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I'm sure it's awful when it happens non-voluntarily as for you, but challenging some of those urges on one's own time/inclination is a big part of discovering t

I'm sure it's awful when it happens non-voluntarily as for you, but challenging some of those urges on one's own time/inclination is a big part of discovering the value of digital hygiene. Going without a smartphone entirely is more than most people need, but a lot of people experience unattributed health effects from having constant distraction and stimulation in their pocket. We've almost certainly evolved to rest and just stare at the horizon throughout the day, in a way that many people can no longer even imagine. There was a meme on Twitter/Reddit a little while back where people were absolutely astonished that some guy was traveling without a phone or book or anything. In a world beseiged by depression, anxiety, obesity, etc the inconceivability of "just chilling" certainly seems like a related point of concern.

tombert 3y ago
That's possible, but I do get a little annoyed at the moralism that people display on Reddit about this, acting like smartphones are the downfall of humanity and we'd be better off if they all went away (edit: to be clear, not accusing you of that!). Fundamentally, I really really like having GPS on me at basically all times, I like having access to pretty much every song ever written wherever I go, I like being able to read and compose emails on the fly, I like having my TODO tasks synced between my computer and my phone. While not perfect, I do think that smartphones increase my quality of life.
- swatcoder 3y ago
  Yeah, I think the realist future has us learn to treat digital stimulation as an intuitive hygiene thing: You can drink, but maybe don't start at 8am. You don't have to bathe every day, but go too long and you're not going to have a lot of friends. Flossing would be great, but at least brush your teeth. Go ahead and enjoy ice cream, but not for every meal. We just don't have the cultural experience for anybody's specific suggestions to have much weight yet.

tombert 3y ago

That's possible, but I do get a little annoyed at the moralism that people display on Reddit about this, acting like smartphones are the downfall of humanity and we'd be better off if they all went away (edit: to be clear, not accusing you of that!). Fundamentally, I really really like having GPS on me at basically all times, I like having access to pretty much every song ever written wherever I go, I like being able to read and compose emails on the fly, I like having my TODO tasks synced between my computer and my phone. While not perfect, I do think that smartphones increase my quality of life.

swatcoder 3y ago
Yeah, I think the realist future has us learn to treat digital stimulation as an intuitive hygiene thing: You can drink, but maybe don't start at 8am. You don't have to bathe every day, but go too long and you're not going to have a lot of friends. Flossing would be great, but at least brush your teeth. Go ahead and enjoy ice cream, but not for every meal. We just don't have the cultural experience for anybody's specific suggestions to have much weight yet.