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Welcome to the era of massively mediocre online content. It started with mediocre SEO content that just amalgamated 5 other page 1 results until Google results

Welcome to the era of massively mediocre online content. It started with mediocre SEO content that just amalgamated 5 other page 1 results until Google results became basically inbred content that meant nothing to anyone. Now we have LLMs which amalgamate that type of content and spit out a personalized, but still mediocre response. On the visual side, TikTok and Reels are doing their part to make everyone run to the same picture spot, go to the same mediocre (but cool-looking) restaurants and so on.

jorvi 1y ago
You should read 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' by Neal Postman. It's painful how apt it is for current times. For what it's worth, I've started to reintroduce friction in my life where it makes sense. My phone defaults to a "dumbphone" profile that only has messaging, music, maps, etc. and specifically no browser or YouTube. I only turn on my smart lights with wall buttons and use the smart function purely to tune the white point. I try to pay by physical card instead of Apple / Google Wallet. Although I do store membership cards that I use once in a blue moon there. eReader is fine IMO. Weekend newspaper subscription is really nice but can feel expensive if you have limited income. Another good one is familiarizing yourself in the neighborhood. Get a regular coffee spot or pub or lunch place. These are only examples of course. I basically feel like hitting the late 1990s - early 2000s 'level' of ease and socialization in your life is the optimal point. Your brain will fight it every step of the way, but one can tear oneself out of their bubble of surplus comfort. Good luck.
- FinnLobsien 1y ago
  > You should read 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' by Neal Stephenson. It's painful how apt it is for current times. Assuming you mean Neil Postman? And yeah, I am also wanting to get print magazine subscriptions. Luckily I already live in a neighborhood with a very 1950s vibe where I know the baker, the coffee guy, the butcher, sandwich shop guy etc. I just want to remove my compulsive internet usage. Even if I'm reading The New Yorker, it's still because I've defaulted to consuming media on the internet in an empty moment.
  - jorvi 1y ago
    > Assuming you mean Neil Postman? Yes, my bad. Edited! > I just want to remove my compulsive internet usage. Even if I'm reading The New Yorker, it's still because I've defaulted to consuming media on the internet in an empty moment. That's the skill of allowing yourself to be bored. Another thing you can learn, with enough effort. Making your browser much less accessible on your phone helps a lot. Either lock the use to 30m per day with digital wellbeing settings, or just make it a chore to get to it (always force close, put it a screen away / in a folder / in another profile).
    - FinnLobsien 1y ago
      I think I'm too compulsive for any of that to work lol. But what's worked in the past is not bringing my phone at all. I should get back to that.

jorvi 1y ago

You should read 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' by Neal Postman. It's painful how apt it is for current times. For what it's worth, I've started to reintroduce friction in my life where it makes sense. My phone defaults to a "dumbphone" profile that only has messaging, music, maps, etc. and specifically no browser or YouTube. I only turn on my smart lights with wall buttons and use the smart function purely to tune the white point. I try to pay by physical card instead of Apple / Google Wallet. Although I do store membership cards that I use once in a blue moon there. eReader is fine IMO. Weekend newspaper subscription is really nice but can feel expensive if you have limited income. Another good one is familiarizing yourself in the neighborhood. Get a regular coffee spot or pub or lunch place. These are only examples of course. I basically feel like hitting the late 1990s - early 2000s 'level' of ease and socialization in your life is the optimal point. Your brain will fight it every step of the way, but one can tear oneself out of their bubble of surplus comfort. Good luck.

FinnLobsien 1y ago
> You should read 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' by Neal Stephenson. It's painful how apt it is for current times. Assuming you mean Neil Postman? And yeah, I am also wanting to get print magazine subscriptions. Luckily I already live in a neighborhood with a very 1950s vibe where I know the baker, the coffee guy, the butcher, sandwich shop guy etc. I just want to remove my compulsive internet usage. Even if I'm reading The New Yorker, it's still because I've defaulted to consuming media on the internet in an empty moment.
- jorvi 1y ago
  > Assuming you mean Neil Postman? Yes, my bad. Edited! > I just want to remove my compulsive internet usage. Even if I'm reading The New Yorker, it's still because I've defaulted to consuming media on the internet in an empty moment. That's the skill of allowing yourself to be bored. Another thing you can learn, with enough effort. Making your browser much less accessible on your phone helps a lot. Either lock the use to 30m per day with digital wellbeing settings, or just make it a chore to get to it (always force close, put it a screen away / in a folder / in another profile).
  - FinnLobsien 1y ago
    I think I'm too compulsive for any of that to work lol. But what's worked in the past is not bringing my phone at all. I should get back to that.