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People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

bbc.com

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Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#61

Post by pimlottc »

davidthewatson wrote: post #53

I think you need an absurdist lens to not get lost here. Camus had a point. Think about it, I could say I'm going to adopt a modal diet, which is really what monk mode is, a modal diet of information attention. How would my modal diet work? One day, fasting, the next day, a steady stream of alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, and processed food. Consistency is key. As technical people, we know this from reading the history…

> How would my modal diet work?

I imagine you just eat whatever pops up in front of you.

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#62

Post by foogazi »

m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace it with a dumb phone?

Why indeed - apparently people are aware and choose something else ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#63

Post by flandish »

m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> pointless jobs, unfulfilling personal lives, etc..

Basically distraction cycles in human nature are, imho, focused on as a natural byproduct of capitalism’s desire to keep workers from realizing they are distracted and therefore from realizing they are exploited.

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#64

Post by Izkata »

m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> or even just replace it with a dumb phone?

They're not easily available anymore. My provider only has Android and IPhone, even the flip-phone that looks like a dumbphone is running Android.

Edit: Ah they do still have one brand of non-smartphone. It costs several times as much as the Android flip-phone, so I didn't see it at first.

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#65

Post by hydrok9 »

softg wrote: post #57
Kiro wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HN is much worse. Nothing gives me more anxiety than this place.

Why?

What if you miss out on some amazing kernel of knowledge (that also happens to confirm your biases)? You'll need to read every 500 comment threads to find out!

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#66

Post by m-i-l »

rco8786 wrote: post #42
m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> Why not just Anytime this phrase is used, you can bet it’s followed up with something fallacious. Similar to the famous “why not just us rsync?” Comment about Dropbox.

With Dropbox (and most other cases) you are paying for something you don't already have, but what is unusual in this case is that you are paying to remove something you do already have. Not exactly the same I know, but the two wrongs doesn't make a right reminds me of Juicero (that expensive juicer which only worked with expensive packs of juice), where reasonable followup questions would be "why not just squeeze the juice packs yourself without the expensive juicer?" or even "why not just buy an ordinary juicer which works with pre-juiced fruit and veg?"

And that is leaving aside the whole question of whether an effective solution to an addiction problem is to pay someone to try to stop you from accessing what you are addicted to.

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#67

Post by randomcarbloke »

ikedeno wrote: post #17

Calling it that feels wrong to me. They're putting a label on people who ignore their manipulative trash. Plenty of people don't use social media, or watch news and movies, they're not in "monk mode"

Everything has to be a mode now, humans all have states.

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#68

Post by anotherhue »

rco8786 wrote: post #42
m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> Why not just Anytime this phrase is used, you can bet it’s followed up with something fallacious. Similar to the famous “why not just us rsync?” Comment about Dropbox.

The best "why don't you just" talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_4EX4dPppA

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#69

Post by rco8786 »

m-i-l wrote: post #66
rco8786 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why not just Anytime this phrase is used, you can bet it’s followed up with something fallacious. Similar to the famous “why not just us rsync?” Comment about Dropbox.

With Dropbox (and most other cases) you are paying for something you don't already have, but what is unusual in this case is that you are paying to remove something you do already have. Not exactly the same I know, but the two wrongs doesn't make a right reminds me of Juicero (that expensive juicer which only worked with expensive packs of juice), where reasonable followup questions would be "why not just squeeze the…

You’re making a choice to view it that way. Try and phrase it like “you’re paying for a tool to help moderate your behavior”.

Or as an example using your lens. Paying for coffee is paying to take away your tiredness. You already have tiredness, tiredness is useful, sleep is good, why would you want to take away tiredness?

Re: People going 'monk mode' to limit social media use

#70

Post by dharmab »

Izkata wrote: post #64
m-i-l wrote: post #23

Today I learned that people pay money for an app that stops them from using a (probably expensive) phone. And not just a few people, but enough for the Freedom app to have 2 investment rounds and 11-50 employees[0]. Is it just me, or does that sound like something has gone horribly wrong somewhere? Why not just mute all notifications, or put the phone on silent or airplane mode, or switch it off, or even just replace…

> or even just replace it with a dumb phone? They're not easily available anymore. My provider only has Android and IPhone, even the flip-phone that looks like a dumbphone is running Android. Edit: Ah they do still have one brand of non-smartphone. It costs several times as much as the Android flip-phone, so I didn't see it at first.

Sonim sells "dumb" phones for professionals as well. As well as ruggedized Android smartphones with physical buttons.
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