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I live in a country where WhatsApp is used by almost everyone. I uninstalled it 2 years ago and told my contacts that they can find me on Telegram if they'd lik

I live in a country where WhatsApp is used by almost everyone. I uninstalled it 2 years ago and told my contacts that they can find me on Telegram if they'd like to contact me. Most of my friends and family switched to Telegram, and I'm really grateful for that. I don't miss any updates, and I'm able to communicate on a platform I like. In the beginning, they found it odd, but eventually started to like it and some now even prefer it.

closewith 4y ago
My honest reply is that you don't know the conversations you were excluded from because of this decision.
- NayamAmarshe 4y ago
  And to be honest, I realize that, and I'm absolutely fine with it. Maybe some won't be, but the path of idealism isn't always the most convenient.
  - danielheath 4y ago
    Taking the consequences works fine if you're not responsible for anyone but yourself. "Sorry kids, you aren't going to your friends parties or playing sports with them because my ideals conflict with your reality" is not a tenable position.
    - ipaddr 4y ago
      Not to worry your kids friends will share that they have a party. If you forbid your daughter from dating a guy they will find there way around that somehow.
    - mlatu 4y ago
      you forgot something... here, just add: "your mileage may vary" and bob's your aunty
    - NayamAmarshe 4y ago
      > Taking the consequences works fine if you're not responsible for anyone but yourself. Yeah, definitely. I'm just responsible for myself. The day I have to be responsible for others, I'll just immigrate to a country where everybody uses Telegram haha.
  - rndmio 4y ago
    Tbh I'm kind of amused that you rail against WhatsApp and then went and installed Telegram rather than Signal.
    - NayamAmarshe 4y ago
      I have done my research well and I still support Telegram. I don't think Signal has what is needed to rival WhatsApp. Telegram is a much better option that does not sell your user data and still has the best privacy options. Where most people like to disagree is the security part, but E2EE is not as important to me as long as my privacy is respected.
      - pleb_nz 4y ago
        Agreed, if I need to send encrypted data, I won't be using a messaging app to do it.
    - pleb_nz 4y ago
      Many reasons. Telegram is less evil then Whatsapp and it's best in class UI/UX. It's a compromise. Signal is horrible to use and inconvenient for most people but with e2ee.
- adesanmi 4y ago
  This is a blessing, not a curse.
- pessimizer 4y ago
  This is just rationalizing FOMO. Of course you don't know the things you don't know.
  - 411111111111111 4y ago
    Except you actually are getting excluded in a lot of conversations after uninstalling, thus it's not just a fear... So it's not FOMO, it's just plain MO.
  - closewith 4y ago
    Yes, I continue to use WhatsApp because I have fear of missing out. Missing out on conversations from my extended family, friends (only about 1/4 use Signal and all groups are on WhatsApp), work (the Health Service in Ireland literally runs on WhatsApp), voluntary undertakings (all of which are organised on WhatsApp), organising stuff for the kids (again all on WhatsApp). So it's a valid fear based on the reality in my social circle and country. Unilaterally moving to Signal means self-imposed isolation.
    - jen20 4y ago
      > the Health Service in Ireland literally runs on WhatsApp This part is terrifying: does Ireland not have the equivalent of HSR (UK, in combination with a patchwork of other legislation) or HIPAA?
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
    - erehweb 4y ago
      Interested in a bit more context re Ireland Health Service - how does this work with older people / those in remote areas?
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
    - 4y ago
- mvuksano 4y ago
  And that's a good thing maybe.
- 1659447091 4y ago
  I look at this as being more of a hidden blessing. The people I had been actual friends with, not just acquaintances, had no problems adding Signal. It was mostly for expat friends since in my part of the US we just SMS/iMessage, and we have group messages on Signal for the couple of mixed-location mutual friends. They still use WhatsApp for their other contacts but turns out this filtered for the people that cared enough if I were in their life or not. Even after making the effort to keep up with the ones that only wanted to use WhatsApps, through email or regular text message, they couldn't be bothered. I guess I have moved into the point in my life where I prefer the quality of friends who wanted me around for more than being an extra body to fill out their party guest list (and similar).

closewith 4y ago

My honest reply is that you don't know the conversations you were excluded from because of this decision.

NayamAmarshe 4y ago
And to be honest, I realize that, and I'm absolutely fine with it. Maybe some won't be, but the path of idealism isn't always the most convenient.
- danielheath 4y ago
  Taking the consequences works fine if you're not responsible for anyone but yourself. "Sorry kids, you aren't going to your friends parties or playing sports with them because my ideals conflict with your reality" is not a tenable position.
  - ipaddr 4y ago
    Not to worry your kids friends will share that they have a party. If you forbid your daughter from dating a guy they will find there way around that somehow.
  - mlatu 4y ago
    you forgot something... here, just add: "your mileage may vary" and bob's your aunty
  - NayamAmarshe 4y ago
    > Taking the consequences works fine if you're not responsible for anyone but yourself. Yeah, definitely. I'm just responsible for myself. The day I have to be responsible for others, I'll just immigrate to a country where everybody uses Telegram haha.
- rndmio 4y ago
  Tbh I'm kind of amused that you rail against WhatsApp and then went and installed Telegram rather than Signal.
  - NayamAmarshe 4y ago
    I have done my research well and I still support Telegram. I don't think Signal has what is needed to rival WhatsApp. Telegram is a much better option that does not sell your user data and still has the best privacy options. Where most people like to disagree is the security part, but E2EE is not as important to me as long as my privacy is respected.
    - pleb_nz 4y ago
      Agreed, if I need to send encrypted data, I won't be using a messaging app to do it.
  - pleb_nz 4y ago
    Many reasons. Telegram is less evil then Whatsapp and it's best in class UI/UX. It's a compromise. Signal is horrible to use and inconvenient for most people but with e2ee.
adesanmi 4y ago
This is a blessing, not a curse.
pessimizer 4y ago
This is just rationalizing FOMO. Of course you don't know the things you don't know.
- 411111111111111 4y ago
  Except you actually are getting excluded in a lot of conversations after uninstalling, thus it's not just a fear... So it's not FOMO, it's just plain MO.
- closewith 4y ago
  Yes, I continue to use WhatsApp because I have fear of missing out. Missing out on conversations from my extended family, friends (only about 1/4 use Signal and all groups are on WhatsApp), work (the Health Service in Ireland literally runs on WhatsApp), voluntary undertakings (all of which are organised on WhatsApp), organising stuff for the kids (again all on WhatsApp). So it's a valid fear based on the reality in my social circle and country. Unilaterally moving to Signal means self-imposed isolation.
  - jen20 4y ago
    > the Health Service in Ireland literally runs on WhatsApp This part is terrifying: does Ireland not have the equivalent of HSR (UK, in combination with a patchwork of other legislation) or HIPAA?
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
  - erehweb 4y ago
    Interested in a bit more context re Ireland Health Service - how does this work with older people / those in remote areas?
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
  - 4y ago
mvuksano 4y ago
And that's a good thing maybe.
1659447091 4y ago
I look at this as being more of a hidden blessing. The people I had been actual friends with, not just acquaintances, had no problems adding Signal. It was mostly for expat friends since in my part of the US we just SMS/iMessage, and we have group messages on Signal for the couple of mixed-location mutual friends. They still use WhatsApp for their other contacts but turns out this filtered for the people that cared enough if I were in their life or not. Even after making the effort to keep up with the ones that only wanted to use WhatsApps, through email or regular text message, they couldn't be bothered. I guess I have moved into the point in my life where I prefer the quality of friends who wanted me around for more than being an extra body to fill out their party guest list (and similar).