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Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

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Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#91
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like your clarity about personal responsibility, but it might also help to remember that human capacity for self-regulation isn’t uniform. We all grow through developmental stages and carry traits that shape how we handle influence, impulse, and awareness. The idea that “we just need herd immunity” assumes we’re all equally capable of recognizing manipulation or addiction, but as ericmcer noted, the evidence all ar…

I agree, and I don't want what I wrote to be read as "people just need more self control." I lack self control, that's why I have addictions and bad habits. I know other people who have even less self control, and some who seem to be immaculate. I don't care to be judged or to judge anyone else. I guess that's why I framed it as herd immunity . Here's what I mean (from an addict's perspective). What makes me hesitate…

> Changing individual human behavior to be more present and more self-aware

to what though? Id argue people prefer going on a website for something to do than dealing with the sad reality that is modern life. Dont blame a UI designer because your lifes empty

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#92

Let's be clear. It is not the actual smartphones that do this; machines are designed and programmed by humans. Companies can choose to use technology to manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes, and many do choose just that, often for financial gain.

"Guns don't kill people..."

Not sure if you’re being coy or pushing the trope but you’re right guns don’t actually kill people. The bullets and blood loss tend to do that.

That said, denying people access to guns does result in fewer gun related fatalities.

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Guns don't kill people..."

Not sure if you’re being coy or pushing the trope but you’re right guns don’t actually kill people. The bullets and blood loss tend to do that. That said, denying people access to guns does result in fewer gun related fatalities.

The fall didn’t kill him, it was the landing.

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#94

But solutions? Here's my take, will gladly take input (Android): Two profiles: profile 1 has no notifications, reading apps (ebooks) and shouldn't have a browser (mine does and shouldn't); profile 2 has all apps, inclusively all of profile 1 apps. Idea: have an "offline" phone. Good for battery. Whenever I need IoT or something else, I shrug and change profile. Use desktop apps/desktop browser: should work. Doesn't m…

I've been dreaming for years of some kind of "two ways to unlock your phone" mode. Mode 1: I'm bored, show me something interesting, all notifications are available Mode 2: I want to do something specific, don't show me anything but a tool for selecting an app / task (list of apps, search box, whatever).

Have you explored Focus modes on iPhone? You could place a button for a Shortcut on the lock screen to toggle Focus modes that change which apps show on the Home screen, and which notifications to show (while the others go to Notification center). Could use the Action button or Back Tap to change Focus mode before even seeing the lock screen.

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#95
To me, smartphones are a godsent. I use mine to communicate, get public transport information, have text read to me, describe pictures, get a GPS fix and help me navigate the city as a pedestrian, use devices where I wouldn't be able to read the displays, and so many other things I can't even list right now. I even met my partner of 14 years via Messenger. I occasionally scroll through facebook to find events I might go to, and amuse myself over comments on various divisive and not so diviseve posts. I am blind. My life would be clearly less fun without them. Tools are just that, tools. What you make of them is your call.

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#96

Let's be clear. It is not the actual smartphones that do this; machines are designed and programmed by humans. Companies can choose to use technology to manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes, and many do choose just that, often for financial gain.

"Guns don't kill people..."

I like this response to poke a hole in the parent comment, but it is worth noting that smartphones and guns are different in a pretty massive way:

Smartphones can be useful and valuable in many ways separate from the ways they can be used harmfully. Guns exist only for physical violence (or to threaten physical violence).

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#97

But solutions? Here's my take, will gladly take input (Android): Two profiles: profile 1 has no notifications, reading apps (ebooks) and shouldn't have a browser (mine does and shouldn't); profile 2 has all apps, inclusively all of profile 1 apps. Idea: have an "offline" phone. Good for battery. Whenever I need IoT or something else, I shrug and change profile. Use desktop apps/desktop browser: should work. Doesn't m…

I've been dreaming for years of some kind of "two ways to unlock your phone" mode. Mode 1: I'm bored, show me something interesting, all notifications are available Mode 2: I want to do something specific, don't show me anything but a tool for selecting an app / task (list of apps, search box, whatever).

I think that's basically the concept of Fairphone's "Moments" mode, which it even has a physical switch for: https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6#moments

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Guns don't kill people..."

I like this response to poke a hole in the parent comment, but it is worth noting that smartphones and guns are different in a pretty massive way: Smartphones can be useful and valuable in many ways separate from the ways they can be used harmfully. Guns exist only for physical violence (or to threaten physical violence).

> Guns exist only for physical violence

Skeet shooting? Targets? Most gun owners never kill anything.

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Guns don't kill people..."

I like this response to poke a hole in the parent comment, but it is worth noting that smartphones and guns are different in a pretty massive way: Smartphones can be useful and valuable in many ways separate from the ways they can be used harmfully. Guns exist only for physical violence (or to threaten physical violence).

This is a fairly recent transition in gun use - it's not that long ago that their primary use was in feeding people (both through hunting, and through keeping predators away from livestock/crops)

Re: Smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes

#100
post #75

> sharing biometric data through pre-loaded health and wellness apps. I've been thinking about finally getting a smartwatch to keep tabs on my sleep and encourage me to do more exercise, like jogging for a certain amount of time or something. Suggestions for privacy respecting, ideally FOSS solutions?

> I've been thinking about finally getting a smartwatch to keep tabs on my sleep and encourage me to do more exercise, like jogging for a certain amount of time or something. Do people really need watches to able to sleep normally or get some exercise?

Techy people enjoy stats and metrics you can review. It's fun to pull up my sleep data and compare averages between last 7 days/31 days/12 months. It's interesting to see my heart rate at different points during exercise or other activities. Sometimes I can recall what I was doing on a particular day just looking at the amount of steps.
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