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I quit social media entirely many years ago: it felt like quitting smoking, just less difficult but the same level of benefits. I also shifted how I get news:

I quit social media entirely many years ago: it felt like quitting smoking, just less difficult but the same level of benefits. I also shifted how I get news: I don't read or watch "event-oriented" journalism (aka, reporting) and shifted entirely to analysis (through radio and press). The biggest win is that the timeframe is different, as analysis requires perspective, opposite to reporting which only focuses on the now. I feel like I have a better, deeper, understanding of the world now, and with a slower pace, allowing a quieter perspective (which does not prevent from objective worry wrt current events).

seizethecheese 4y ago
This is social media. (Not to detract entirely from your statement with my pendantics.)
- xcambar 4y ago
  I was expecting this comment, tbh :) This is true to some extent. Yet the scale and mechanics of HN are (vastly?) different from your typical social media. Also, brands are mostly absent, except for the YC specific posts. In my opinion, HN relates more to a good ol' forum rather than typical social media, as defined nowadays.
  - tjr225 4y ago
    Old school forums were still social media, they just hadn’t been labeled as such yet. Some of my most toxic moments as a teenager/young adult occurred on forums. I had to leave them entirely. Praise the lord I left them when I did because some of my old friends said some rather stupid stuff on forums and are paying for it now.
    - xcambar 4y ago
      FWIW, I'm not objecting HN or forums are not social media. Rather that nowadays, social media have more mechanics that are typical: * presence of brands * influencers * algorithmic bubble filters * attention hoarding Of course, forums and HN are social media and can be toxic as well. I may he wrong and I'm happy to read more, but I hope I clarified where I draw the line with what (I think) is typical and expected of social media, from a business/industry perspective.
    - the_only_human 4y ago
      old school forums were the single greatest thing that human kind has ever invented, including all medicine that has ever been invented. In fact, we should all be using old school forums.
- maigret 4y ago
  I don’t think it is because I can’t follow people (can I??). At least my use of it is only hitting the homepage and the occasional search. More similar to a newspaper with better comments. I agree that HN is social as in community but “social media” has a very tainted definition in my mind that mostly involves following a predefined set of people, creating all kinds of positive and negative side effects. HN belongs more to forums in my mind. I wouldn’t consider forums or IRC social media, at the same time I understand other persons might see it differently.
the_only_human 4y ago
This is genius (although I do wonder how you get your war news, then. Do you not follow the Russia war at all? Would it change if you had relevates there? Would it change if the war came to your backyard? Say another 9/11? War reporting is essential, but it would break your rule of not following live reporting.
- xcambar 4y ago
  Thanks a lot for the appreciation! Some exceptions apply, as you point out. One thing is that I cannot escape major events, no matter what I do (I live in a capital). And I see it very positively. For such events, and other exceptions, live coverage or daily news apply.

seizethecheese 4y ago

This is social media. (Not to detract entirely from your statement with my pendantics.)

xcambar 4y ago
I was expecting this comment, tbh :) This is true to some extent. Yet the scale and mechanics of HN are (vastly?) different from your typical social media. Also, brands are mostly absent, except for the YC specific posts. In my opinion, HN relates more to a good ol' forum rather than typical social media, as defined nowadays.
- tjr225 4y ago
  Old school forums were still social media, they just hadn’t been labeled as such yet. Some of my most toxic moments as a teenager/young adult occurred on forums. I had to leave them entirely. Praise the lord I left them when I did because some of my old friends said some rather stupid stuff on forums and are paying for it now.
  - xcambar 4y ago
    FWIW, I'm not objecting HN or forums are not social media. Rather that nowadays, social media have more mechanics that are typical: * presence of brands * influencers * algorithmic bubble filters * attention hoarding Of course, forums and HN are social media and can be toxic as well. I may he wrong and I'm happy to read more, but I hope I clarified where I draw the line with what (I think) is typical and expected of social media, from a business/industry perspective.
  - the_only_human 4y ago
    old school forums were the single greatest thing that human kind has ever invented, including all medicine that has ever been invented. In fact, we should all be using old school forums.
maigret 4y ago
I don’t think it is because I can’t follow people (can I??). At least my use of it is only hitting the homepage and the occasional search. More similar to a newspaper with better comments. I agree that HN is social as in community but “social media” has a very tainted definition in my mind that mostly involves following a predefined set of people, creating all kinds of positive and negative side effects. HN belongs more to forums in my mind. I wouldn’t consider forums or IRC social media, at the same time I understand other persons might see it differently.

the_only_human 4y ago

This is genius (although I do wonder how you get your war news, then. Do you not follow the Russia war at all? Would it change if you had relevates there? Would it change if the war came to your backyard? Say another 9/11? War reporting is essential, but it would break your rule of not following live reporting.

xcambar 4y ago
Thanks a lot for the appreciation! Some exceptions apply, as you point out. One thing is that I cannot escape major events, no matter what I do (I live in a capital). And I see it very positively. For such events, and other exceptions, live coverage or daily news apply.