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My issue with replacing something like reddit is... what exactly to replace it with? Reddit is entertaining and free. Every time I quit, I end up still seekin

My issue with replacing something like reddit is... what exactly to replace it with? Reddit is entertaining and free. Every time I quit, I end up still seeking out entertainment, but it's no longer free. Movies, gambling, restaurants, bars. TV is free but even less entertaining, imo. Books feel like mental masturbation and very few change my worldviews at this point. My overall conclusion has been that reddit is not that bad of a habit, comparatively.

mustacheemperor 9y ago
> Books feel like mental masturbation and very few change my worldviews at this point. This reads like a line out of the fire chief's speech to Montague. There are certainly books out there that can change your worldview and I'd say Reddit is much closer to "mental masturbation," being a literal dopamine release skinner box for your brain to digest meaningless but satisfying information and socialization tidbits.
majormajor 9y ago
I'm generally not too negative on social media or online interaction - though a balance of personal contemplation time feels healthy in general to have - but I'm curious about what you mean about books. Well-researched non-fiction seems far less masturbatory than reading random folks opining on a topic online, and fiction is a completely different category than most online discussion - it's not everybody's cup of tea, but if you're into movies, it's not very different from that.
jwatte 9y ago
The whole problem of the main thread is that people seek entertainment (dopamine.) This is mindless and not constructive. If the alternative was watching TV, yeah, Reddit isn't that bad. But if the alternative is exercise, or serving homeless, or inventing a new way of cleaning air, or having deep conversations with your family, or creating art, then that Reddit habit deprived your life of meaning and impact.
- Danihan 9y ago
  I mean, I already work 10-12 hours per day and have a gym routine. My life has plenty of meaning (as far as I'm concerned) but yeah, I see your point. Reddit replaces other entertainment for me, it wouldn't be productive time anyway, which I've learned from experimenting.

mustacheemperor 9y ago

> Books feel like mental masturbation and very few change my worldviews at this point. This reads like a line out of the fire chief's speech to Montague. There are certainly books out there that can change your worldview and I'd say Reddit is much closer to "mental masturbation," being a literal dopamine release skinner box for your brain to digest meaningless but satisfying information and socialization tidbits.

majormajor 9y ago

I'm generally not too negative on social media or online interaction - though a balance of personal contemplation time feels healthy in general to have - but I'm curious about what you mean about books. Well-researched non-fiction seems far less masturbatory than reading random folks opining on a topic online, and fiction is a completely different category than most online discussion - it's not everybody's cup of tea, but if you're into movies, it's not very different from that.

jwatte 9y ago

The whole problem of the main thread is that people seek entertainment (dopamine.) This is mindless and not constructive. If the alternative was watching TV, yeah, Reddit isn't that bad. But if the alternative is exercise, or serving homeless, or inventing a new way of cleaning air, or having deep conversations with your family, or creating art, then that Reddit habit deprived your life of meaning and impact.

Danihan 9y ago
I mean, I already work 10-12 hours per day and have a gym routine. My life has plenty of meaning (as far as I'm concerned) but yeah, I see your point. Reddit replaces other entertainment for me, it wouldn't be productive time anyway, which I've learned from experimenting.