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Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

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Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#11

Post by badpun »

Bender wrote: post #7
badpun wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the internet or electricity ceased to exist forever life would go on. Life would go on, but most people would probably starve. We can't grow at today's efficiency without electricity.

Many would starve but I and many around me would be fine. It would not be easy but it is doable. I agree that there is far too much dependency on electricity and many of the people that knew how to do without it are long gone. There are books on how to do regenerative farming and homesteading but fewer people read books now. That process needs to be started a few years before the electricity is gone.

No electricity means no pesticides, no fertilizer and no machinery. Farming productivity levels would go back to around 1800 or so, and we could barely feed a billion people at that time.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#12

Post by Bender »

badpun wrote: post #11
Bender wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many would starve but I and many around me would be fine. It would not be easy but it is doable. I agree that there is far too much dependency on electricity and many of the people that knew how to do without it are long gone. There are books on how to do regenerative farming and homesteading but fewer people read books now. That process needs to be started a few years before the electricity is gone.

No electricity means no pesticides, no fertilizer and no machinery. Farming productivity levels would go back to around 1800 or so, and we could barely feed a billion people at that time.

Farming productivity levels would go back to around 1800 or so, and we could barely feed a billion people at that time.

Agreed. That's why each community would have to do homesteading and regenerative farming on much smaller and more distributed scales like we used to. All centralized mono-crap farming would be gone and cities would have to break up and move into rural communities. People would need to have more kids to do work around the homestead. People here would know this concept as "horizontal scaling".

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#13

Post by runjake »

> Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech?

I don't really treat it like an identity, but more and more, yes.

> If so, why and how?

- Everything spews telemetry which ends up with data brokers and by proxy, various nation-states.

- Everything is software-based. If you work in or with software developers, you'll have an idea how bad it is. I can't trust that code, even when its not vibecoded.

How?

- By reducing usage of and dependence on tech products where feasible.

- By selecting low-tech product alternatives. My appliance don't need wi-fi. If I can't get an appliance without wi-fi, it's never going to be connected to wi-fi.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#14

Post by giantg2 »

I'm not low tech but try to be selective-tech.

I try to use tech that provides what I see as a net positive for me while trying to limit the downsides. I do stuff like use a Pi-hole and VPN while using internet. I have security cameras, but use them on-site rather than Ring, etc. I dont use lots of small connected devices either, mostly opting for wired connections. I schedule the wifi to turn off late at night too. Try to limit content for the family to things that are educational or at least not mind numbing. I don't chase the newest tech and can be happy with older hardware, used hardware, etc. I have lots of real world hobbies to focus on too.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#15

Post by BillyTheMage »

badpun wrote: post #11
Bender wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many would starve but I and many around me would be fine. It would not be easy but it is doable. I agree that there is far too much dependency on electricity and many of the people that knew how to do without it are long gone. There are books on how to do regenerative farming and homesteading but fewer people read books now. That process needs to be started a few years before the electricity is gone.

No electricity means no pesticides, no fertilizer and no machinery. Farming productivity levels would go back to around 1800 or so, and we could barely feed a billion people at that time.

> oh geez oh no how can we possibly survive without poisoning everything we touch?

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#17

Post by gaws »

Bender wrote: post #2

Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how? Yes. I only own and operate vehicles that are pre-2004. They have computers, but are very simple, easy to replace, mostly easy to work on. Pre-1990 are much easier to work on. My tractor was made in 1947. Also dirt simple to work on. On all of these things I can disable the devices designed to cut engine life in half or to intentionally use excessive oil and f…

Why pre-2004, specifically?

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#18

Post by zzo38computer »

I use many older technology, and sometimes use both older and newer ones.

I have both analog and digital clocks; I do not currently have a sundial but I intended to make two (one in the front and one in the back).

I use incandescent lights when I need light inside (although I do not use as many lights as some people do)), but prefer to have open windows so that the sun light can come in, and will sometimes use candles when necessary.

Many programs I use on the computer are older ones (although sometimes I write the programs by myself).

I usually use pencil and paper for writing, and prefer physical books for reading.

I do not have a cell phone.

I also do not have a car (I usually walk, or go together with someone else in their car if they are going to the same place).

For payment, I prefer to pay in cash (or sometimes barter) when I can.

I also still use analog radio (both AM and FM).

And, I think that many things do not need to have computers or electricity, and even those that do, usually should not need to have excessively functions and should not need internet connection and other stuff like that.

Unfortuantely, many people outside have light on even at night, and there is also sometimes noise of cars outside, that I don't like so much.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?

#19

Post by badpun »

BillyTheMage wrote: post #15
badpun wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No electricity means no pesticides, no fertilizer and no machinery. Farming productivity levels would go back to around 1800 or so, and we could barely feed a billion people at that time.

> oh geez oh no how can we possibly survive without poisoning everything we touch?

We very well could survive, but maybe only after 6-7 billions of us starve. 1-2 billions of people is considered to be natural carrying capacity of Earth.
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