I Used to Be a Human Being • Hacker News Board

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#121

Post by n72 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:17 PM UTC

jonstokes wrote: post #79

The number one thing I've found to be effective in combatting this is sleep. I have to get 8 hours of uninterrupted, unmedicated sleep. 9 hours is even better. And I have to do it for a few nights in a row. If I do anything at all that interferes with the quality of my sleep, I'm screwed, and The Stream will suck me in. Conversely, things that increase the quality of my sleep -- exercise, diet, not using gadgets afte…

Absolutely my finding as well. On those days I'm tired I just get sucked in for hours. I guess I should pick up an easy to read novel on those days.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#122

Post by agentcooper » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:18 PM UTC

Shameless plug: I created a Chrome extension which makes me wait 1 minute before proceeding to the one of distracting websites, helps me a lot. Maybe it will help you too: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/better-things-to-d....

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#123

Post by n72 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:19 PM UTC

The best thing I found to combat this is make distraction difficult. To that end, the best two things I did was write an FF plugin to hide FB's news feed and removed the News feed from my iPhone. Now I actually have to type a URL if I want distraction, which becomes something of a deterrent.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#124

Post by jventura » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:22 PM UTC

marmot777 wrote: post #70

marmot777 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do people survive without Facebook? How do I keep up with what everyone's up to? Sure, there's a lot of mindless posting on there but for me the good outweighs the bad.

To clarify, I know people survived before Facebook but I've been on it since I think about 2008. I really like it to be honest. It makes me sad to think of giving it up. A lot of people here are talking about a program of achieving balance. A common list item is "delete your facebook account." I can do without Twitter but Facebook I'd mourn the loss. Maybe that's part of growth though. Damnit!

If you enjoy using facebook, don't let others convince you otherwise. Maybe it works for you, but not for the other commenters. Personally i still check ocasionally my facebook, because I get notified of reharsal dates (I'm an amateur musician), what people that share the same sports as I do are doing, etc..

I think the key is balance.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#125

Post by dredmorbius » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:25 PM UTC

simonbarker87 wrote: post #8

I read somewhere recently that smart phones have essentially become random gratification engines in the same way as slot machines. Sometimes on a slot machine you win the jackpot, because of this every pull gives you an endorphin kick, each time we pick up our phones or get a notification it might be an important/interesting thing, therefore we get a little endorphin kick that keeps us checking. Because of this I tur…

Having worked at multiple organisations who specifically targeted "stickiness" and user-time-on-site as performance (and employee reward) metrics, there's substantial reason to believe that a large part of the tech industry are deliberately exploiting this phenomenon.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#126

Post by kelvin0 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:27 PM UTC

morgante wrote: post #115

To me, this reads like an alcoholic ranting about how everyone should stop drinking. Yes, technology can be addicting. That doesn't mean we're "helpless" or even that it's bad . I'm really sick of these hyperbolic luddites. Personally, it's not at all a problem. I'm not a technophobe—I have an iPhone, use Facebook, etc.—but it's done nothing but positively improve my life. I can keep in touch with friends around the…

I see what you mean, and you are quite possibly right. Please don't take it as an insult, but how do you know this technology is not causing similar issues in your life? We've all seen some people in our lives deny some facet of themselves only to realize they had a problem (after much introspection). I would really like to have your opinion on this.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#127

Post by marmot777 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:27 PM UTC

overcast wrote: post #112

marmot777 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can you promise that as you don't know me and don't know how i use Facebook, right? Maybe I'm having a fun time and also projecting good energy out to others. Or maybe I'm delusional. But how do you know with such certainty that my life or any other individual's life would be better without Facebook? I understand if you observed them mindlessly posting updates about minutia and robotically liking this and that.

Because I know how humans have interacted socially for the last 200,000 years prior to the Internet. I'm glad it's been a positive experience for you, but for many it's detrimental. There is a reason these articles are cropping up more, and more. People are finally getting privy to the negative effects, of a life consumed online.

My experience isn't just one experience. It's a mix of positive and negative experiences. On the good side of the ledger I've been able to help people with some things I know something about and others have been able to help me. I've been supportive of friends online in a genuine way who needed it, and vice-a-versa when it wasn't realistic to be together in person. I've learned more than would ever have been possible without this tool.

The only thing (it's big though) I can think of on the bad side of the ledger are that it's easy to be consumed. I've resisted the worst manifestations that can actually kill other human beings: I NEVER, EVER look at my phone while driving. There's no justification for risking the lives of other human beings for that. I don't walk and text as it's annoying as fuck to someone walking the other direction.

What I need to do is restore balance. I would imagine that's what most people need. They don't need to do what Andrew Sullivan did. This could be the online addiction using me a sock puppet, though...

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#128

Post by jsprogrammer » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:33 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #36

Capt-RogerOver wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since you already experiment with things like meditation and psychedelics, you should look more into finding out more about your psyche and feelings, and other self-development themes. Find out more about your inner being, about the structure of your (and in general, human) soul, what motivates you, what deep fears you have, in what ways are you still unconscious about yourself. There are tons of books, trainings, co…

What do you do if the situation you are in do not allow time to sit down and perform deep introspective behavior? I find myself very easily falling into introspection to the point where my mind often cries out for it if I go without for a while. However, my current work and the balancing of multiple careers (as a programmer, as a writer) and social obligations mean I often don't have time and feel intense stress/dist…

You can take time when you need it. Why do you need two careers? Aren't programming and writing the same thing? Take a break from one for a week or two and use that time to talk to yourself.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#129

Post by kodt » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:37 PM UTC

marmot777 wrote: post #109

cmstoken wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. If you actually enjoy being on Facebook there is no reason to do this. It's only going to help if you're trying to give it up like you did with Twitter. My suggestion is a less radical alternative to the common "delete your Facebook account" mantra that you mentioned.

Yes, that's right. I'm realizing that the problem the OP brings up is really a spectrum. I actually do think I have a problem with too much time online but everyone's solution isn't drastic measures. For some it might be scheduling yoga, the gym, a beer with friends. You know you have a problem when you're grateful when a friend cancels plans as you get to spend more time online. One thing is clear though, immersion…

How many people on your Facebook friends list, or more specifically who show up on your feed have you not talked to in over a year? In over 5 years?

For me I would say 90% of people on my feed I have not spoken with in over a year or two. Some not for 5 years, some not for 10 years.

So the question is, is it really worth my time to read updates on their life when neither of us can be bothered nor have reason to actually talk to each other? Be it in person, or over the phone, or a personal e-mail.

I think for many people, they spend way too much time reading about other people's lives. People who they no longer see or interact with in any way outside of Facebook.

The other ill effect is that most people only tend to post positive things on Facebook. If you don't talk with them outside of Facebook you are getting a one sided view of their life. Everything may seem perfect. They love their job. They keep going on interesting vacations. Getting nice things. Going out to eat etc.. And it can make you depressed that your own life isn't as fun or interesting. The truth is they likely have just as many bad days and hardships as you, but don't publicize that information. A one sided view can cause jealousy and resentment. If Facebook is your only window in their life, you probably shouldn't be concerning yourself with what these people are doing.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#130

Post by dredmorbius » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 7:37 PM UTC

cushychicken wrote: post #53

Torgo wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the daily reminder that technology is not politically or socially "neutral".

What was the origin of that quote? I mentioned it offhand in conversation the other day but couldn't remember where I'd heard it.

I'm familar with it from Jerry Mander, Neil Postman, and Joyce and Michael Heusemann, who address it specifically and at length in their book Techno-Fix. Also in Marshall McLuhan (of whom Postman was a student).

I think you'll find a philosophical basis in Jaques Ellul among others (Foucalt is also mentioned).

From Postman:

[E]very technology has an inherent bias. It has within its physical form a predisposition toward being used in certain ways and not others. Only those who know nothing of the history of technology believe that a technology is entirely neutral.

French philosopher Jacques Ellul, who...

...cautions that technology brings with it a great number of unforeseen effects [4]. This is because “technology leads a double life, one which conforms to the intentions of designers and interests of power and another which contradicts them—proceeding behind the backs of their architects to yield unintended consequences and unintended possibilities” [5]. It is difficult then for us to control what we cannot always see.

http://www.helwyssocietyforum.com/?p=1360

There's a related concept of Technological Determinism, originating with Thorstein Veblen:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_determinism