As I've said before, I finally pulled the plug on all 8 of our Alexa Echos a few months ago. 6 years ago I permanently deleted my FB account, after not using it for at least 3 years prior. I've dumped all other social media accounts - excepting Twitter - as well.
I also switched from an iPhone (I was an early adopter of iPhone and all thi…
As I've said before, I finally pulled the plug on all 8 of our Alexa Echos a few months ago. 6 years ago I permanently deleted my FB account, after not using it for at least 3 years prior. I've dumped all other social media accounts - excepting Twitter - as well.
I also switched from an iPhone (I was an early adopter of iPhone and all things Apple as well as Twitter in 2008) to a non-internet phone (LightPhone II). The LightPhone froze up and went kaput about two weeks ago, and I won't replace it.
We dumped cable years ago, and about three years ago gave our large TV in the den to our eldest son, after realizing that there's something wrong with placing a television over our fireplace mantle, which simulates an altar. We do not want to give pride of place to the 5th gen warfare sewer pipe that emptied into our home.
I've recently been pining for dumping our internet service provider and the internet altogether. (Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow go back to a society without the internet and smart phones? Well why the heck not?)
There's some weird 5th gen warfare going on with our electronic devices. I call it the Matrix. I'm fighting against it.
I have never had a tv or cable or Twitter or any social media except Facebook. I only keep that to stay in touch with people who live far away from me and whom I don’t see often or ever. Also belong to some groups that are very worthwhile. I was a very late adopter of smartphones but it’s become very hard to do without in my line of work. I do try to avoid as much as I can though and pay attention to my settings.
I have a Light Phone. It has a few quirks, but I like it. I use it just for phone calls and text messaging (to those who insist on texting), but it also has podcast capability, and I love that. I listen to quite a few podcasts. Everyone I know has an iPhone, but I won't get a smart phone because I want to pay attention to the world when I'm out and about. Can't stand how everyone has their heads bent down, looking at a piece of glass and plastic when there are people and a whole world around them.
Thank you for this reply, Natalie. You are preaching to the choir. I too really hate seeing all the bowed heads (and I include myself in that condemnation). I deeply, deeply resent my phone and how these devices have trapped us all. I am really trying to break free.
I just finished the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It's very good, and you might find it helpful. Though I don't use a smartphone, I find myself on my desktop way too much. I think this book will help me break free of the addiction.
Yes, I tend to justify the use of my desktop as a necessary evil for doing my job. It's still a distraction and time suck and I would love to exercise some discipline over my casual use of it. Before the internet I used to read several books a week - I literally could not be found without a book in my purse or in my car which I would read when I had to wait anywhere or for anything. I even took books on my walks when my kids were portable (one in a front back, one in a back pack and a book in my hands). I have lost focus with increased internet use and electronic media consumption.
I couldn't agree with you more. I used to read a lot of books and listen to music. I homeschooled my kids before computers were very important and founded a homeschooling support group without benefit of the Internet--just on word of mouth and using the telephone. Now I look back and am so glad there was no Internet because I probably wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much. I don't do any social media and everything I look at is worthwhile--like Coffee and COVID!--but it's just too much. I spend too much of my day reading Substacks or listening to podcasts, and COVID really ramped that up. I have to start picking and choosing which online resources to use and spend more of my time doing activities that used to mean something to me, like reading, playing the piano, gardening, etc. I do still take books with me when I go out to a doctor's appointment or some place where I'll have to wait because I don't have a phone to occupy my time, so that's at least a plus.
Oh my goodness, yes!! I have the same story. Covid really exacerbated my growing overuse of the internet, for sure. And I used to be SO productive (having five kids gave me no choice - I ran my house like a boot camp). But now that most of them are out of the house and I have more unstructured time, my first go-to activity is to check out what's happening on-line even though I could read, garden, play my cello (which I started learning during Covid) and reclaim just good old-fashion leisure time NOT in front of a screen. Everyone's comments are encouraging me though because I realize this is a universal lament and people have offered suggestions. Gosh, Coffee & Covid is great (and the one Substack I read without fail).
Gads...the idiots at the gym! They can’t put their damn phones down, so they’ll do a set, sit on the machine and look at their phone for many minutes, then maybe do another set...
Yes, this video is extremely good; B&W makes it even more morose. When the documentary Social Network came out I saw it 3 times in 1 week. I couldn't believe what I thought I was seeing and had to make sure. lol! I never signed up for FB as it was created/stolen out of pure jealousy and greed.
If you like to learn the 'old-school' way by reading a hard copy book I recommend: Nicholas Carr's The Shallows - What The Internet is Doing to Our Brains (2011).
For the effect of technology (our cell phones!) on our cells: Resonance - Beings of Frequency is my favorite:
I'm with you on the "dumb"phone--that's what I've called them from the start because people are surely getting "dumber" and "dumber" by grasping onto that "small screen" 24/7. I swear as time goes by--people will be PERMANENTLY connected to their "device".
And that is how they'll sell the implanted chips or AR Goggles--"Remember how silly we were (shots of bowed heads, tangled earphone cords, dropped airpods, people trying to do things but can't b/c they lack a free hand b/c it's got a cellphone in it), what a hassle it all was? Finally--(shots of vapid smiling people, hugging, shopping, nurturing their children, swiping their hands over scanners at Whole Foods) true freedom, true connectedness is available! (shots of little glowing pulse between thumb and index finger, or back of neck, or top of head). Don't be a Luddite (shot of person tangled in wire, ALONE)--get neuralink!"
I wanted to like it. But honestly, the LCD screen makes it damn near impossible to type. You can do the voice-to-text feature, but you have to keep your texts super short to be able to go back and correct the errors (which are many.)
My sister-in-law gave us one of those Amazon/Google things. I told him absolutely not. He thought I was crazy, but, about a year later, all of that stuff came out about them listening in. We still have it unplugged, uncharged, in its box, somewhere in the house. I’d be happy to dump it.
As I've said before, I finally pulled the plug on all 8 of our Alexa Echos a few months ago. 6 years ago I permanently deleted my FB account, after not using it for at least 3 years prior. I've dumped all other social media accounts - excepting Twitter - as well.
I also switched from an iPhone (I was an early adopter of iPhone and all things Apple as well as Twitter in 2008) to a non-internet phone (LightPhone II). The LightPhone froze up and went kaput about two weeks ago, and I won't replace it.
We dumped cable years ago, and about three years ago gave our large TV in the den to our eldest son, after realizing that there's something wrong with placing a television over our fireplace mantle, which simulates an altar. We do not want to give pride of place to the 5th gen warfare sewer pipe that emptied into our home.
I've recently been pining for dumping our internet service provider and the internet altogether. (Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow go back to a society without the internet and smart phones? Well why the heck not?)
There's some weird 5th gen warfare going on with our electronic devices. I call it the Matrix. I'm fighting against it.
Do you have a single twin brother?
First internet related smile today from your comment. Just hit me funny. Thank you. Hope it's a yes. Dreams DO come true Gram!
Not a twin, but he's a slightly younger brother. Never married, so he's spoiled and persnickety about what he does or does not waste his time on.
He's an exec with the federal courts, and makes a boatload of money. LOL
I have never had a tv or cable or Twitter or any social media except Facebook. I only keep that to stay in touch with people who live far away from me and whom I don’t see often or ever. Also belong to some groups that are very worthwhile. I was a very late adopter of smartphones but it’s become very hard to do without in my line of work. I do try to avoid as much as I can though and pay attention to my settings.
If I were totally retired--I'd go 'unconnected" altogether as well! I applaud your decision, Mr. Bennett.
I tried one of those and it creeped me out so badly . I actually threw it in a outdoor firepit
Fred, I am really intrigued by the LightPhone. Did you like it?
I have a Light Phone. It has a few quirks, but I like it. I use it just for phone calls and text messaging (to those who insist on texting), but it also has podcast capability, and I love that. I listen to quite a few podcasts. Everyone I know has an iPhone, but I won't get a smart phone because I want to pay attention to the world when I'm out and about. Can't stand how everyone has their heads bent down, looking at a piece of glass and plastic when there are people and a whole world around them.
Thank you for this reply, Natalie. You are preaching to the choir. I too really hate seeing all the bowed heads (and I include myself in that condemnation). I deeply, deeply resent my phone and how these devices have trapped us all. I am really trying to break free.
I just finished the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It's very good, and you might find it helpful. Though I don't use a smartphone, I find myself on my desktop way too much. I think this book will help me break free of the addiction.
Yes, I tend to justify the use of my desktop as a necessary evil for doing my job. It's still a distraction and time suck and I would love to exercise some discipline over my casual use of it. Before the internet I used to read several books a week - I literally could not be found without a book in my purse or in my car which I would read when I had to wait anywhere or for anything. I even took books on my walks when my kids were portable (one in a front back, one in a back pack and a book in my hands). I have lost focus with increased internet use and electronic media consumption.
I couldn't agree with you more. I used to read a lot of books and listen to music. I homeschooled my kids before computers were very important and founded a homeschooling support group without benefit of the Internet--just on word of mouth and using the telephone. Now I look back and am so glad there was no Internet because I probably wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much. I don't do any social media and everything I look at is worthwhile--like Coffee and COVID!--but it's just too much. I spend too much of my day reading Substacks or listening to podcasts, and COVID really ramped that up. I have to start picking and choosing which online resources to use and spend more of my time doing activities that used to mean something to me, like reading, playing the piano, gardening, etc. I do still take books with me when I go out to a doctor's appointment or some place where I'll have to wait because I don't have a phone to occupy my time, so that's at least a plus.
Oh my goodness, yes!! I have the same story. Covid really exacerbated my growing overuse of the internet, for sure. And I used to be SO productive (having five kids gave me no choice - I ran my house like a boot camp). But now that most of them are out of the house and I have more unstructured time, my first go-to activity is to check out what's happening on-line even though I could read, garden, play my cello (which I started learning during Covid) and reclaim just good old-fashion leisure time NOT in front of a screen. Everyone's comments are encouraging me though because I realize this is a universal lament and people have offered suggestions. Gosh, Coffee & Covid is great (and the one Substack I read without fail).
JUST DO IT, NAB!! It's not that difficult! Perhaps grab a carrot instead of the screen and say, "What's up, Doc", instead! LOL!!
I'm trying, SBE, I'm trying!
Grab your CARROT stick, NAB!! NOW!!!
Here's a YouTube video about the bowed heads permanently stuck on Social Media: https://youtu.be/QugooaNRnsk
It's extremely good.
Gads...the idiots at the gym! They can’t put their damn phones down, so they’ll do a set, sit on the machine and look at their phone for many minutes, then maybe do another set...
I am ready to KILL.
Yes, this video is extremely good; B&W makes it even more morose. When the documentary Social Network came out I saw it 3 times in 1 week. I couldn't believe what I thought I was seeing and had to make sure. lol! I never signed up for FB as it was created/stolen out of pure jealousy and greed.
https://archive.org/details/podcast_giant-geek-vs-mega-n00b_the-social-network-2010_1000383559241
The Social Dilemma is another profound documentary featuring the CEOs of Big Tech: https://archive.org/details/the.-social.-dilemma.-2020.1080p.-webrip.x-264.-aac-5.1-yts.-mx
If you like to learn the 'old-school' way by reading a hard copy book I recommend: Nicholas Carr's The Shallows - What The Internet is Doing to Our Brains (2011).
For the effect of technology (our cell phones!) on our cells: Resonance - Beings of Frequency is my favorite:
https://vimeo.com/54189727
Read The Shallows 10 years ago and apparently I need to revisit it :) Thanks to all for the encouraging comments.
The Social Dilemma is sobering and enlightening. I recognize so much of what it demonstrated active in my life and the life of my children.
The Shallows is excellent!
Thank you. I haven't seen / read any of those, but I darn sure will now.
I'm with you on the "dumb"phone--that's what I've called them from the start because people are surely getting "dumber" and "dumber" by grasping onto that "small screen" 24/7. I swear as time goes by--people will be PERMANENTLY connected to their "device".
And that is how they'll sell the implanted chips or AR Goggles--"Remember how silly we were (shots of bowed heads, tangled earphone cords, dropped airpods, people trying to do things but can't b/c they lack a free hand b/c it's got a cellphone in it), what a hassle it all was? Finally--(shots of vapid smiling people, hugging, shopping, nurturing their children, swiping their hands over scanners at Whole Foods) true freedom, true connectedness is available! (shots of little glowing pulse between thumb and index finger, or back of neck, or top of head). Don't be a Luddite (shot of person tangled in wire, ALONE)--get neuralink!"
Yeppir - and it's coming at nano-speed and the sheeple will EAT IT whole"heart"edly!!
.... by design.... part of the transhumanist agenda.
I wanted to like it. But honestly, the LCD screen makes it damn near impossible to type. You can do the voice-to-text feature, but you have to keep your texts super short to be able to go back and correct the errors (which are many.)
I don't think I would buy it again
My sister-in-law gave us one of those Amazon/Google things. I told him absolutely not. He thought I was crazy, but, about a year later, all of that stuff came out about them listening in. We still have it unplugged, uncharged, in its box, somewhere in the house. I’d be happy to dump it.