It seems like much of technology is focused around narcissism. Even the technology ecosystem, with the startups and whatnot, are sort of celebrity technology. I'm not sure that is good or bad for actual technological progress. Given that the fundamental philosophy, math and science this is all based on is still considered lame, then modern technology is largely a distraction from true progress.
I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
101–110 of 272 posts
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#102I quit social media for a long time too. And then I noticed how disconnected I was from all my old school friends and contacts. Even close family that still uses Facebook but I otherwise don’t talk to much directly (brother’s wives posting about their kids and stuff like that, maybe even more extended than that). Really, I’m starting to think that opting out of social media altogether is a bit like opting to be a her…
If you need Facebook to keep in touch with your friends, they’re not your friends anymore. Accept it and move on.
Why focus on pretending you’re all still in school? Live in the now.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#103I 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…
Imho no need to stop. Just moderate . Suggestion: give up your 17000 HN point mabbo account and start from scratch. Only with moderation this time :-)
Agreed. The answer to doing something too much isn't to cut it out completely and move onto something else that you'll end up doing too much, that doesn't even attempt to address the issue.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#104I quit social media for a long time too. And then I noticed how disconnected I was from all my old school friends and contacts. Even close family that still uses Facebook but I otherwise don’t talk to much directly (brother’s wives posting about their kids and stuff like that, maybe even more extended than that). Really, I’m starting to think that opting out of social media altogether is a bit like opting to be a her…
I quit completely for several months and came back to it because of your exact line of reasoning - keeping in touch with those at the outskirts of my social circles is valuable to me. However, I'm on the edge of leaving again because moderation is very difficult. The problem with social media is that using it in moderation is an uphill battle against our own nature. It is designed to be addictive. Much like an alcoho…
I don't have a solution for Facebook, since it feels like there's a bit too much garbage on the platform. But for Instagram, I've started fresh following a limited set of close friends and interests.
Few enough that I can still participate and get updates about friends and interests without feeling the urge to check multiple times per day. If anything "important" happens to someone I'm not following, my friends are kind enough to fill me in if it's interesting.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
I use a user script in chrome to hide my HN karma count from myself. Super helpful for focusing on what is important when contributing (along with a lot of constructive feedback from the mods over the last 8 years).
Is this publicly available? I've been looking for something like this.
This would be a great HN feature actually, fitting in spirit with the existing settings (eg showdead etc). @dang, if you read this, what do you think?
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#106I quit social media for a long time too. And then I noticed how disconnected I was from all my old school friends and contacts. Even close family that still uses Facebook but I otherwise don’t talk to much directly (brother’s wives posting about their kids and stuff like that, maybe even more extended than that). Really, I’m starting to think that opting out of social media altogether is a bit like opting to be a her…
>Many people just go through Facebook and create a private event and invite their Facebook friends when they have a birthday gathering nowadays. You will miss out on these if you opt-out completely. I did. This has been my experience. It's a valid pragmatic argument for staying, and a valid principled argument for opting out.
If someone can't be arsed to call me or send me an email inviting me to their birthday then I don't consider them a friend.
I have not had this issue since quitting facebook around 2011. But then again I have clearly notified those people that are actually my friends that if they want to include me they need to call or email or something like that. Nobody has issues with that and fully understand my desire to stay away from facebook.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#107Is it just me who thinks social media just filled the hole that was missing in the society ? No one forced anyone to join Facebook or twitter. People were obsessed with other people way before social media, they just gave the platform to existing behavior.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#108“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.
>> I definitely saw a lot of relatable elements in the article
That is why I think this was written in order to receive attention from others (not necessarily the readers), but I tend toward cynicism.
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#109I gave up FB and Instagram posts because my political view (conservative) and got 2 banned and harassed by relatives and strangers. Life is way better without FB/Insta
Try being a Libertarian on social media... I get hammered from the "left" because of my "taxation is theft" and "defend the #2A at all costs" mindset, and get hammered from the "right" because I believe in strict separation of Church and State, don't glorify the police and military, oppose all drug laws, am pro-choice, and oppose the death penalty. Basically, every political conversation I get involved in is a negati…
"It was useless to argue, she thought, and to wonder about people who would neither refute an argument nor accept it."
You have many allies, but they are doing more productive things than arguing with senseless people on social media :)
Re: I used to fear being a nobody, then I left social media
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
I post not for points. I post because I have something to say. Expressing my self is validating, who cares if others read or agree.
I post for the same reason, but getting negative points does discourage me from posting half formed thoughts.
I do try to save the hip shots for twitter.