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> no one will bother you with anything, no new likes on Instagram, no new offers on Amazon It seems half (if not more) of the problem is distractions by profit

> no one will bother you with anything, no new likes on Instagram, no new offers on Amazon It seems half (if not more) of the problem is distractions by profit-seeking, tracking companies. I solved this problem by choosing a GNU/Linux phone, without any proprietary apps. No distractions, and yet whenever I need to be available, I am. And it feels very liberating, too.

Podgajski 3y ago
That’s the truth. I’m trying to save up for a pixel six a or seven a so I can get off of my iPhone and use Graphene OS instead. But I still have about $500 left to pay off my iPhone so I don’t know how to do it yet on my current state of financial existence.
slau 3y ago
I have an iPhone, however I’m not on any mainstream social media, and I’m very conservative with the apps I do install, and I prune aggressively. I rarely get push notifications (maybe a handful a week, in that ballpark) from apps. Obviously I receive notifications for emails and messages, but those are “soft notifications” that don’t interrupt me. One thing I’ve found even more liberating: not taking my phone when going out for walks. My watch is enough. I’m still reachable for calls and texts. I still get urgent calendar reminders for meetings, and I can play virtually any song or podcast ever produced, if I so desire.
ToucanLoucan 3y ago
I honestly feel perfectly liberated with my iPhone. Yes, I have all these apps. That does not mean I must use them simply because they put a stupid notification up. Do I want to shop? No? Then why would I open Amazon? Do I want to look at what my friends are doing? No? Then why would I open Instagram? I enjoy very much having the ability to remain in contact: with friends. Which is why those notifications are on, for various messaging apps. Work notifications are only on during work hours. I also enjoy the time-wasting aspects of a few mobile games and some social media like Imgur. But like, I only use them when I am choosing to waste time, like if I'm waiting to meet someone and they're running late. Am I that much of an outlier? My phone is a tool, an amazing tool to be sure, but so much of this is written as though people use theirs with shock collars attached; that they have no free will whatsoever and are utterly enslaved by the things.
- deafpolygon 3y ago
  For those who didn't read: discipline.
- willsmith72 3y ago
  that depends on where you draw the line of free will. I know people who use that exact same argument for why they use tik tok. They "enjoy the time-wasting aspects", especially in down time. To me it looks like they're stuck and their happiness is suffering. The problem is what we think we want is shaped by society, culture, and now big tech companies. Instagram made the goal of millions of teenagers to "want" to get more followers. It was always of their own free will, and yet I would argue it was a huge net loss for teenagers and societies. Staying in touch with friends is great, and tech like this makes it so much easier, especially when in different timezones/continents, but these days I just think you lose more than you gain. The same for filling in-between time with a game. It's fun and I want to do it, but my mind in the long run is happier when it's given space.

Podgajski 3y ago

That’s the truth. I’m trying to save up for a pixel six a or seven a so I can get off of my iPhone and use Graphene OS instead. But I still have about $500 left to pay off my iPhone so I don’t know how to do it yet on my current state of financial existence.

slau 3y ago

I have an iPhone, however I’m not on any mainstream social media, and I’m very conservative with the apps I do install, and I prune aggressively. I rarely get push notifications (maybe a handful a week, in that ballpark) from apps. Obviously I receive notifications for emails and messages, but those are “soft notifications” that don’t interrupt me. One thing I’ve found even more liberating: not taking my phone when going out for walks. My watch is enough. I’m still reachable for calls and texts. I still get urgent calendar reminders for meetings, and I can play virtually any song or podcast ever produced, if I so desire.

ToucanLoucan 3y ago

I honestly feel perfectly liberated with my iPhone. Yes, I have all these apps. That does not mean I must use them simply because they put a stupid notification up. Do I want to shop? No? Then why would I open Amazon? Do I want to look at what my friends are doing? No? Then why would I open Instagram? I enjoy very much having the ability to remain in contact: with friends. Which is why those notifications are on, for various messaging apps. Work notifications are only on during work hours. I also enjoy the time-wasting aspects of a few mobile games and some social media like Imgur. But like, I only use them when I am choosing to waste time, like if I'm waiting to meet someone and they're running late. Am I that much of an outlier? My phone is a tool, an amazing tool to be sure, but so much of this is written as though people use theirs with shock collars attached; that they have no free will whatsoever and are utterly enslaved by the things.

deafpolygon 3y ago
For those who didn't read: discipline.
willsmith72 3y ago
that depends on where you draw the line of free will. I know people who use that exact same argument for why they use tik tok. They "enjoy the time-wasting aspects", especially in down time. To me it looks like they're stuck and their happiness is suffering. The problem is what we think we want is shaped by society, culture, and now big tech companies. Instagram made the goal of millions of teenagers to "want" to get more followers. It was always of their own free will, and yet I would argue it was a huge net loss for teenagers and societies. Staying in touch with friends is great, and tech like this makes it so much easier, especially when in different timezones/continents, but these days I just think you lose more than you gain. The same for filling in-between time with a game. It's fun and I want to do it, but my mind in the long run is happier when it's given space.