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Do we have to worry about Notch?

M

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
Woo-Fu said:
Couldn't he just give all the money to charity and go back to his previous lifestyle if on the whole it was better than this one? I mean if the money is the problem and he doesn't feel it can be fixed by throwing money at it, then why not donate it all to charity and start work on a new game while working at Denny's?

See that is the problem I have when people talk about coming into money ruining their life. I don't think I've ever seen any of them get rid of the money to return their life to what it was, at least not intentionally. :)
Click to expand...

Because that's not how it works. The money in this situation fundamentally altered his social existence. His friends from Mojang are pissed because he gave them proportionally small bonuses rather than set them up for life. He then moved to the other side of the planet to live in a castle on a hill in a city obsessed with wealth and fame. Massive change plus alienation from everything he's ever known in terms of a home and his friends/family is going to take a toll. You can't really stuff that genie back in the bottle, and he didn't really have a choice in letting it out, because the sale of Mojang was international business news.
 
B

BigWeather

Member
Markus, I don't know if you still read NeoGAF and maybe this post will just go into the ether. Maybe it'll help someone else. I don't know. I read the OP just before my walk and found that I spent the better part of two hours thinking about it. I haven't read the other responses but I imagine there are some very helpful responses mixed in with the not so helpful.

I tried to imagine what I'd do in your shoes. I figure I'd first look at my self, my life, and my environment and evaluate the elements of each. Keep those that bring you happiness, change or eject those that don't. Accept that all things can't be changed for the better or ejected -- but many can.

Second, find your passion. If that's programming, great! But just because you achieved your success in programming doesn't mean that has to be your passion. It could be travel. It could be cooking. It could be becoming an archaeologist or park ranger. Some may question why you aren't continuing to pursue programming. Ignore them.

Third, I'd accept that you'll very likely never match the external success of Minecraft. And that's OK! What you can do, however, is at the end of your long life look back at a body of work that you are proud of. Don't get in the trap of trying to meet the success of Minecraft. We all have our White Whales, figure out what yours is and chase after it. Even if only you are the one that feels it needed solving defeating it will be a great success.

You could even go back to work. A 9-to-5 could re-ignite your passion outside of work. Or team with others and chase after their White Whales. Try to forget the past -- imagine that you are 21 and have just inherited your money. Nobody knows you, there are no expectations. What would you do?

I don't know if you like to walk, but I find an hour or two walking and listening to birds and appreciating the beauty of the world about me and thinking on life makes a lot right in the world. Find someone else that likes to walk and talk through things. It's the cheapest therapy in the world. If you're ever in my neck of the woods look me up, I'm always up for a good walk.
 
S

Stallion Dan

Member
Moving always severs roots, even for 'normal' people.


Sounds like he needs a hobby, or a new job. Basically a reason to get up in the morning.
 
S

Skinpop

Member
MattKeil said:
Because that's not how it works. The money in this situation fundamentally altered his social existence. His friends from Mojang are pissed because he gave them proportionally small bonuses rather than set them up for life. He then moved to the other side of the planet to live in a castle on a hill in a city obsessed with wealth and fame. Massive change plus alienation from everything he's ever known in terms of a home and his friends/family is going to take a toll. You can't really stuff that genie back in the bottle, and he didn't really have a choice in letting it out, because the sale of Mojang was international business news.
Click to expand...
he still lives in stockholm sweden.
 
X

XBP

Member
Antilurker77 said:
Zero sympathy. Probably because I've literally never encountered a problem money wouldn't fix. Having enormous amounts of money actually causing problems is something I can't even fathom.
Click to expand...

So money can get you friends and a family who genuinely care about your well being?
 
legacyzero

legacyzero

Banned
Dreamwriter said:
Why? What exactly is it about the working conditions of Microsoft employees that you think are bad? Do you have information about Microsoft employees being mistreated or something? In what ways?
Click to expand...

You misunderstand my comment. I meant selling the studio to a big console maker/ publisher like that, then leaving, when the studio was supposed to be Indie.
 
A

ANDS

King of Gaslighting
Majukun said:
never had the problem of not knowing how to spend my money..but now I'm genuinely curious..what's the obstacle?
Click to expand...

He wouldn't be giving away 100 dollar bill. He'd be giving away 1 billion dollars. If he actually wanted to do it right, there are clear hoops he'd have to go through. Could he just dump it on MD Anderson or Red Cross. . .I have no idea. This speaks nothing of the relationship problems that would erupt: "Dude you wouldn't give me an extra 250K but you're giving your money away. . .to charity!" If you think he has problems now because of his cheapness what do you think would be the response after something like that?

The guy has unfortunately been thrust into a stressful situation, and going over to roast a J with Snoop Dogg probably isn't going to address any of those issues. For him, I'd peace out of LA, find someplace where his anonymity is almost assured and figure out what the hell he wants to do with the rest of his life. He was clearly UNPREPARED for what life after Mojang would be like and needs to sort that out. Soon.
 
L

lifeexpectancy

Member
Nokterian said:
Mo money, Mo problems
Click to expand...

Only if you make them for yourself. He did more for his former employees than anyone could be expected. He owes them nothing, nor anyone else. If I came into that kind of money the last thing I'd be doing is blow it all on roulette. I'd set up trust funds for my entire family so they could all live off of the interest/dividends for the rest of their life, then expatriate to some far-off place, unplug from the internet for a few years other than to track my investments and assets, and just let the world do its thing.

Taking other people's opinions of you to heart is the worst thing you can possibly do, in any situation, least of all in one like the one he is in. It's a myth that money can't buy happiness. It can buy security, and financial security is a key component of happiness for a lot of people.


I feel bad for him (I guess), but I feel like he's putting a lot of it on himself. Fuck anyone who blames him for selling Minecraft. If I'd been in the same situation I'd have probably sold it sooner than he did.
 
J

jetjevons

Bish loves my games!
1. "The problem with getting everything is you run out of reasons to keep trying" If all you were 'trying' for is to earn a shit-ton of money, versus say, a sense of personal accomplishment, creative satisfaction, the altruistic gratification of spreading the tools of creativity to millions of others, building your legacy, or simply the love of the medium, then I guess, congratulations? You win?

2. "and human interaction becomes impossible due to imbalance." What imbalance? You now have money. Are you a god? Are people lesser for having less than you? Is every single person you talk to ending the conversation with "and by the way can you loan me $ or invest in my thing?" I don't understand the reasoning behind this way of thinking.
 
O

orthodoxy1095

Banned
jetjevons said:
2. "and human interaction becomes impossible due to imbalance." What imbalance? You now have money. Are you a god? Are people lesser for having less than you? Is every single person you talk to ending the conversation with "and by the way can you loan me $ or invest in my thing?" I don't understand the reasoning behind this way of thinking.
Click to expand...
You should read about the accounts of people who suddenly come into a lot of wealth via lotteries or big business deals (like Notch). Yes, money becomes a huge source of issues in human interactions. People do start asking for money. People do treat them differently once they find out they're rich.
Antilurker77 said:
Zero sympathy. Probably because I've literally never encountered a problem money wouldn't fix. Having enormous amounts of money actually causing problems is something I can't even fathom.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, just because you can't wrap your closed mind around it doesn't mean it's not actually real. Money can't solve all problems. For someone drowning in student loans, I'd expect you to have learned that much during your education process.
 
B

BokehKing

Banned
Depression is a real thing, money does not buy me happiness
I know for aboslute certain, if I had like 2 billion dollars I would be BORED ....with in a month?

What do you do? Who do you hang out with?
I mean I suppose I could buy a huge estate of land and build huge houses for my huge italian family to live somewhere nice, cheap and close together?

I'm still going to have stomach issues, I'm still going to have anxiety attacks, I'm still going to find myself bored of open world games, I'm still probably going to go to bed by 11 pm every night.

Maybe I can fund some movies I want made? I don't know, but depression will eventually kick in as it always does, and no amount of money can fix that.
 
N

Nesther

Member
devilsadvocat said:
Depression is a real thing, money does not buy me happiness
I know for aboslute certain, if I had like 2 billion dollars I would be BORED ....with in a month?

What do you do? Who do you hang out with?
I mean I suppose I could buy a huge estate of land and build huge houses for my huge italian family to live somewhere nice, cheap and close together?

I'm still going to have stomach issues, I'm still going to have anxiety attacks, I'm still going to find myself bored of open world games, I'm still probably going to go to bed by 11 pm every night.

Maybe I can fund some movies I want made? I don't know, but depression will eventually kick in as it always does, and no amount of money can fix that.
Click to expand...

Snoop Dogg.
 
A

Antilurker77

Member
orthodoxy1095 said:
Unfortunately, just because you can't wrap your closed mind around it doesn't mean it's not actually real. Money can't solve all problems. For someone drowning in student loans, I'd expect you to have learned that much during your education process.
Click to expand...

I don't know what you mean. Money would certainly solve my loan problems. Hell, the whole reason I'm in college in the first place is so that I won't be stuck in poverty working in some dead-end job like my parents.
 
O

orthodoxy1095

Banned
Antilurker77 said:
I don't know what you mean. Money would certainly solve my loan problems. Hell, the whole reason I'm in college in the first place is so that I won't be stuck in poverty working in some dead-end job like my parents.
Click to expand...
I wasn't speaking about your loans. I meant that I would expect in the process of obtaining your education (which created your loan situation) you would have figured that money doesn't solve all problems. It might solve some of yours and some of mine, but it certainly won't solve every problem. In reality, money does create some happiness...up to a point and then after you reach a threshold, increasing your wealth starts to do less and less.
 
S

SamuraiX-

Member
Guymelef said:
Woody-Harrelson.jpg
Click to expand...
This fucking gif lol

This is part of the reason that I'm content with the goal of reaching a six figure salary someday. Enough to pay off expenses for an upper middle class lifestyle with also enough left over to fund celebratory occasions and traveling adventures. :)

Best of luck to Notch though. I would imagine most people who find success of that magnitide go through this phase. Some go on to embrace the cons that come with the life while others find more rewarding things to do their money than focusing on glitz, glamour and lavish partying.
 
meanspartan

meanspartan

Member
Ive never been a Minecraft guy so Ive never closely followed Notch.

Do people hate him or something? Cuz this thread contains a lot of contempt for someone who might have depression, its quite harsh. Money isnt a preventative to depression.

Why does Mojang not like him? Cuz he sold?
 
S

Savitar

Member
Blasian Persuasion said:
From these Tweets I'm guessing Notch is one of the designers of Minecraft?
Click to expand...

He made Minecraft and sold it for 2.5 billion or so.


meanspartan said:
Ive never been a Minecraft guy so Ive never closely followed Notch.

Do people hate him or something? Cuz this thread contains a lot of contempt for someone who might have depression, its quite harsh. Money isnt a preventative to depression.

Why does Mojang not like him? Cuz he sold?
Click to expand...

People are mad at him for selling to Microsoft and not being some great figure head of gaming media as some wanted him to be. He wrote a letter saying why he sold and basically it was because he never wanted to be famous or someone people look forward for words of wisdom. He just wanted to a guy who made games.

Some of those who worked at Mojang hate him apparently for selling and thus possibly changing their nice little set up. Also because he made more than two billion and in their view gave them small scraps when they were for all intents and purposes updating and keeping Minecraft going instead of giving them a bigger piece of what he made for selling to MS.
 
B

B_Bech

Member
Notch needs a friend. His money has alienated those he had, and it's making it arduous to make new ones. This is just my armchair psychology, but I think he probably has some unresolved issues. I recall hearing about him losing a parent he'd been very close with a few years back. The statements about losing his girl to a "normal" person are ridiculous though.

Getting all that money in a short period of time is definitely a lifestyle adjustment-- especially when he kind of was just modding one of his favorite games and never really expected it to get big. I hope he gets help before he starts making decisions he's really going to regret-- though it sounds like selling Mojang might be one of those.
 
A

Antilurker77

Member
orthodoxy1095 said:
I wasn't speaking about your loans. I meant that I would expect in the process of obtaining your education (which created your loan situation) you would have figured that money doesn't solve all problems. It might solve some of yours and some of mine, but it certainly won't solve every problem. In reality, money does create some happiness...up to a point and then after you reach a threshold, increasing your wealth starts to do less and less.
Click to expand...

Well if there is, I haven't encountered one yet.
 
B

bsp

Member
BigWeather said:
Markus, I don't know if you still read NeoGAF and maybe this post will just go into the ether. Maybe it'll help someone else. I don't know. I read the OP just before my walk and found that I spent the better part of two hours thinking about it. I haven't read the other responses but I imagine there are some very helpful responses mixed in with the not so helpful.

I tried to imagine what I'd do in your shoes. I figure I'd first look at my self, my life, and my environment and evaluate the elements of each. Keep those that bring you happiness, change or eject those that don't. Accept that all things can't be changed for the better or ejected -- but many can.

Second, find your passion. If that's programming, great! But just because you achieved your success in programming doesn't mean that has to be your passion. It could be travel. It could be cooking. It could be becoming an archaeologist or park ranger. Some may question why you aren't continuing to pursue programming. Ignore them.

Third, I'd accept that you'll very likely never match the external success of Minecraft. And that's OK! What you can do, however, is at the end of your long life look back at a body of work that you are proud of. Don't get in the trap of trying to meet the success of Minecraft. We all have our White Whales, figure out what yours is and chase after it. Even if only you are the one that feels it needed solving defeating it will be a great success.

You could even go back to work. A 9-to-5 could re-ignite your passion outside of work. Or team with others and chase after their White Whales. Try to forget the past -- imagine that you are 21 and have just inherited your money. Nobody knows you, there are no expectations. What would you do?

I don't know if you like to walk, but I find an hour or two walking and listening to birds and appreciating the beauty of the world about me and thinking on life makes a lot right in the world. Find someone else that likes to walk and talk through things. It's the cheapest therapy in the world. If you're ever in my neck of the woods look me up, I'm always up for a good walk.
Click to expand...

Beautiful post, BigWeather.
 
B

Big-E

Member
xxracerxx said:
This is a clueless statement.
Click to expand...
In reality, Notxh does have it better than a lot of people. There are depressed people in any income class. Being rich and depressed is better in some peoples eyes than being poor and depressed. A lot of people devote every waking moment in their day ensuring that there is a roof over their own or families head and food on the table. Taking that part away from someones life is incredibly tempting and saying its clueless is quite erroneous given the millions of people who live pay cheque to paycheque.
 
bengraven

bengraven

Member
To all those who could give a shit because either he's got enough money that his only worry from this point forth is death or because you just don't like him, as he would say: fuck you so hard.

Depression affects anyone. Robin Williams suffered his entire life, was born into wealth, had tons of fans, a loving family, and he just couldn't fucking take it anymore.

Especially don't be a dick it's just because you're jealous that he doesn't have to work any more.
 
X

xxracerxx

Don't worry, I'll vouch for them.
Big-E said:
In reality, Notxh does have it better than a lot of people. There are depressed people in any income class. Being rich and depressed is better in some peoples eyes than being poor and depressed. A lot of people devote every waking moment in their day ensuring that there is a roof over their own or families head and food on the table. Taking that part away from someones life is incredibly tempting and saying its clueless is quite erroneous given the millions of people who live pay cheque to paycheque.
Click to expand...

We do not know the level of depression he is suffering from. All the money in the world would not make me want to switch places with someone who could possibly be thinking suicidal thoughts (not saying Notch is).
 
S

Skiptastic

Member
I would worry about him because I have empathy and the guy seems to be in a bad spot.

I hope he finds peace soon because he's been critical in bringing a lot of joy to young people.
 
G

Glass Shark

Banned
People often pose the thought experiment, "What would you do with your life if money was no object?" and when I sit down and really think about it, I can't think of anything I enjoy enough that I would want to do all the time if I literally had enough money to never work again. It's kinda scary. I can understand where he's coming from.
 
C

Crzy1

Member
So he develops a game that is shockingly successful, but sells it because the "fans" are mean to him. Pisses on everyone he's ever known for the most part and runs with his new found (and very substantial) wealth to the other side of the world. Constantly tweets about his money and the life he's now living and wonders why people don't seem to give a shit about him anymore.

It's nice to have a soapbox and it can be therapeutic for people suffering from depression to talk, but Twitter is the worst place he could possibly be trying to do it. I hope he's just having some minor depression and gets through it, but he really needs to actually distance himself from the spotlight as much as possible, especially social media and seek some actual help if he really is feeling depressed on a daily basis.
 
S

system11

Member
xxracerxx said:
This is a clueless statement.
Click to expand...

Not really. Being depressed doesn't make you a special flower, millions of people have suffered it at some point in their lives myself included. Thing is, most people also have to worry about how it might affect their financial situation too.
 
D

Devilgunman

Member
Markus, donate your money to cancer research and move to a 3rd world country where nobody knows who the fuck you are and start working on something new. That's how you solve this.
 
Sniper McBlaze

Sniper McBlaze

Member
Devilgunman said:
Markus, donate your money to cancer research and move to a 3rd world country where nobody knows who the fuck you are and start working on something new. That's how you solve this.
Click to expand...

Best tip. We all know the best way to get out of a depression is by getting rid of all the safety nets in your life.
 
M

mdargis

Banned
I say quit being a fucking bitch, take the money you have and make another bad ass game. People who get loads of money and cry that they are depressed because people don't like them now make me sick.

Man the fuck up.
 
diffusionx

diffusionx

Gold Member
Notch is in the same position as lottery winners, guys who get drafted in the NBA and NFL, etc. So what he is going through is not uncommon. I think the people at Mojang who are pissed at him for not giving them a bigger bonus are losers, just like the people who leech onto NFL players and suck them dry.

Money is a very meaningless and empty pursuit. We put so much weight on it but it really has very little effect on the quality of someone's life. Yes a nicer house is better than a worse house but that doesn't actually make someone happy. And Notch has the added complication of the fact that his newfound wealth is so huge it profoundly changes the way his former friends and acquaintances look at him. He needs a good therapist.
 
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