I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media • Hacker News Board

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#11

Post by have_faith » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:40 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

I'm going to downvote you, but only because it's what you would have wanted.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#12

Post by JohnFen » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:40 PM UTC

Everybody is a somebody to someone. And everybody is a nobody to someone else.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#13

Post by taftster » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:41 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

Have an upvote, 17001 now. Seriously though, good luck to you. Have you checked out HN's rate limiting features (maxvisit, minaway, etc.)?

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#14

Post by jonfw » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:43 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

I really do feel like I get a lot out of having conversations with random people on the internet. Especially a place like this, filled with intelligent people.

It's really healthy to have people challenge your ideas sometimes, which happens a lot more on the internet than in real life in my experience.

And there is obviously some degree of benefit in being a software developer who is tune with his fellow tech dorks.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#15

Post by wallflower » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:45 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

In an interview, Evan Spiegel described Facebook with the single best succinct description in my opinion: “Facebook is a market for attention.”

HN can be too, and I like to think that I am asynchronously contributing stuff that may lay off the typical radar of the Venn diagram of typical HN readers.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#16

Post by ngngngng » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:45 PM UTC

have_faith wrote: post #11

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

I'm going to downvote you, but only because it's what you would have wanted.

Same, That's exactly what i was thinking seeing this comment ironically at the top.

As someone addicted to checking my upvotes on hacker news, please don't upvote those of us that admit that to you ;D

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#17

Post by DHPersonal » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:46 PM UTC

layoutIfNeeded wrote: post #3

“My wanting to share every waking thought became eclipsed by a desire for an increasingly rare commodity — a private life.” She forgot the part when she wrote a New York Times piece about her life.

It did offer us the chance to read thoughts that might mirror our own but in a more succint and well-written manner. I definitely saw a lot of relatable elements in the article and appreciate what was written.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#18

Post by lm28469 » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:47 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #4

I used to excessively post on Facebook. I started to worry that it was unhealthy- why do I need the constant validation from strangers? What is wrong with me psychologically that I crave that more than my own privacy? So I quit last year and I've felt good about that choice. Now I have 17000 HN points and I'm starting to feel like I gave up meth and replaced it with cocaine. Maybe better, but still not good. Going to…

I override HN's css to not display points just for that.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#19

Post by namirez » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:47 PM UTC

Many years ago someone told me that we should care about our mental hygiene as much as we care about the hygiene of the food that we consume.

I quit FB two years ago after 11 years of active use. For a few weeks after deleting my account, I had these temptations to go back but after two months, I totally forgot about it and after two years, I'm very happy about leaving the platform.

I also realized that it wasn't just FB or social media that contributed to my stress and anxiety; sensational and provocative news was as much to blame. These days, I try to get my news from only a handful of news outlets that I trust. I know this is not a perfect solution but at least, I've been able to avoid click-bait titles.

Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media

#20

Post by nickstinemates » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 3:47 PM UTC

I took a year off of all of social media and took a break from startup tech in general. I didn't miss it, at all, and I wonder what real tangible value it still has coming back.

One thing is for certain, being plugged into the hive mind has clear advantages, especially as it relates to employment. It's like the old adage - it's about who you know, not necessarily what you know.