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Next up: "Could modern work in downtown offices be the reason why we're all miserable?" I'm only half joking. I'm becoming more and more convinced that starin

Next up: "Could modern work in downtown offices be the reason why we're all miserable?" I'm only half joking. I'm becoming more and more convinced that staring at a computer screen 40+ hours a week is not healthy at all. Couple that with the known psychological ill-effects of social media together with the hysterical, outrage-driven news-cycle, which we consume while staring into said screens, and the effect is downright toxic for mental and physical health and general happiness.

jacobush 9y ago
Not at all joking, rather.
maxxxxx 9y ago
It's pretty much a given that staring at a screen 40+ hours is bad for you. It's bad physically and mentally. I used to take long trips between 6 and 8 weeks for vacation and I always noticed how after a few weeks I started seeing the world around me much clearer than when I work. I think we are losing the ability to take a break.
- leggomylibro 9y ago
  >I think we are losing the ability to take a break. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've been feeling a huge sense of urgency lately. The news just keeps coming that endemic corruption has finally eaten through the woodwork, and I feel like if I don't take the opportunity to learn while the learning is good, I'll be screwed in 2-5 years when the norms collapse. I guess that's a similar mindset to 'preppers', but I'm focusing on knowledge rather than things. Soon enough, I probably won't be able to look up how to...oh I dunno, make a blacksmithing forge on the cheap. Maybe if we felt like we lived in a stable situation, we'd be more able to step back and breathe. Relentlessly tap-dancing on quicksand isn't good for anyone's mental health.
  - maxxxxx 9y ago
    When you look at today's world compared to the first half of the 20th century this is nothing if that is of any comfort.
    - leggomylibro 9y ago
      It is, but the people in those eras bled and died for the protections that we are starting to eschew rather than strengthen. And people do have less time today than they did in the early 20th century. Smartphones have made sure of that. Maybe it's a moral failing to waste a significant amount of time on them, but do you know many people who don't? It seems more like a reliable exploit than an individual failing to me. "Things used to be worse" cannot be used to excuse "things will not get better."
      - maxxxxx 9y ago
        "Things used to be worse" cannot be used to excuse "things will not get better." Certainly not. But we shouldn't forget that we have it pretty good and make sure we keep it that way and build upon it.
  - CM30 9y ago
    > I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've been feeling a huge sense of urgency lately. The news just keeps coming that endemic corruption has finally eaten through the woodwork, and I feel like if I don't take the opportunity to learn while the learning is good, I'll be screwed in 2-5 years when the norms collapse. I think you can blame that on social media, the mainstream media and the internet in general. There's definitely a 'sky is falling' panic on sites like Twitter and Reddit. Might be best to sometimes switch off your smartphone, avoid TV news and take it easy.

jacobush 9y ago

Not at all joking, rather.

maxxxxx 9y ago

It's pretty much a given that staring at a screen 40+ hours is bad for you. It's bad physically and mentally. I used to take long trips between 6 and 8 weeks for vacation and I always noticed how after a few weeks I started seeing the world around me much clearer than when I work. I think we are losing the ability to take a break.

leggomylibro 9y ago
>I think we are losing the ability to take a break. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've been feeling a huge sense of urgency lately. The news just keeps coming that endemic corruption has finally eaten through the woodwork, and I feel like if I don't take the opportunity to learn while the learning is good, I'll be screwed in 2-5 years when the norms collapse. I guess that's a similar mindset to 'preppers', but I'm focusing on knowledge rather than things. Soon enough, I probably won't be able to look up how to...oh I dunno, make a blacksmithing forge on the cheap. Maybe if we felt like we lived in a stable situation, we'd be more able to step back and breathe. Relentlessly tap-dancing on quicksand isn't good for anyone's mental health.
- maxxxxx 9y ago
  When you look at today's world compared to the first half of the 20th century this is nothing if that is of any comfort.
  - leggomylibro 9y ago
    It is, but the people in those eras bled and died for the protections that we are starting to eschew rather than strengthen. And people do have less time today than they did in the early 20th century. Smartphones have made sure of that. Maybe it's a moral failing to waste a significant amount of time on them, but do you know many people who don't? It seems more like a reliable exploit than an individual failing to me. "Things used to be worse" cannot be used to excuse "things will not get better."
    - maxxxxx 9y ago
      "Things used to be worse" cannot be used to excuse "things will not get better." Certainly not. But we shouldn't forget that we have it pretty good and make sure we keep it that way and build upon it.
- CM30 9y ago
  > I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've been feeling a huge sense of urgency lately. The news just keeps coming that endemic corruption has finally eaten through the woodwork, and I feel like if I don't take the opportunity to learn while the learning is good, I'll be screwed in 2-5 years when the norms collapse. I think you can blame that on social media, the mainstream media and the internet in general. There's definitely a 'sky is falling' panic on sites like Twitter and Reddit. Might be best to sometimes switch off your smartphone, avoid TV news and take it easy.