How to over complicate things

[Rageaholic]

Is it just me or do most how to guides on the internet make things three times as hard as they already are?

Examples, I recently saw a video on how to make ramen noodles more healthy. The advice was to throw away seasoning and spend an hour cutting up veggies and adding meat or even peanuts to the dish. First of all, the seasoning is what gives the noodles flavor. I know it's probably bad for you (the most tasty things always are), but I just couldn't imagine what the point of it would be without the flavor. Judging by several comments, I wasn't alone. Second of all, why spend all this time cutting veggies and all that on a dish that's supposed to be quick and easy. Again, doesn't that defeat the purpose? The only benefit I could see to this is having cheap noodles to add to a dish.

Another one, a video on how to shovel snow. (this was months ago) They actually advised doing exercises before shoveling the snow. What the hell?! Is that even necessary?! And this wasn't even for huge snowfalls either.

Then there's studying. Most of the "how to study" articles I've found advised students to go in depth into every page, asking questions about the important things, and try to memorize everything to the word. Like a busy student (or even part time student) would have any time for that.

What are the people who write these articles smoking to think that people have all this free time?

[Stormraven]

My Lady likes Ramen noodles, but can't have the flavor packets because of the salt. She makes it with a healthier stock/boullion.

But yeah, if you're going to go through the effort of chopping veggies and the like, you might as well go whole hog and make your noodles from scratch.

[Red Panda]

I don't usually see noodles other then Ramen sold in packages that size. You would either have opened noodles or extra noodles. Besides cutting up some veggies, or having veggies cut from something else is pretty easy as far as prep goes.

[AdminAssistant]

Yeah, it doesn't take an hour to cut up veggies, or you can even use frozen, pre-cooked veggies. Or you can just not eat ramen. (I've managed to go through 8 years of higher education without even tasting the stuff.)

Studying....different tactics work for different people.

[Red Panda]

After participating in this topic I've now got a strange urge to buy a blender or food proccessor and spend way too much time coming up with elaborate Ramen dishes. I wonder how much practice it would take to become the world's leading authority on overcomplicating Ramen.

[Dreamstalker]

I actually have a cookbook "101 Things To Do With Ramen Noodles".

[Red Panda]

Is number one "Put it in boiling water"?

[Hobbs]

Yeah, it doesn't take an hour to cut up veggies, or you can even use frozen, pre-cooked veggies. Or you can just not eat ramen. (I've managed to go through 8 years of higher education without even tasting the stuff.)

Though art blasphemous!

The power of Christ compels you *douses with holy water*




note: Again, joking. I do find that surprising though. I remember guys in the dorms buying pallets of the stuff.

[radiocerk]

It would be a good idea to do stretches before shoveling snow. Wouldn't see the point of all-out exercising beforehand though.

[lordlundar]

For the examples:

Ramen Noodles - Yeah, if you're gonna do that, you might as well make your own. The big selling point is convenience, and you might as well prepare a full meal using other starch at that point.

Shoveling - Stretching I can see, as my back can angrily attest to from last winter. But full on exercising? Shoveling snow is hard and work that is going to exhaust you anyways, why burn yourself out before you even start?

Studying - I don't agree on the memorizing, but I do agree with going in depth and asking questions to yourself. Memorizing just leads to lost info when you focus on something else, while in depth and asking questions not only keeps it more active in the mind which makes it sustain longer, you're inputting your own perspective into the material, which makes it relevant to you.