I originally posted this on Reddit and found it fascinating to see various perspectives and discover some incredibly talented people engaging with the community. I decided to repost it here to continue the discussion and broaden the conversation.
Hey everyone,
I recently shared a post showcasing my 3D graph view using the “Tags Routes” plugin, and it got a lot of love—thanks for that! But I also noticed a recurring theme in some of the comments: “What’s the point?” “It’s useless,” and other sentiments along those lines.
It seems like whenever someone shares something that’s more about aesthetics or creative flair, there’s a subset of the community that’s quick to dismiss it as pointless. So, I wanted to address this, not just for myself but for anyone who’s felt discouraged from posting their unique Obsidian setups.
► Let’s Talk About Personal Preferences:
First off, can we all agree that Obsidian is a powerful, highly customizable tool? That’s what makes it so awesome—everyone can build their own “second brain” in a way that works best for them. For some of us, that means keeping things simple and straightforward. For others, like myself, it means adding a touch of visual flair to keep things interesting. It’s all about personal preference.
If you’re a hardcore pragmatist who thrives on minimalism, that’s awesome! But not everyone fits that mold. Some of us need a bit of visual stimulation to stay engaged and productive. I like to think of it as mixing utility with creativity. My 3D graph might seem like just a pretty distraction to some, but for me, it’s a fun way to keep boredom at bay—and let’s be real, that’s half the battle when it comes to productivity.
► The “Useless” Stuff Might Be Useful to Someone Else:
Just because something doesn’t serve a clear purpose for you doesn’t mean it’s useless for everyone. What seems frivolous to one person could be the key to keeping another person’s productivity flowing. For instance, I’ve tried other note-taking systems—Notion, Evernote, Google Keep—but none of them kept me engaged for long. Obsidian’s flexibility, and yes, even its “useless” features, are what have kept me here.
And here’s the thing: Even if a plugin seems like pure eye candy, it might still have value. Maybe it encourages someone who’s on the verge of abandoning Obsidian to stick with it a little longer. Maybe it sparks a new idea or leads to a discovery that wasn’t even on the radar before. Sometimes, the most unexpected tools end up being the most useful.
► Let’s Embrace Diversity (And Have Some Fun with It!):
At the end of the day, we’re all here because we love Obsidian and what it can do for us. But that doesn’t mean we all have to use it the same way. Imagine if everyone used the exact same system—how boring would that be? 
So, instead of discouraging posts that showcase the more creative side of Obsidian, let’s embrace the diversity in how we use this tool. Whether you’re all about utility, aesthetics, or a mix of both, there’s room for everyone. And who knows? You might just find inspiration in something you initially thought was “useless.”
After all, isn’t that the beauty of Obsidian? It’s not just a note-taking system—it’s a sandbox where we can all build our own worlds; however, we like. So, let’s keep sharing, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep having fun with it.
Cheers to all the pragmatists, creatives, and everyone in between! 