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Adult here that NEVER used any kind of mobile phone/tablet- never even had a flip/dumb phone. I do programming amongst other creative computer based things- th

Adult here that NEVER used any kind of mobile phone/tablet- never even had a flip/dumb phone. I do programming amongst other creative computer based things- the thing I've noticed between me and the normal phone/tablet human- is the ability to focus. I can focus for hours, weeks, months, years on tasks etc. Everyone around me feels like focus wimps- they focus for 15 minutes or an hour and are proud of themselves and want some kind of pat on the back. They even use apps on the devices to "help them focus" its hilarious. I don't use any medications at all or nootropics/drugs for focus either btw. These devices destroyed peoples ability to focus amongst a myriad of other things. The solution to me seems very simple. Stop using them BUT thats like telling a heroin addict to just put down the needle. They can't do it- and neither can you (shrugs) Also using phones has always seemed nerdy/dorky- no matter who the person is- when I see someone using a mobile phone they seem like a dweeb- like whatever aura they had fades away and they just become cringey. It doesn't matter if their screen is cracked or what case they have- there is no way to be cool while using a mobile phone- just a sea of dorks with broken brains begging for more.

pooingcode 2y ago
While incredible sounding to never use a mobile phone I find it hard to believe given societal restraints. It’s more common than no that homeless people have a cellphone, at least in westernized countries. This is because phones are seen as a basic need. How is it possible you could make by as a working professional without ever using a mobile phone?
ainiriand 2y ago
You should be really fun at parties!
Roark66 2y ago
Adult here that has always had a device with a screen since they first became available. From a black and white Palm which required learning a special cursive script to write quicker, through iPhones of the 3G era to latest Samsungs today. I spend many hours "with screens" every day in addition to a programming job. Before portable devices I always had a computer from age 10 when I got my first 8 bit computer. I was glued to screens ever since. I never had problems with focusing on tasks. In fact when I have a particularly interesting thing I'm doing, unless I actively remind myself to have breaks I'll forget to eat and drink for many hours. So there's my anecdote :-)
wezdog1 2y ago
>Also using phones has always seemed nerdy/dorky- Nothing nerdy about sitting behind a terminal emulator...
ph1sch3r 2y ago
When engaged in a difficult task - perhaps when working at the limit of one's working memory or understanding, I often get a jolt of frustration and want to 'switch tabs' (figuratively or literally). It's becoming more apparent to me that important traits are: 1) raising the threshold of discomfort that makes one want to task switch 2) the ability to avoid task switching immediately once the task becomes uncomfortable or difficult (or at least avoid task switching in a mindless way) I find that impactful work often takes sustained periods of focus with some level of discomfort. (For example, watch chess grandmasters at work. Their behaviors of often are a mixture of grimaces, frowns and exasperated sighs.) Having said that, I find taking a walk is often fruitful, and has a different valence/intentionality to a mindless task switch.
makeitdouble 2y ago
> I can focus for hours, weeks, months, years on tasks etc. What do you mean by focusing on tasks for years ? For instance does a parent get to say they focused on raising their kid for 10+ years ? Or can a accountant say they focused on keeping books straight for decades ? Aside from that I feel what's lost in this argument is whether a specific task merited focus in the first place. Let's say someone is watching a movie but decides after 10 min to look at TikTok instead, to then go cook some popcorn and ends up doing the laundry. Should we blame them for doing chores instead of staying focused on the meh movie in the first place ? And does getting easily distracted even matter if they're otherwise decent adults who do what's required from them to do ?

pooingcode 2y ago

While incredible sounding to never use a mobile phone I find it hard to believe given societal restraints. It’s more common than no that homeless people have a cellphone, at least in westernized countries. This is because phones are seen as a basic need. How is it possible you could make by as a working professional without ever using a mobile phone?

ainiriand 2y ago

You should be really fun at parties!

Roark66 2y ago

Adult here that has always had a device with a screen since they first became available. From a black and white Palm which required learning a special cursive script to write quicker, through iPhones of the 3G era to latest Samsungs today. I spend many hours "with screens" every day in addition to a programming job. Before portable devices I always had a computer from age 10 when I got my first 8 bit computer. I was glued to screens ever since. I never had problems with focusing on tasks. In fact when I have a particularly interesting thing I'm doing, unless I actively remind myself to have breaks I'll forget to eat and drink for many hours. So there's my anecdote :-)

wezdog1 2y ago

>Also using phones has always seemed nerdy/dorky- Nothing nerdy about sitting behind a terminal emulator...

ph1sch3r 2y ago

When engaged in a difficult task - perhaps when working at the limit of one's working memory or understanding, I often get a jolt of frustration and want to 'switch tabs' (figuratively or literally). It's becoming more apparent to me that important traits are: 1) raising the threshold of discomfort that makes one want to task switch 2) the ability to avoid task switching immediately once the task becomes uncomfortable or difficult (or at least avoid task switching in a mindless way) I find that impactful work often takes sustained periods of focus with some level of discomfort. (For example, watch chess grandmasters at work. Their behaviors of often are a mixture of grimaces, frowns and exasperated sighs.) Having said that, I find taking a walk is often fruitful, and has a different valence/intentionality to a mindless task switch.

makeitdouble 2y ago

> I can focus for hours, weeks, months, years on tasks etc. What do you mean by focusing on tasks for years ? For instance does a parent get to say they focused on raising their kid for 10+ years ? Or can a accountant say they focused on keeping books straight for decades ? Aside from that I feel what's lost in this argument is whether a specific task merited focus in the first place. Let's say someone is watching a movie but decides after 10 min to look at TikTok instead, to then go cook some popcorn and ends up doing the laundry. Should we blame them for doing chores instead of staying focused on the meh movie in the first place ? And does getting easily distracted even matter if they're otherwise decent adults who do what's required from them to do ?