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My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

alexanderell.is

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Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#141

Post by throwawayHN378 »

hooande wrote: post #134
sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

This is like saying "I cured my alcoholism by throwing all the liquor out of my house". The problem isn't the availability of the stimulus, it's the lack of control over your desire for it. You can't cure a need for distraction by blocking domains. There isn't a cure. You have to learn to live with it, like alcoholism. The good news is that major life events tend to be great for breaking the distraction seeking patte…

The “alcoholism is an incurable disease” trope came from a religious organization peddling snake oil. Not the best foundation to build your argument on. Studies indicate that many people are cured of their alcoholism and addiction. Generally through “aging out”. Additionally, just like alcoholism, the problem is the result not the cause. Alcoholics who don’t drink also don’t run over kids. People who don’t endlessly scroll don’t waste 5 hours a day. It doesn’t matter how it’s achieved

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#142

Post by tertius »

sodality2 wrote: post #67
Aeolun wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you stop yourself from just grabbing your phone and 5G?

The DNS server is set in my phone as well (still works over data). But even if it wasn't, I live in a third-world country that still has crude data caps (the United States) so consuming video would probably quickly approach it.

How are you setting DNS in your phone?

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#143

Post by travisporter »

sodality2 wrote: post #18
moltke wrote: post #16

I've removed everything with this from my life. Everyone knows how bad it is now, there's no excuse.

> Everyone knows how bad it is now, there's no excuse. I disagree. Ask any 20-30 year old and I don't think many will say that TikTok, Instagram, etc is "harmful to your health". Maybe a "bit addictive", maybe a few people who say "I have a problem with it". But never "I know this is very harmful for my attention span, my mental health, etc".

I have a friend early 40s who says I have to download tiktok its so good he spends his evenings in bed with his wife texting links to each other. Not doing a good job marketing it to me

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#144

Post by yumiris »

I see it as our minds being impressioned into a) needing new information and b) fearing a lack of information. This fear manifests as a habit of continuously craving novelty, to the point where we are used by technology.

A step towards overcoming it is to realise this fear and begin using technology as tools, like they were originally intended. This is, of course, easier said than done; however, with time, we can overcome this habit by using our technology with intent.

The biggest obstacle is not the technology, but ourselves. We often find reasons and justifications to continue this habit. Fundamentally, it's a case of self-victimisation and illusion of necessity. "It's too hard to quit", "I will learn new things", "I need to catch up with people", and so on.

I'm still exploring this topic and there's a lot to learn! What I've written above is likely just a (possibly misguided!) part of the whole equation. I'm happy to discuss this with anyone and understand the nuances of this problem, and hopefully a more effective solution.

Coincidentally, I've written about this topic in more detail a few days ago: https://blog.miris.design/attention-atrophy

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#145

Post by wmitty »

sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

My (crude) version of the same thing requires that I go 1000 meters from my house to press the button to enable the DNS for another 30 min of browsing (button is on a custom phone app, distance measured using phone GPS).

One feature that I want to implement is to have the system randomly enable for 10 minutes - and to signal this by changing the color of light from a desk lamp (Phillips Hue). The idea is that when this happens, I would drop what I was doing and leap for my phone to get some bonus browsing in. Me being controlled by the system like this might be fun?, or at least illustrate something?

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#146

Post by icedchai »

throwawayHN378 wrote: post #137

45 minutes? I’m a VP of Product and work 12 hour days, yet someone I spent 9 hours a day ( as per my iPhone ) on my iPhone… most of it in an endless scroll k-hole

So if you stopped being distracted by your phone, you could do 3 hour days? Sounds about right.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#147

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

hooande wrote: post #134
sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

This is like saying "I cured my alcoholism by throwing all the liquor out of my house". The problem isn't the availability of the stimulus, it's the lack of control over your desire for it. You can't cure a need for distraction by blocking domains. There isn't a cure. You have to learn to live with it, like alcoholism. The good news is that major life events tend to be great for breaking the distraction seeking patte…

Had kids. Changed careers. Moved 2000 miles. Stopped running. No cell phone but infinite scroll isn't limited to the handheld devices.

Still have a 68k line /etc/hosts from the Steven Black list.

Most alcoholics do need to keep all the liquor out of their homes. This is a necessary but insufficient condition for many of their recoveries.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#148

Post by rootusrootus »

sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

That's awesome. I have an extra zigbee scene button, maybe that's what I should use it for. To block HN when I ought to be working.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#150

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

My /etc/hosts file on the machine I work on all day blocks 68k hosts 24/7. No social media sites at all except Twitter. No ads.

Meanwhile, the Leechblock browser add-on stops me from using the few things I do otherwise (bits of Reddit, HN) allow between 09:00 and 17:00 which is not perfect but it's a start. Except ... I disable it a lot :(

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