81–90 of 194 posts
You can't really give up computers without giving up driving, possibly using a thermostat, a coffee machine, etc.
The reduction in stress and increase in my happiness is quite profound. My stress levels are noticeably lower than on a typical holiday, and far lower than my normal levels. I attribute this partly to the lack of internet, and partly to the experience of being "close to nature". Possibly it is also the quiet and dark nights that lead to great sleep.
I don't think there is any change in my focus (which is quite poor). I read more than I usually do, but maybe that is just because there is no internet to read.
One other interesting factor is the air. The air is much fresher feeling. When I return to civilisation on the trip home, the air makes me feel sick. Eventually I adapt, or stop noticing how disgusting the polluted air is (and how loud car traffic is). I wonder if the air quality influences my mood at all.
During the voyage home, there is a point at which the data signals return. This leads to an amusing deluge of notifications on our phones. The most amazing thing is how little I care about any of it.
Normally I check notifications often. I sometimes even find myself checking my phone out of habit when there is no notification.
Similarly, I don't care at all that I missed 10+ days of activity on HN and Reddit. Why is it, then, that normally I feel like I have to check every day or I am somehow missing out?
Based on this, I think you will find it becomes easier to live without technology the longer you go without.
If you want to see someone who has taken this to an extreme, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir-s8KRN97Q
* In the past, there was no cellular service at all, but it seems that new towers were erected close enough to the property that it is possible to get a signal. In any case, it is not such a bad thing in case of emergencies.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Type-C-USB-3-1-to-USB-C-4K-HDMI-U...
Thanks -- I have a similar adapter. However, the screen is USB-C only (I'm not using USB-C to HDMI or anything like that). What I need is an adapter with basically one USB-C male and two USB-C female -- one for USB-PD and one for the display. I'm not sure if there is something in the USB-C/USB PD/USB3.0/whatever standard which makes this impossible / too difficult.
It might be a bit unorthodox and I would possibly get flagged for writing this but I found the ideas of Kaczynski on impact of technology on us very profound and thought-provoking[0]. I try to separate the "art" from the "artist" and do not condone his violent actions thereafter. But this idea has been around in various shapes where people debate if its true that techonology is evolving at a much faster rate than our…
You can't really give up computers without giving up driving, possibly using a thermostat, a coffee machine, etc.
It might be a bit unorthodox and I would possibly get flagged for writing this but I found the ideas of Kaczynski on impact of technology on us very profound and thought-provoking[0]. I try to separate the "art" from the "artist" and do not condone his violent actions thereafter. But this idea has been around in various shapes where people debate if its true that techonology is evolving at a much faster rate than our…
Is there a different writer with a similar viewpoint we could read about, if we don't want to read his work?
It is in the same ballpark
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9780922915989&i=stripbooks&link...
It might be a bit unorthodox and I would possibly get flagged for writing this but I found the ideas of Kaczynski on impact of technology on us very profound and thought-provoking[0]. I try to separate the "art" from the "artist" and do not condone his violent actions thereafter. But this idea has been around in various shapes where people debate if its true that techonology is evolving at a much faster rate than our…
Kaczynski really did everyone a massive disservice by turning to violence. He was a nut, but his criticism of industrialization is more coherent than you'd think. In an alternate universe he is a public "thought leader" giving TED talks on the subject.
I'm 56, so yes. ;-) But in terms of ditching those things after getting used to them, it's only happened when my family went on overseas trips. A problem for me is that the computer is not just a connection with the outside world, but has become a medium for thinking. Take away my Jupyter, and you've removed half of my brain. But I've never used social media, so I have less to give up when I walk away from a screen.…
People forget that even pre-smartphone, people would go on trips and put themselves behind a camera instead of entering the scenery.