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Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

zan.bearblog.dev

441–450 of 685 posts

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#441
I think that there are remedies to overcome your situation.

First of all try to remove the source of distraction and force yourself to take only one thing at a time. Open a webpage and read it entirely, read a book from start to finish (not necessary in a single day), try to work on your tasks without background music or podcast. Eliminating the distraction usually improve productivity.

Second try meditation. You can think that is a "radical chic" rubbish, but it really works. Start reading "Zen and Japanese Culture" and "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" and try to practice meditation, maybe with the help of an expert. You will see an improvement on focus and clear thinking.

Third, take time off your pc. If you understand that most of what you doing in front of the PC is not valuable, just close it and go out, or read a book, practice sport, cook, etc. Learn to recognise when you're waisting time and do something else. Try to make time at the pc more valuable. Use it for coding and research, not much more.

Improvements take time and consistency. We're used to get everything fast, but your cannot buy self-improvement in a course or a book. So start with basic steps and stop complaining.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The community of my church is probably keeping me there more than my faith is.

I'd probably be more into church if it was just a social club and didn't come with that expectation that you'd be worshiping an invisible sky daddy, adopting questionable morality/philosophies, and attending what's basically a Republican political rally every Sunday. My wife goes to hers and it's nice, socially for her, that it comes prepackaged with a ready-made group of friends, but as soon as the Bibles and Trump…

Heck I would join a church for the community if the faith part and Trumpettes weren't involved. Unfortunately all of the churches around here have more red hats than not.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#443
post #322

I know exactly why I do it and it feels impossible to stop. I scroll endlessly to avoid the pain of everything else in life. Doing work, doing chores, doing hobbies, talking to anyone, making decisions even about projects I'm excited to work on, it all causes a small hit of emotional pain. I don't really know where this pain comes from either. Maybe some childhood trauma that I can't even remember? I don't know. The…

I’d recommend you get your testosterone levels checked. One of the symptoms of low total testosterone is depression in males. When I was checked I was on the lower end at 200 ng/dl and had the symptoms you describe. My doctor prescribed me first stanolone (DHT) and then switched me to regular testosterone. All I can say is it has changed my life. It may not be applicable to your situation but it might help.

Not to pew pew your suggestion, but apparently sleep, diet, and, exercise effect test levels as well, so more things to check at and rule out before committing to lifelong trt. Although I keep reading testomonials where people say they don't mind jabbing or applying creams.

Also test levels vary drastically during the day in a two peak fashion, when you get tested can affect results in a misleading fashion.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#444
post #322

I know exactly why I do it and it feels impossible to stop. I scroll endlessly to avoid the pain of everything else in life. Doing work, doing chores, doing hobbies, talking to anyone, making decisions even about projects I'm excited to work on, it all causes a small hit of emotional pain. I don't really know where this pain comes from either. Maybe some childhood trauma that I can't even remember? I don't know. The…

I’d recommend you get your testosterone levels checked. One of the symptoms of low total testosterone is depression in males. When I was checked I was on the lower end at 200 ng/dl and had the symptoms you describe. My doctor prescribed me first stanolone (DHT) and then switched me to regular testosterone. All I can say is it has changed my life. It may not be applicable to your situation but it might help.

Gotta love internet diagnoses. Probably well-intended, but you don't even know if they are male or female :)

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#445
post #329
post #302

A week ago I deleted my Twitter account. Today I'm deleting my Reddit account. I'm keeping Facebook simply to stay in touch with family and a few friends, otherwise it would definitely go. I'm on the fence about HN, but it will probably go as well. These online communities are a net negative in my life, and I'm done.

when folks talk about going cold turkey like this, I have a question for them - do you think they were a net negative or our capability to moderate our use of these social media was not controllable?

I think that platforms like Reddit and Twitter have been designed and tuned to keep people in "violent agreement". I found myself engaging in conversations that ultimately were just a time sink.

I have better things to do with my time. I think I wasted two years of my life doom scrolling. Time to be done.

We'll see about HN. This might be my last comment here.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#446

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe the sociologists of the future are going to look back at this era and cite the manifest lack of meaning in human life as source of the ennui that is the subject of this thread. For a long time, religion filled this void, but for almost everyone, it no longer does. I don't even think most people who hold themselves out as religious really find any significant meaning there -- not doubting their sincerity, on…

To put a fine point on it, the problem is not that life is meaningless but that it has significant meaning and value and also death exists. Death is the antithesis of most human values and we're so far powerless to deflect it on a long-term basis, while religion gave hope or belief of circumventing or ameliorating death. I scoff at all of the "accept it as part of the natural order" rationalizations; death is the ene…

Pretty sure the "fine point" on it is just your personal spin on the matter. The people who believe life is meaningless frequently demonstrate the sincerity of their beliefs by killing themselves early. A common adjacent belief is anti-natalism, the belief that their own parents and most other people should not have children because it's morally a net negative to introduce new agents of suffering. Nothing about "the joy of children" is as universal as you present it as.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#447
post #322

I know exactly why I do it and it feels impossible to stop. I scroll endlessly to avoid the pain of everything else in life. Doing work, doing chores, doing hobbies, talking to anyone, making decisions even about projects I'm excited to work on, it all causes a small hit of emotional pain. I don't really know where this pain comes from either. Maybe some childhood trauma that I can't even remember? I don't know. The…

The 2nd part is especially bad, lots of people (I'm an offender) justify bs reading with "learning".

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#448
post #42

I wonder if this is because we're lonely..? Just wondering out loud here. E.g. Twitter - feels like many of the "thought leaders" I follow, their "friends" are also on Twitter. And they tweet/respond so much I often wonder if they're really ever "building a business". And are they ever interacting with their real-world friends or family? Or if their lives just consist of a constant refresh of their feed. Even at dinn…

It feels like a semantically-strained take, but I think Twitter is more of a place for people to say things, than it is for having conversations. Most people seem to use the site to broadcast something to their audience without really engaging.

Maybe I interact with more niche audiences?

The people I observe essentially live on twitter. They’re everywhere. Both with tweets and replies.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#449
post #322

I know exactly why I do it and it feels impossible to stop. I scroll endlessly to avoid the pain of everything else in life. Doing work, doing chores, doing hobbies, talking to anyone, making decisions even about projects I'm excited to work on, it all causes a small hit of emotional pain. I don't really know where this pain comes from either. Maybe some childhood trauma that I can't even remember? I don't know. The…

I’d recommend you get your testosterone levels checked. One of the symptoms of low total testosterone is depression in males. When I was checked I was on the lower end at 200 ng/dl and had the symptoms you describe. My doctor prescribed me first stanolone (DHT) and then switched me to regular testosterone. All I can say is it has changed my life. It may not be applicable to your situation but it might help.

No post body was provided.

Re: Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

#450
post #29

I am addicted to twitter and reddit. Especially reddit. It often takes the place of reading, hobbies, quiet moments, improving my home, talking with my spouse, and playing with my baby. When reddit records a click or an upvote, it thinks it has been a Good Product, and created Engagement. Reddit then takes those feedback loops and tunes the algorithm and feedback loops to create further engagement. But in reality, th…

Others have said, but spending time with your spouse is important. But, equally important (and it's a big part of having a good relationship) make sure you're stepping up and pitching in around the home with the chores.

Nobody likes them, but if you're not doing 50/50 (or at least something mutally recognised as fair) and you don't occasionally overachieve to give your spouse a bit of a break, it can be a big issue. If Reddit/Twitter are prioritised over getting the basics done, get that sorted out.

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