Why do you waste so much time on the internet? • Hacker News Board

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

#611

Post by rr808 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 1:42 PM UTC

IntFee588 wrote: post #229

psyc wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m the same, and I’ve been struggling with it for a couple of years. I’ve even addressed it in therapy, and it hasn’t helped. The only thing that has helped at all is a site blocker. Twitter and HN mostly fill me with frustration, loathing, and angst. Like the cigarettes I smoke fill me with tar and carcinogens. Reddit at least I occasionally find something interesting, due to carefully curated subs. It’s just addic…

For me, reddit is the one that gets me angry. It's addicting, but also seems like teenagers and bots arguing with it each other. Instagram is increasingly inundated with ads, but at least I get to see thirst traps and cute animals. Youtube is the only social media site that I think is a net positive on my life, because I learn so much, but I've started going for runs again because I really need time away from a scree…

> seems like teenagers and bots arguing with it each other

Yeah that helped me with getting over the addiction. Most people dont care about your opinion, you aren't going to change anything, if some dumb teenager thinks they're smart (even though they're wrong) just let them be.

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

#612

Post by engineer_22 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 1:51 PM UTC

TimWillebrands wrote: post #582

v-erne wrote: post #321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Spouse time is vital to a healthy, strong, vibrant, lasting relationship Hear! Hear! This cannot be overstated. >> And kids grow up way too fast. Treasure every moment. And this on the other hand ... works only if You somehow like children (and who does not like small psychopats with dictatorial aspirations). For the others (I believe most of people who lives in my housing estate can be counted) I observe that the…

Interestingly, not caring about your children will likely result in little dictators. You might not want to give them attention, they do want it, and they'll get it one way or another.

Yeah it seems like with my own children good behavior is proportional to attention. They don't ask for much, but they don't like feeling like they're in my way. If I treat them decently, they'll let me do the things I need to do, and they know I'll come back to finish up with them later.

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

#613

Post by smeej » Sat, May 07, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

nolist_policy wrote: post #333

smeej wrote: post #99

I had to reach a point where I admitted to myself that, as much as I may wish I were a person who could handle having a smartphone in my pocket, I'm not. If I have one there, it will suck up time I don't want to give it. I tried putting all kinds of guides in place until I just...got a flip phone that, yeah, can run Android apps, but absolutely sucks to use. It doesn't have a touch screen, so I have to navigate with…

What phone do you have and can it run osmand? There aren't many android flip phones...

It's the Kyocera DuraXV Extreme. I downloaded F-droid through the browser, and since I was coming from a GrapheneOS phone anyway, was already pretty used to a de-Googled setup. I haven't tried OSMand on it, but it probably can.

I did need to install Apps4Flip Mouse[0] to be able to use some apps that aren't D pad friendly, like Signal and Waze.

You might have some luck finding devices on other carriers with Jose Briones' Dumbphone Finder[1]

[0] https://www.apps4flip.com/apps/ [1] https://josebriones.org/dumbphone-finder

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

#614

Post by mch82 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 2:13 PM UTC

n_ary wrote: post #557

Loneliness. We don't have meaningful social connections anymore like our parents or their parents geeration had. We are so scattered, that I am unsure how many of my friends are actually friends and how many are just professional contacts. Everytime I switch job, almost 70% of my friends suddenly fall out of contact. Heck, I don't even know the people who live in next apartments both left, right, up and down on the s…

Your answer is a good one.

I’m optimistic that remote work can help society reverse course on the constraints that have trapped people into loneliness. We got into the habit of commuting during our free time, working far from home. We sometimes move cities to get a promotion at the corporate HQ or to keep a career at a company that relocated. If we don’t move, our friends may to get ahead in their careers. These constraints imposed by office work separated us from our families, communities, and friends.

With acceptance of remote work growing, hopefully fewer people will feel they must move to have a career. If that happens, people will live more places. That will improve the odds that people who can’t work remotely can, at least, work closer to home. It’s possible clubs and activity groups will make a comeback. I’ve observed signs of this already, having recently met people that are joining clubs or arts groups to replace the pure social aspects of the office. I’ve also met early career people who are excited to be living near their high school friends and families. And I know others who are happy to be able to move away, but keep a good job.

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

#615

Post by organsnyder » Sat, May 07, 2022, 2:32 PM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #389

organsnyder wrote: post #365

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…

I'm fortunate to attend a church that is socially progressive, theologically rigorous, and relishes honest questioning and debate. I don't think I would have maintained my faith without this environment.

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

#616

Post by guerrilla » Sat, May 07, 2022, 2:42 PM UTC

comboy wrote: post #523

spir wrote: 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…

> I think these products are mostly poison for my soul. You spend time on reddit because you want to. It seems unproductive to tell yourself that you don't. You have a cognitive disonance, logical contradiction that you just need to bring to the surface and follow through. When you are about to reddit ask yourself whether you want to or not. Not some idealized version of yourself in your head. Just what do you want r…

You spend time on doing heroin because you want to. It seems unproductive to tell yourself that you don't.

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

#617

Post by ehPReth » Sat, May 07, 2022, 3:05 PM UTC

I don’t like being alone with my thoughts. I always have something playing to distract me

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

#618

Post by Toine » Sat, May 07, 2022, 3:46 PM UTC

squishy47 wrote: post #598

zhdc1 wrote: post #573

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Loneliness I had to read through your comment a couple of times. From the sound of it, you’re likely in a better position than many other people here, and what worries you isn’t the lack of social contact but the depth and quality of it. This is a common issue that a lot or even most people face as they get older. I think that a lot of us have been able to fill this gap by finding significant others and starting fa…

i think i fair ammount of it is that it's difficult to do things spontaniously anymore. when i was little, my parents friends just used to show up and see what was going on, hang out, have a drink, whatever. and i think this kinda builds that friendship, as it's the random shit ppl do together that builds the bond (best example is the Friends tv show) or when you're a teen and there's nothing to do so you just hang o…

100% this, I miss it so much.

Everything having to be scheduled is so depressing and stressful to me. I wish we could go back, but we can't.

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

#619

Post by darkerside » Sat, May 07, 2022, 3:57 PM UTC

dazc wrote: post #603

darkerside wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find HN with its moderation to be night and day difference from many other forums.

Most rely on volunteer moderators who also happen to be active members. The two roles are not exactly compatible.

Then maybe those models aren't as good?

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

#620

Post by Nasreddin_Hodja » Sat, May 07, 2022, 4:01 PM UTC

> Why do you waste so much time on the internet?

Why not? It's not a problem. Before internet era people spent much time on useless things like reading books (mostly fiction), watching TV, playing video games etc.

Internet is just a communication tool people use to exchange information.