Simone Giertz, Building bad robots, making videos, and coping with a brain tumor

[mouser]

I think quite a few of you have seen the videos made by Simone Giertz.  She has gained fame by building small household robots that work to perform a task, but rather than expending huge efforts to make everything work perfectly, she basically settles for a first draft rough prototype experiment, and the results are funny, fun, and inspiring.  I think there is something we can all learn from her spirit -- and enjoying the pleasure of creating something that doesn't quite work.

Her very latest video has taken a sad turn though, as she posts about her discovery that she has a brain tumor.  She talks about her upcoming operation.

Some of her videos, including the last one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab47XHidvwQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcW70-6eQcY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lft0TcJVdm4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpa4kp4lK60

[wraith808]

Her very latest video has taken a sad turn though, as she posts about her discovery that she has a brain tumor.  She talks about her upcoming operation.

It does seem a really sad turn, especially after seeing her in the other videos.  While she's serious, she does seem to be upbeat though, which will hopefully serve her well in the fight.

[daddydave]

Wow, I had no idea. She's an amazing young lady and I'm hoping all goes well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXLzfAHl4-k

[tomos]

Just after getting an email about her giving a ted talk (still watching)
https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_giertz_why_you_should_make_useless_things

EDIT// that was really great fun. Have to admit I only watched the videos above after. Lots of genuine laugh out loud moments. Wishing her all the best.

[Deozaan]

She had her surgery at the end of May.

just got the lab results and the tumor was noncancerous! So big fricking cheers to us and to many years ahead 🧠✨

She's slowly getting better.

Sorry for the silence. I’m okay. Just not as okay as I’d like to be yet.

[tomos]

Good news. Thanks for the heads up

[Deozaan]

She's back!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-INz4XVeyJ4

[f0dder]

Sorry for the silence. I’m okay. Just not as okay as I’d like to be yet.[attachment 1 not found]

That's a pretty rad undercut she's rocking now!

[mouser]

The big take home message I get from Simone Giertz (her work and her recent shared struggle) is: Put yourself out there.

[Deozaan]

The big take home message I get from Simone Giertz (her work and her recent shared struggle) is: Put yourself out there.

Care to expound on that?

[mouser]

What I meant is that many of us fight a voice in the back of our head that cautions us against showing vulnerability -- a voice that tells us not to show our weaknesses, and not to share our creations for fear they will be ridiculed or that they don't live up to expectations.  I think people like Simone are reminders that a far healthier way to live is not to let these voices stop you from putting yourself and your work out there, with a healthy dose of not taking yourself too seriously, and enjoy making a real connection with others.  People will appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable, and your projects have value even when they aren't perfect.