Explain Like I'm Five · by Budi Santoso · 2026-09-26

How do you stay consistent when explainers gets boring without fancy tools?

I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 5 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.

171 sparks · 22 comments

Comments

Tiny Fern · 18 likes

The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Haruto Sato · 8 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I noticed the same thing in Toronto.

Liam Eriksson · 8 likes

Agree completely. The simple version is underrated. I would test it for 3 days before deciding.

Mango Mango · 4 likes

I had the same reaction to completely.

Haruto Sato · 7 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. It sounds small, but the recipe matters.

Rapid Panda · 6 likes

The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. That is where the boring checklist helps.

Avery Johnson · 5 likes

That last line is excellent. I am curious whether questions still feels good next month.

Leila Karimi · 3 likes

Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. You will learn more from a simple version repeated three times than from a perfect plan you never start.

- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.

Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.

Sara Ahmed · 3 likes

The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I would test it for 10 days before deciding.

Liam Eriksson · 3 likes

Glad you shared it; small wins count. The Mexico City example makes it feel concrete.

Elif Yılmaz · 2 likes

The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Antonia Silva · 1 likes

Really good advice, and it feels doable. The the train station detail changes the whole answer.

Priya Nair · 5 likes

Noted, and thank you.

Budi Santoso · 4 likes

I had the same reaction to noted.

Mateo Cruz · 2 likes

Kind of wild how often noted is the whole issue.

Paolo Garcia · 1 likes

Adding this to my notes.

Amelia Hughes · 1 likes

This is the kind of disagreement I like.