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Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

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Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#161

Post by [deleted] »

zozbot234 wrote: post #48
luddite99 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for sharing this one, I agree with you that we should be able to discuss ideas on their own merits. I'm only vaguely familiar with Kaczynski's philosophy and his actions, but I look forward to giving this a read over the next 24 hours. Just looking over the introduction, certainly some strong beliefs there, but it does resonate to some degree. It does feel like this rejection of all-encompassing technologic…

> Things like minimalism, mindfulness and paleo diets spring to mind. But then again, maybe these are all manufactured and part of that same technological/industrial/consumerist wave. Of course they are. "Rebel", "counter-cultural", "subversive" anti-consumerism is the silliest and most conformist variety of consumerism. :-P

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#162

Post by karatestomp »

zikzak wrote: post #14
sacman08 wrote: post #3

Yes I have. It was called the 1980's.

Came here more or less to say this. I really think a pre-Internet, pre-highly connected brain is different from one where the Internet is ubiquitous. I am not saying it is better, but it is different. The idea that to look something up you have to remember it or note it down by your family's telephone on a slip of paper, go to the library, find a reference book you can't even take home with you, research it in that a…

The biggest thing for me are the trivia. Wanting to know something that wasn't actually important didn't used to be an itch. Hell the urge to know it would slide right off one's mind, because it was impractical to follow up. Way too much work to find out. Hardly a concern.

Now with the world's trivia (far from all the valuable or deep knowledge, even decades in to this experiment, but by god, we've got the trivia covered) available with maybe ten seconds of effort, it's so hard to resist looking up every little unimportant thing. "Who was that actor in that one thing?" Ugh, why do I care? Why would anyone care? ... but yes I'm going to check.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#163

Post by jnaddef »

Because of an unfortunate house-sharing issue I ended up without any electricity at home for almost 2 months.

I still had a phone that I was charging at the office, and still used the computer at work, but all my time at home was spent mostly laying in the cold dark (it was winter time) letting my mind wander and reflecting about life.

After a few weeks my co-workers asked me why I was not moving, and were very surprised when I told them that the situation was actually pretty nice. You get to think about so many things that you would never usually, just because you suddenly have the time to do so.

I also believe I had my best nights of sleep during those 2 months as I was not going to bed right after spending 12 hours in front of a screen.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#164

Post by rottcodd »

rottcodd wrote: post #151

Well. I am working as software dev and do not use smartphones. I am far away from my home so I can't go without having phone at all. I have not seen movies for six months as part of... you can call it a challenge. I am sure the other side has benefits in this is "way of Luddite", but goodies I think you get is: * You got to make your time to fool around. When you have so many other things where just go and have fun b…

Never saw the poster's user name. I used luddite in general sense. No pun intended

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#165

Post by crimsonalucard1 »

I remember when I was a kid, before the internet became ubiquitous, sometimes I would decide to re-read a book I already read from scratch.

Nowadays I can't even finish a book.

I'm not sure how relate-able that experience is because I was an only child and I was alone a lot. I'm sure most people (aka people with siblings) never get bored enough to re-read a book from scratch.

I guess I would say the good thing about the internet is that there's now a never ending stream of things to learn. The bad thing is that now I have lack of focus.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#166

Post by owl57 »

kevwil wrote: post #133

First 25 years of my life. It was glorious. I would start by making a list of what you think are critical uses of tech, and work on trimming that list down until all that's left is almost impossible to do analog. You'll probably need to buy stamps and a good map, and learn to memorize phone numbers. Film cameras are cheap but getting processing and printing can be an expensive hassle. I'm still wondering if search en…

A single book, yes, can last hundreds of years or burn up in minutes. A book printed in a thousand copies and distributed all over the world, including places likely to survive nuclear war, will last hundreds of years.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#169

Post by crimsonalucard1 »

biswaroop wrote: post #138
pards wrote: post #4

I did it for about 3 months while backpacking around South America in 2007 (before smartphones). I occasionally use the internet via 'internet cafes' to send a few emails and to research destinations. I kept a hand-written journal every day.

I'm surprised backpacking isn't a more common answer. Pretty much every time I go backpacking, I'm essentially isolated from the world. My phone is just a camera/reference device at that point. Like you, I spent a few months backpacking before smartphones, and it was amazing. I ended up losing my camera charger too, so I had to sketch everything I saw in my journal. I got pretty good at it, and realized how much more…

I backpacked through the Himalayas for 2 weeks to Everest base camp.

I had internet access throughout the whole trip, so I'd say it depends on where you're backpacking.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever gone without a computer or phone for an extended period?

#170

Post by Izkata »

rglullis wrote: post #157
INTPenis wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had the same thought, the 90s. And what did I do in the 90s? I smoked cigarettes. All alone, at a bus stop, or waiting for a friend. It was torture just standing there as a teenager in the 90s. Had to start smoking. I'm not saying smartphones made me quit smoking but mp3 players did give me an excuse to put headphones on and at least do something while waiting for public transportation and the like. I did own a wal…

Books. Comics. And the Walkman would go into my backpack which would carry said books and comics. I've heard many good excuses for smoking but "I needed to keep my hands busy and I wouldn't carry a backpack" is a new one. :)

I strictly wore cargo shorts in summer back in school (2000s) because it was easy to fit a book in the lower pockets.
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