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Off the Grid

stephenfry.com

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Re: Off the Grid

#71

Post by gglitch »

coldtea wrote: post #30
RivieraKid wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I usually think the same for vast majority of stuff on HN, i.e. most articles could be cut down to one or two paragraphs with little value lost, but... There are generally two reasons why I read - to extract information and for the experience of reading. Stephen Fry's blog is one of the rare cases where I just enjoy the writing and the information value doesn't really matter.

> I usually think the same for vast majority of stuff on HN, i.e. most articles could be cut down to one or two paragraphs with little value lost, Maybe life too. Instead of going through this whole redundant process of living through it, we could just be given some 10 word summary, like e.g.: "There was some fun, some sadness, a few regrets, a couple profound experiences, a lot of boredom, quite some pain, mostly ok…

Good point. Weird how inefficient it is when people express themselves. If we had a dictionary where we could look up every idea, no one would have to say anything anymore, it'd all have already been expressed better, and we could all just stfu and not waste readers' time.

n.b.: notwithstanding my unsubtle point, I upvoted RivieraKid, with whom I agree about the value of reading these woefully inefficient thoughts, like Fry's, that I love.

Re: Off the Grid

#72

Post by Joof »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #44
return0 wrote: post #37

Why do people feel like FB and messengers are the entire "Grid"? You can go off social networks and still enjoy the marvel that is the internet (it works for me). My guess is that people develop a genuine addiction to FB and need to avoid all temptation for a while. Going offline for a longer than that is not a good idea though.

>> "My guess is that people develop a genuine addiction to FB and need to avoid all temptation for a while. Going offline for a longer than that is not a good idea though." Maybe it is. Look at it like any other addiction. If you're addicted to alcohol you don't stop for a while that start and hope you can drink in moderation. I guess a better analogy might be an alcoholic who can go into a bar and not drink. I guess…

I haven't used Facebook or similar for several years. I still use HN though, but it at least FEELS healthier.

Re: Off the Grid

#73

Post by coldtea »

ascorbic wrote: post #53
coldtea wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Justifiable? Based on what he actually said? -- there's an accurate transcription down in the link.

“It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self-pity gets none of my sympathy because self-pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity.” The 58-year-old went on to say: “Grow up.” So, yes.

He is not talking about everybody who has had such an experience -- but those who linger on to it for decades and hurt their lives and the lives of others with that.

So, yes, grow up -- or grow over it.

You'd rather they didn't?

Life has not only that, but even worse experiences in store -- like losing a limb, your mobility, your life expectancy, your whole family, your house and homeland, etc just like that.

Much worse stuff has happened to people -- and some live that everyday -- and they still rebound and go forward. Wallowing in self pity is bad for those doing it and bad for those around them. And it can even turn them, themselves to something dark (many rapists were in turn abused when younger).

Re: Off the Grid

#74

Post by StavrosK »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #50
cel1ne wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wondered if the Apple Watch was made because Apple feels guilty about distracting everyone with smartphones.

After owning an Apple Watch I would say it just makes the distractions worse. Somehow it's much easier to ignore a vibration from the phone in your pocket than it is to ignore one on your wrist.

I have turned all vibrations and sounds off except for phone calls. It has been fantastic, I highly recommend it.

Re: Off the Grid

#75

Post by gglitch »

braythwayt wrote: post #21
jasonkostempski wrote: post #14

I've been trying to do this and as of this week, HN and stackexchage are the last social accounts I have but only because I can't find a way to delete them. I could just log out and walk away but it feels like there's no closure that way. Anyone know of a way to close an HN account?

Change the email address to a random uuid-like hash @example.com, then change your password to a random hash. Do not allow your browser or password manager to save these values. Now you’ve locked yourself out with no way back in.

Solid, but somehow very creepy, answer. I'm imagining someone discovering that they're a clone, and that their original was just sort of shut into a closet and forgotten about.

Re: Off the Grid

#76

Post by StavrosK »

ant6n wrote: post #46
jgrahamc wrote: post #2

The other day I suddenly remembered the door of my college room. Since I was at university pre-Internet, pre-mobile phones there was a piece of paper and a pencil on the door so that people who came round to find me could leave a message... by writing on the door.

Great idea for a social network. Just write on someone's door.

Too skeuomorphic.

Re: Off the Grid

#77

Post by coldtea »

RivieraKid wrote: post #49
coldtea wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I usually think the same for vast majority of stuff on HN, i.e. most articles could be cut down to one or two paragraphs with little value lost, Maybe life too. Instead of going through this whole redundant process of living through it, we could just be given some 10 word summary, like e.g.: "There was some fun, some sadness, a few regrets, a couple profound experiences, a lot of boredom, quite some pain, mostly ok…

That analogy doesn't make much sense...

Here's another way to put it:

"I have heard many People say, 'Give me the Ideas. It is no matter what Words you put them into.' To this I reply, Ideas cannot be Given but in their minutely Appropriate Words."

- William Blake

Re: Off the Grid

#78

Post by debacle »

darkclarity wrote: post #52

I have gone through a similar phase. Got rid of social media, switched back to a feature phone, am reading real books, listening to music on physical media, using cash where possible and whatever else. The Internet has gone from a place with a high barrier of entry (and the interesting characters that self selected for that barrier), to an all encompassing entity with a load of moralisers, businesses and governments…

What feature phone are you using? For the life of me I can't find one these days that isn't a cheap piece of crap.

Re: Off the Grid

#79

Post by DanBC »

uhtred wrote: post #38

It's interesting that I was at an itunes free gig in London back in 2010 at the Camden Roundhouse (band was Bombay Bicycle Club and they were very good), and Stephen Fry made a pre gig speech (obviously paid by Apple) to say how marvellous the iphone was and how although some people criticise social media , it is a marvellous thing that helps people feel less lonely, amongst other things (and the iphone helps people…

Stephen Fry has been an early adopter of technology for many years.

He and Douglas Adams were the first people in the UK to get Apple Macs, for example. He was the first person to apply for a .uk domain name

Re: Off the Grid

#80

Post by w8rbt »

yarou wrote: post #8

When I was a youngin' browsing BBSes in the 90s, I remember distinctly encountering a text guide to "the art of disappearing", essentially getting off the grid as Stephen Fry mentions. It involved a whole bunch of seemingly paranoid steps, like burning your passport, and booking your flight (one-way) with cash. I also remember thinking to myself how silly the whole concept was - why would I ever want to do something…

Some day, only governments and criminals will pay with cash ;)
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