Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2015 August 30#Life hack.3F

When did an idea, a suggestion, a tip or a handy hint become a "life hack"? Who dreamt up that stupid, stupid expression? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 01:44, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:You left out one "stupid". Bus stop (talk) 02:06, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:Danny O'Brien did, in 2004, according to the article on life hacking. ---Sluzzelin talk 06:49, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

::: Thanks. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 08:40, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

::Sheesh, Jack, you just gave it a whole lot more publicity. Reminds me of the way the Bible says to blot out the remembrance of the Amalekites because of what they did, thus guaranteeing that their name would live on for the next few thousand years to the present day, lol. Deuteronomy 25:19 for anyone interested. Akld guy (talk) 07:24, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:::Very interested. Thanks. That book (which English has the Greeks to blame for misreading) is full of spiritual Gameshark codes. There. Now they're both public. May the least stupid sounding make it (loosely translated, at least) into the history books, and may the other join what's-his-name. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:59, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:I've only ever seen it on Lifehacker.com, Jack. It basically means a way to fix something in your life. Hacking into a computer can be used for benevolent means, too. KägeTorä - (^影_虎) (もしもし！) 07:40, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:: I see it on social media all.the.time. I know what it means (see my question). I was just questioning the need for such a neologism; despite claims of it being the second most useful word of 2005, I still say there's no need for it. Anyone who doesn't see things my way is wrong, and all intolerant people should be shot. The end. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 08:40, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

:::And then there are food hacks, such as how to dice an onion[http://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/knife-skills-101-chop-dice-mince-onions-like-pro-0148555/]. Bus stop (talk) 09:49, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

{{resolved}}

:It's not clear to me that our article really addresses Jack's question. O'Brien still seemed to be using the term to describe computer programming techniques. The transition to mean "tips and tricks for everyday life" comes with a big ol' {{fact}} tag on it. 99.235.223.170 (talk) 20:54, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

::[http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-dumb-life-hacks-that-make-life-more-difficult/ The 5 Least Effective Life Hacks People Apparently Use] touches on the "cottage industry" it has become. And here are [http://www.cracked.com/video_19318_12-reasons-term-life-hack-now-meaningless.html 12 'Life Hacks' by People With No Idea What Life Hacks Are.] Also, [http://www.cracked.com/blog/8-stupid-kitchen-hacks-tested-usefulness/ 8 Stupid Kitchen Hacks (Tested for Usefulness).] Cracked has more, but [http://www.cracked.com/article_21349_69-awesome-brain-hacks-that-give-you-mind-blowing-powers.html things work best] in threes. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:10, 31 August 2015 (UTC)

:::Believe it or not there is a [https://rumble.com/v2ztfx-easy-way-to-slice-and-cut-a-watermelon-in-seconds.html Life hack: Slice and cut a watermelon in seconds]. Bus stop (talk) 06:07, 31 August 2015 (UTC)

:::It's the same with those "instant karma" (aka "justice p**n") videos. Most of them are just videos of generic fails and clearly show that the person has no idea what karma is. Asmrulz (talk) 12:03, 31 August 2015 (UTC)

::::Instant gratification is [http://blog.iqmatrix.com/instant-gratification a mind trap]; revenge is a dish best served cold. Quickly rushing to burn a witch for the sake of [http://powertochange.com/experience/family/panic/ parental panic] can come back to haunt those precious, stupid children. Troubled by nightmare disorder? Use a common household razor to [http://weminoredinfilm.com/2014/04/25/13-things-you-may-not-know-about-nightmare-on-elm-street-3-dream-warriors/ slice and cut your eyelids off ''in seconds!] Problems with invasive pests? Ultra-high sound waves will make them scream their antennas off, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJD09K0JMLE guaranteed!]

::::[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxu6lgwJKE0 This justice porn] manages to grasp the idea of rapid-fire karma, while also solving the First World problem of not enough chair legs: Simply raise yourself, you spoiled brats! InedibleHulk (talk) 01:58, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

I don't know whether this is relevant or not, but 'life' may have been used as an acronym by O'Brien in the same way that LIFO and FIFO are used in computer terminology to mean 'Last In, First Out' and 'First In, First Out' respectively. I'm wracking my brains to think what 'LIFE' might mean, though. Akld guy (talk) 02:50, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

:Used to be a hard philosophical question, till [http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-life-fear-acronym-concept-other-releated-words-image35776521 Google made it easy.] There are only so many seconds in the day, whether you're using them to code software or save the princess ASAP. There are two sorts of players in LIFE. InedibleHulk (talk) 05:54, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

:"The object of the game of life is to see clearly one's good and to obliterate all mental pictures of evil. This must be done by impressing the subconscious mind with a realization of good. A very brilliant man, who has attained great success, told me he had suddenly erased all fear from his consciousness by [http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/floshi/part1.shtml reading a sign which hung in a room."]

:Life hack from 1925. I wonder if [http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/07/how_one_weird_trick_conquered_the_internet_what_happens_when_you_click_on.html it still works.] InedibleHulk (talk) 06:09, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

:One weird thing to remember about all manner of tricks, tips, techniques, textbooks and training is that [https://oracleofbacon.org/movielinks.php?a=Gary+Coleman+%28I%29&b=Robert+Englund&use_using=1&u0=on&use_role_types=1&rt0=on&use_genres=1&g0=on&g4=on&g8=on&g16=on&g20=on&g1=on&g5=on&g9=on&g13=on&g17=on&g21=on&g25=on&g2=on&g6=on&g10=on&g14=on&g22=on&g26=on&g3=on&g11=on&g15=on&g23=on&g27=on different strokes work for different folks.] A great idea in the wrong hands is a waste of time and potential. And what [http://horrorbloggeralliance.blogspot.ca/2010/02/horror-debates-is-wes-craven-hack-that.html those lucky few] make do with what they have may itself [http://visionaryorhack.com/2011/04/22/wes-craven-visionary-or-hack-some-of-us-are-not-sure/ work for some and not others.] InedibleHulk (talk) 07:19, 1 September 2015 (UTC)