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This is what I've realized about myself and addition. I get into new things fast and tend to over commit or over indulge early on and once I realize it pull bac

This is what I've realized about myself and addition. I get into new things fast and tend to over commit or over indulge early on and once I realize it pull back. I've got it under control now because I realized my excessive drinking or drug usage was in large part because I was bored. Shit television or movies are much more entertaining when drunk or high. Social engagements that are not mentally stimulating to me are much more bearable when in an altered state. I picked up a few hobbies that I really enjoy and I no longer feel the need to hit the weed vape pen 5 times on my walk home from work. I paint, do yoga multiple times a week, read a lot, and I'm more selective about the social events I go to because I've got other things I can occupy my time with. I realize I'm just one data point but I think a lot of people use their vices to stave off boredom and make a life that is not all that interesting, interesting. Tech addition is a bit different because it's hard to unplug entirely because many of us need to use screens for work. Removing all the social media apps from my phone and limiting my screen time at home has been huge for my ADHD brain. I don't have to have my phone at my side constantly anymore. I find myself enjoying experiences instead of trying to bottle them up for presentation on an app. Maybe I sound a bit anti-tech but I believe a lot of people have gone too far down the rabbit hole and haven't realized it yet.

__blockcipher__ 8y ago
Thanks for sharing. I resonated with a lot of what you said. That's all, I have nothing to add :)
Bartweiss 8y ago
> I realize I'm just one data point but I think a lot of people use their vices to stave off boredom and make a life that is not all that interesting, interesting. It increasingly looks to me like the problem with vices like this (anything from Facebook to pot) is exactly what you describe. Too often, we talk about them like they ruin people's lives directly. There are a hundred thinkpieces taking correlations like "men who work shorter hours play more games" or "unhappiness is correlated with Facebook use" and concluding "therefore games drive you to not work and social media makes you unhappy!" But we're not talking about things with physical mechanisms or direct brain-chemical impacts here, and I wouldn't expect all the Skinner Box design in the world to make "flashy lights on a screen" more compelling than a tasty dinner or a good hug. Rather, social media, games, or endless Reddit scrolling slot all too easily into downtime and unsatisfying situations. My experience with them has always been that of a mild sedative; they create a tolerable baseline state for what might otherwise be intolerable situations. (I think the analogy to drinking prior to a crap TV show or a boring event is a great one. It's not alcohol addiction or abuse in any standard sense, but it's still alcohol legitimizing some other bad situation.) That can still make tech a problem inasmuch as it stops people from breaking out of those situations. But if the situation is externally imposed then it's playing a positive role, and if the situation can be broken with an offering tech doesn't interfere with then it's not playing a negative role. I do think there are people who would benefit from cutting back on tech, and I think we underestimate the impact of push notifications and instant focus switching on our attention. But I also think we neglect a lot of cases where tech is a palliative for some other problem we would be better off attacking directly.
sjg007 8y ago
Started for me with Slashdot, then reddit, then HN. HN was a safer space than reddit. The /r subreddits seem to be ok now for specific topics.. Maybe specific researchers on Twitter are ok too. Started for my Dad with email, then the blackberry, now the iPhone/FB etc... Before that you could argue cable tv (for most kids after school).. Don't forget about Netflix binges today etc...
daneyh 8y ago
Wow, really succinct comment and you seemed to sum up a lot of what i'm feeling re: this whole thing.

__blockcipher__ 8y ago

Thanks for sharing. I resonated with a lot of what you said. That's all, I have nothing to add :)

Bartweiss 8y ago

> I realize I'm just one data point but I think a lot of people use their vices to stave off boredom and make a life that is not all that interesting, interesting. It increasingly looks to me like the problem with vices like this (anything from Facebook to pot) is exactly what you describe. Too often, we talk about them like they ruin people's lives directly. There are a hundred thinkpieces taking correlations like "men who work shorter hours play more games" or "unhappiness is correlated with Facebook use" and concluding "therefore games drive you to not work and social media makes you unhappy!" But we're not talking about things with physical mechanisms or direct brain-chemical impacts here, and I wouldn't expect all the Skinner Box design in the world to make "flashy lights on a screen" more compelling than a tasty dinner or a good hug. Rather, social media, games, or endless Reddit scrolling slot all too easily into downtime and unsatisfying situations. My experience with them has always been that of a mild sedative; they create a tolerable baseline state for what might otherwise be intolerable situations. (I think the analogy to drinking prior to a crap TV show or a boring event is a great one. It's not alcohol addiction or abuse in any standard sense, but it's still alcohol legitimizing some other bad situation.) That can still make tech a problem inasmuch as it stops people from breaking out of those situations. But if the situation is externally imposed then it's playing a positive role, and if the situation can be broken with an offering tech doesn't interfere with then it's not playing a negative role. I do think there are people who would benefit from cutting back on tech, and I think we underestimate the impact of push notifications and instant focus switching on our attention. But I also think we neglect a lot of cases where tech is a palliative for some other problem we would be better off attacking directly.

sjg007 8y ago

Started for me with Slashdot, then reddit, then HN. HN was a safer space than reddit. The /r subreddits seem to be ok now for specific topics.. Maybe specific researchers on Twitter are ok too. Started for my Dad with email, then the blackberry, now the iPhone/FB etc... Before that you could argue cable tv (for most kids after school).. Don't forget about Netflix binges today etc...

daneyh 8y ago

Wow, really succinct comment and you seemed to sum up a lot of what i'm feeling re: this whole thing.