has allowed me to not just survive but thrive in certain areas of my life this year. THIS year! 2020!
The fact that Roam is antifragile has allowed me to not just survive but thrive in certain areas of my life this year. THIS year! 2020!
I can't recommend it enough. It might not be for everyone, but I can see how it has helped me this year and I will forever be a fan.
Nothing but love for the app and (moreso) the people behind it!
Nothing but love for the app and (moreso) the people behind it!
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