Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#491

Post by dTal » Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

Nextgrid wrote: post #486

dTal wrote: post #476

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: You can escape online advertising by walking away from the computer. There's nowhere you can walk to escape physical advertising. Maybe the desert.

Online advertising stalks you even if you're not looking at the ads. Opting out of online advertising basically means you need to go live in the woods and never interact with modern society again. Every interaction you'd have with technology will have something to do with ads one way or another, even if just buying paid products in a physical store thanks to Bluetooth/Wi-Fi MAC address tracking, face recognition, not…

>Opting out of online advertising basically means you need to go live in the woods and never interact with modern society again

No, it just means you need to not open a web browser, or install an ad blocker. Opting out of physical advertising literally means this. I'm not saying that online advertising isn't bad, but physical advertising is inescapable. Your very food packaging is covered in it. The real world has primacy here, because you live in it and can't turn it off.

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#492

Post by francisofascii » Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 2:45 PM UTC

burntoutfire wrote: post #345

francisofascii wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My answer is video games but for different reasons. With an original NES you could power on, press start, and be playing the game in two seconds. With the Switch it has to load, the thing is never charged, cartridges are too small, you have to select through so many menus before you can actually start playing, games are two complex, etc.

Presumably, you can still game on the original NES (if any modern TV accepts its video signal).

Yes, I have an original that still works in the basement.

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#493

Post by JuliusPullo » Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 5:48 PM UTC

That it seems nobody wants to sell you anything anymore. Now, they want to rent you things. A car? TV? Fridge? A BBQ grill?...Everything has to be connected. Everything has to be "smart". Which means you have to open an account online and click ok on the "Terms and Conditions" page before you can use the thing you supposedly bought. You can't even fix it yourself if it breaks. And while you're using it, they collect data on every microsecond of use to sell to third parties.

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#494

Post by rostodon » Tue, Dec 14, 2021, 11:35 AM UTC

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Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#495

Post by xk3 » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 1:36 PM UTC

arprocter wrote: post #137

jacquesm wrote: post #29

I think there is an 'optimum' level for technology of all kinds, below that you really want more and it is clear that there is room for improvement. But once the optimum has been reached any further additions will degrade the experience. Examples: Car controls: pre: direct taps and gauges plumbed into engine parts and such, real switches and levers. optimum: does what it should, not more, not less, more reliable than…

Another automotive 'advancement' is headlight bulbs you can't replace yourself - what used to take a few minutes now requires a trip to the dealer, so they can presumably dismantle the front end Unlikely both would blow, but I'm a little surprised more fuss hasn't been made about it from a safety standpoint; considering being able to see where you're going tends to be important - I believe in France you can get a tic…

they probably do it so people don't replace the lamps with the wrong shape bulb which can be very dangerous

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#496

Post by env123 » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 2:53 PM UTC

Smartphones used as cameras on concerts. Annoying for a concert-goer who just want to see the performer in the moment. This is the only time I see the use of Google Glass as a positive

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#497

Post by htmlcoderexe » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 1:06 PM UTC

ok_dad wrote: post #4

Advertising. I know this is an extreme view, but I think any advertising other than a spec sheet style ad (just facts) should be banned. I feel like it steals your attention and mindshare day after day. The ads I see on TV now (rarely, as I don't watch live TV much) are just so horrible. Dripping with emotions and trying to tug on your heartstrings to sell some toilet bowl cleaner or some other garbage. Social media.…

Spec sheet advertising, that's what I have been rambling about to anyone who'd listen. I would also add that the advertising should go ibto a catalogue of sorts, so if you're specifically out to buy things you pick one up (look it up online?) and look for tjings to buy. But you don't get pestered to buy anything when you're just out and about doing anything else, I think along with manipulation that's one of the main problems with modern advertising.

Re: Ask HN: What things has tech made worse in your life?

#498

Post by benhurmarcel » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 11:18 PM UTC

throwamon wrote: post #487

benhurmarcel wrote: post #477

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some subreddits (like /r/linux) will delete your comments if you don’t register an email though.

Wow, is that an official option for mods?

They just program the Automoderator bot to delete those comments