Excellent!!! I agree with all the other awards as well ... so happy to see that the people I trust or distrust are in line with the Skeptics Society.
I also loved that I knew who they were talking about right away, even BEFORE saying who the award for NZ Skeptic of the year went to:
"But this year’s triumphs haven’t all been just about fighting back the fires of disinformation, far-right nationalism and extremism. One independent journalist has had a series of wins this year, uncovering, highlighting and successfully unseating the leadership of Arise church for their abusive behaviour of less senior church members - as well as pointing out serious issues with other religious organisations such as City Impact church, Bethlehem College and Hillsong. He’s also exposed some of the major issues with cryptocurrencies and NFTs, written a great summary of the Peter Ellis case and the craziness of the Satanic Panic, and detailed the daft fake stories about teenagers identifying as cats. Hence, we are pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Skeptic of the Year is David Farrier."
Also love that Sean Plunk-it got the "Bent Spoon" award for all the right reasons!
"I wasn’t thinking about Elon, or memes, or emails, whatever was doing the rounds online, or the multiple things that would usually take up space in my brain and make me angry, or happy, or otherwise. I was just alive."
Thanks Tony, a fantastic prompt - that's my Saturday sorted then. 🙌
When I no longer needed a smart phone for work (returned it in Oct 2013), I continued using a "dumb" phone for my private mobile number and I've never regretted it. Since then, I'm on my third "dumb" phone in 9 years - the second one had a faulty battery which wasn't replaceable so that one only lasted 18 months, unfortunately. My current "dumb" phone is a flip phone designed for older people so the buttons are huge. (I'm 46 so probably not the target consumer!) It is very robust so I don't care if I drop it. I love answering the phone by flipping it open and ending the call by closing it - it's a throwback to one of my earlier dumb phones from the mid-2000s. Texting is slow so I tend to call people instead of responding via text, which is received with pleasant surprise by some. It only has room for 300 texts so I need to keep up with deleting the essays some people send and all emojis are rectangles but those drawbacks are worth it to break my smart phone habit. I hated the feeling of being tethered to it, and I got very anxious about low battery. It was great to get rid of those negative feelings and bad habits and I have no regrets. I plan to always have a dumb phone - I can always ask others to Google stuff if I really have to know something and I people-watch instead of doom scrolling when out and about. It's great to only get phone noises that relate to texts or calls and I haven't heard phantom notifications for many years now, thank goodness.
I recommend this as a detox strategy for anyone who is concerned about their smart phone habits/behaviour.
I wasn't happy in 2013 and the first few months of 2014! It took me about 6 months to finally stop automatically reaching for my dumb phone to screen check. I was shocked by how I kept performing those constant checks all day every day for the first couple of months. Once I got through that (very difficult) period I felt so much better! I am definitely happier and I don't miss doom scrolling and constantly checking updates and notifications. I also managed to break myself of those habits on desktop/laptop computers as not being able to doom scroll on my phone helped me to recognise when I was doing it on other devices so I could actively choose to stop. I also switched off all notifications on all devices and I use a basic alarm on my dumb phone to remind myself to go to/leave/finish meetings. I am much calmer without the constant interruptions which makes me happier.
I have a collection of old dumb phones, most of them work. One of my favourites from early 2000's was my flip phone. It even has a little arial you can extend. Might consider reviving it out for a season and see how it feels.
I never had an external aerial on my dumb phones which I am grateful for retrospectively as it seems like something I would have had trouble keeping attached to my phone!
My all time favourite is my very first phone - I got the Nokia 3210 in mid-1999 which had an internal aerial. It came with multiple covers in different colours so I swapped out the boring grey one for grasshopper green and it lasted for years! I was heartbroken when the fourth replacement battery stopped working and Vodafone NZ told me the battery wasn't the problem and the phone couldn't be fixed...
Such a great adventure Tony! And what a magic time with the taxi drivers mum.
I traveled round the south island last summer, almost 4 weeks alone. And did a lot of walking in backcountry and places without internet service. It was so weird initially and, like you say, there was a constant feeling that you were missing something amazing or hilarious or terrible- that you definitely wanted to know about. But my takeaway was that I eventually felt so liberated from that I've never gone fully back. And I've become a strong supporter of aeroplane mode, even when I'm not on an aeroplane.
The impulsiveness worries me. I hate the idea im being controlled and influenced by a contrived habit and addiction orchestrated by marketing companies.
So I keep fighting. No notifications. Total bans on sites. Turning my phone off completely and hiding it under a couch cushion (I've been doing that every night for about 4 months and its been great). This newsletter has been an awesome shining light in the tsunami of shitty information out there.
I admire your courage and hope you find a balance you really like too.
That's so great to hear Beck! Good for you, wow. I did a lot of reflecting on just how long we've had these devices in our lives, no wonder they're hard to shake. And when you factor in control and advertising, as you say... not great. You've inspired me to work on my balance, thank you!
This resonates sooo much “...as much deep breathing as I did, as much conversation as I made with the incredibly friendly locals, I couldn’t fight the low-lying feeling of panic that kept creeping in. The feeling that I was missing out on something. “
I want to escape but also to stay connected - just in case. There’s always that feeling of ‘there’s more’ Abit like the grass is greener over there even while recognising how amazing the grass is right here and now.
That's exactly it, and kind of what I was trying to get at with reminiscing about internet cafes in Dublin - I'd be hanging out to get online, but then be disappointed once I was. That feeling of FOMO remains, but now so many basic aspects of our lives are intertwined with the internet. Like most things it's a question of balance I guess.
I travelled in the 1990s and remember that feeling of logging on to check email, couldn't wait, what was I missing, and then once I did it realizing a bit sheepishly that the anticipation was misplaced.
Dec 2, 2022·edited Dec 2, 2022Liked by David Farrier
I find that the accidental discoveries during travel are often far more valuable and memorable than the activities tediously planned and scheduled in advance. I try to leave plenty of time for "happy accidents".
I went to Latin America a number of times, all in the pre-cellphone era. The first time, the only way to call my family was to trek into town once a week, line up for a phone booth and connect to an operator for an expensive several-minute call. I long for my travelling days, a lot, and am resentful at my scrolling addiction but feel powerless to control it (except for our no-devices-in-the-bedroom rule). I now realize that being offline was important to my enjoyment of those trips. If I went now, with a mobile, I think it would be different, and I shudder at what I'd be sacrificing.
I had plenty of experiences like Tony had with the mother in her house. They are precious, and even more so now that I know how our daily and social world was destined to change.
Loved this piece. It made me reflect on my own relationship with the online world.
For many years, I've had the privilege to stay at my partner's beach front family land in Northland.
Cell coverage wasn't really a thing, when an uncle had a heart attack, someone had to drive to the top of the hill to call 111.
Once a year, we stay there and it has always felt like a detox.
A couple of years ago, a cell tower was built somewhere close by and now I have to make a conscious effort to turn off my phone. I'm fascinated by how much of a struggle this is. FOMO does play a part, but so does the reluctantence to be still and contented, despite the beauty of my surroundings.
That's such a great way to put it - 'a reluctance to be still and connected'. I struggled! Some friends of mine go on 10 day meditation retreats without phones to do a similar detox, but honestly I don't think I'd last a day.
This was a really lovely piece. It gave me a safe little haven in a stranger’s home in a quite earnest moment.
send your favorite Worm barista some good energy and/or some prayers. I’m knee deep in my work week and my store has gone to hell. No where else to go and nothing else I can do, but it just got worse.
And still, I’ll have that little garden haven to picture, and that solace means a lot to me.
It sounds like you are in the weeds of it, Kate. It's one feeling in life I hate the most - being cornered in a way. The way out is through, and all that shit. Thinking of you. It's not forever.
Great article Tony! Cuba is a fascinating conundrum in that it is ex-pats that appear to be the ones stopping the US govt from moving to a more normal relationship, which would greatly benefit the actual people of Cuba who are most affected by sanctions. Obama took the plunge because he didn't have to worry about electoral consequences - I have read some insights from people who were working on it, & another one of the egregious actions of the Drumpf administration was rolling this back.
On going offline - I well remember when the Christchurch earthquakes happened, people being in deep backcountry (tramping) & emerging to find their city in chaos, & home destroyed ... And more recently, emerging from their adventure to find the country in total COVID lockdown & being unable to travel home to anywhere else in NZ ... or further afield.
Yes, I like to keep up with what is happening on an armslength scale (US elections, mu$krat implosions, Ukraine survival fight, etc.) BUT I worry more about close to home information - natural disasters, relatives & friends & neighbours having accidents/getting ill - and emerging from the internet black hole to find out too late to help... It has happened often enough to make me think about being in cellph free coverage areas for days, but so far have some success in deciding that life will happen whether I know about it or not!
We forget how recent it is that we only had landlines, and when we travelled away from our HOUSE (let alone city, province, country ...) we were incommunicado unless we dialled in from a phone box! And no way of finding someone at the Mall if you got separated! And internet came via a lound squeal, a tiny memory capacity, and verrrry sloooowww downloads! We just dealt with being out of touch, and news only through once-a-day newsprint and/or radio hrly news, & TV news once a night ...
I wonder if the generations who have grown up with constant access have any change in resiliency? I'm sure someone is studying that!
My first trip to Europe I was reliant on pay phones! Things move quick huh. As I said in the piece, it was the pandemic that prompted Cuba to get everyone online (or so I was told) - your point about disasters etc is bang on.
And politically yeah you'll notice I avoided that stuff for the most part - I'm not an expert and it would take a whole other article - but the ex-pat aspect is sad, and your point about Obama bang on. The people I spoke to said they expect a similar thing from Biden at the end of his run - a token gesture that can be easily overturned. What was heartbreaking was hearing how things brightened for them for a brief time, and was then taken away. It completely screwed them, and four years later came the pandemic.
Whoops! Comment posted part way through so I deleted mid thought!
I agree re Biden - am hoping before his term ends we know that there is a Democratic president-elect, House & Senate majorities going into 2024, and that spurs them to act on Cuba. The way US works, if it is entrenched for 4 yrs businesses & communities won't allow a roll back - that is my hope, even though it is too far away. I love how Cuban Drs & medics etc. turn up all over the world to help poorer countries with emergencies - their system has had it's upsides...
Yes, all that was so recent! And if you made a plan to meet up you had to show - none of this shifting/not committing right up to the moment! I do wonder if it all serves us, but it's just where we are now isn't it.
Thanks Tony for the reminder to unplug every now and then.
(puts down phone, walks out the door to sniff the air)
The people are incredible huh. Every taxi ride I had finished with me shaking hands with the driver, there's a much thinner line between formality and friendship than I've ever experienced.
We stayed in casa the whole time we were there. My favorite family was in Cienfuegos - fresh fruit, a full cooked breakfast every morning, and the most beautiful views from the rooftop. Simple accommodations, but abundant love
Love this! Last time I had no internet for 3 weeks was when I was in Antarctica. I managed one satellite call to my fiancé, and in our 5-minute call he told me John Key had resigned, Austria had voted a Green President in, and Trump was getting impeached! I was so excited I burst into our shared common room and told all the other lady scientists the exciting news, only for one of them to give me an almighty dressing-down that I had "failed to seek her consent to be exposed to the real world"... that was an eye-opener as to how seriously some folks take their enforced time off the internet!
Thanks for the reminder Tony! Blimey we are so addicted to the internet aren’t we? How do you get the balance right between staying informed and connected to wonderful communities online (like this one for example), and consuming so much media that it consumes you? Genuine question - I’m interested in what people do. My fingers have their own little brains and I click on the social media icons on my phone and start scrolling without even thinking about it.
I feel like I need to exit Twitter soon. I waste about 30 minutes each morning just scrolling for no reason. No reason. I keep saying this, but find it hard to do in case I "miss" something.
Also - those braindead parts of the internet can be relaxing, in a weird way. I feel my brain goes to the same place scrolling twitter as it does watching a bad reality show. Maybe that's OK. Maybe it's not. And maybe it's doing way more damage than a bad reality show, I just don't realise it.
Ahh Twitter! Elon Musk pushed me over the edge and I left a couple of weeks ago. The FOMO is real, but I’m more addicted to Instagram and can’t see myself exiting that world anytime soon (or ever). Where would I get my memes from....
I do think about the long term impact that constant stimulation has on my brain. I’m pretty sure my attention span is getting shorter by the day!
Your Cuban experience sounds quite lovely, Tony, despite it not being exactly as you had foreseen, but then, isn't that what life does anyway?
The old "people staring at their phones" thing makes me a bit sad. I've seen small children talking to their phone-engrossed parents and of course, getting no answers; I've also seen very small children, far too small to be doing this, spooling through hand-held devices instead of looking around them, as they're wheeled through city streets in their pushchairs, pushed by phone-gazing Mum or Dad. Life passes by, while "life" on the internet takes all the attention.
Time to blurt out some unrelated news. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2211/S00237/nz-skeptics-bravo-and-bent-spoon-awards-2022.htm. NZ Skeptic of the year: David Farrier in contrast to the Bent Spoon award to Sean Plonker.
Congratulations David!
Thanks! I got $250 which I will be passing onto Rainbow Youth. Income from Webworm keeps me afloat in journo land - excess money will go to RY!
Excellent!!! I agree with all the other awards as well ... so happy to see that the people I trust or distrust are in line with the Skeptics Society.
I also loved that I knew who they were talking about right away, even BEFORE saying who the award for NZ Skeptic of the year went to:
"But this year’s triumphs haven’t all been just about fighting back the fires of disinformation, far-right nationalism and extremism. One independent journalist has had a series of wins this year, uncovering, highlighting and successfully unseating the leadership of Arise church for their abusive behaviour of less senior church members - as well as pointing out serious issues with other religious organisations such as City Impact church, Bethlehem College and Hillsong. He’s also exposed some of the major issues with cryptocurrencies and NFTs, written a great summary of the Peter Ellis case and the craziness of the Satanic Panic, and detailed the daft fake stories about teenagers identifying as cats. Hence, we are pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Skeptic of the Year is David Farrier."
Also love that Sean Plunk-it got the "Bent Spoon" award for all the right reasons!
Yes! Hooray for David! 🤩
I really love your screenname and avatar.
❤️ Love you too ❤️
"I wasn’t thinking about Elon, or memes, or emails, whatever was doing the rounds online, or the multiple things that would usually take up space in my brain and make me angry, or happy, or otherwise. I was just alive."
Thanks Tony, a fantastic prompt - that's my Saturday sorted then. 🙌
When I no longer needed a smart phone for work (returned it in Oct 2013), I continued using a "dumb" phone for my private mobile number and I've never regretted it. Since then, I'm on my third "dumb" phone in 9 years - the second one had a faulty battery which wasn't replaceable so that one only lasted 18 months, unfortunately. My current "dumb" phone is a flip phone designed for older people so the buttons are huge. (I'm 46 so probably not the target consumer!) It is very robust so I don't care if I drop it. I love answering the phone by flipping it open and ending the call by closing it - it's a throwback to one of my earlier dumb phones from the mid-2000s. Texting is slow so I tend to call people instead of responding via text, which is received with pleasant surprise by some. It only has room for 300 texts so I need to keep up with deleting the essays some people send and all emojis are rectangles but those drawbacks are worth it to break my smart phone habit. I hated the feeling of being tethered to it, and I got very anxious about low battery. It was great to get rid of those negative feelings and bad habits and I have no regrets. I plan to always have a dumb phone - I can always ask others to Google stuff if I really have to know something and I people-watch instead of doom scrolling when out and about. It's great to only get phone noises that relate to texts or calls and I haven't heard phantom notifications for many years now, thank goodness.
I recommend this as a detox strategy for anyone who is concerned about their smart phone habits/behaviour.
I have a few friends who've adopted this strategy and they all seem happier for it.
I wasn't happy in 2013 and the first few months of 2014! It took me about 6 months to finally stop automatically reaching for my dumb phone to screen check. I was shocked by how I kept performing those constant checks all day every day for the first couple of months. Once I got through that (very difficult) period I felt so much better! I am definitely happier and I don't miss doom scrolling and constantly checking updates and notifications. I also managed to break myself of those habits on desktop/laptop computers as not being able to doom scroll on my phone helped me to recognise when I was doing it on other devices so I could actively choose to stop. I also switched off all notifications on all devices and I use a basic alarm on my dumb phone to remind myself to go to/leave/finish meetings. I am much calmer without the constant interruptions which makes me happier.
I have a collection of old dumb phones, most of them work. One of my favourites from early 2000's was my flip phone. It even has a little arial you can extend. Might consider reviving it out for a season and see how it feels.
100% recommend!
I never had an external aerial on my dumb phones which I am grateful for retrospectively as it seems like something I would have had trouble keeping attached to my phone!
My all time favourite is my very first phone - I got the Nokia 3210 in mid-1999 which had an internal aerial. It came with multiple covers in different colours so I swapped out the boring grey one for grasshopper green and it lasted for years! I was heartbroken when the fourth replacement battery stopped working and Vodafone NZ told me the battery wasn't the problem and the phone couldn't be fixed...
Such a great adventure Tony! And what a magic time with the taxi drivers mum.
I traveled round the south island last summer, almost 4 weeks alone. And did a lot of walking in backcountry and places without internet service. It was so weird initially and, like you say, there was a constant feeling that you were missing something amazing or hilarious or terrible- that you definitely wanted to know about. But my takeaway was that I eventually felt so liberated from that I've never gone fully back. And I've become a strong supporter of aeroplane mode, even when I'm not on an aeroplane.
The impulsiveness worries me. I hate the idea im being controlled and influenced by a contrived habit and addiction orchestrated by marketing companies.
So I keep fighting. No notifications. Total bans on sites. Turning my phone off completely and hiding it under a couch cushion (I've been doing that every night for about 4 months and its been great). This newsletter has been an awesome shining light in the tsunami of shitty information out there.
I admire your courage and hope you find a balance you really like too.
Thank you!
That's so great to hear Beck! Good for you, wow. I did a lot of reflecting on just how long we've had these devices in our lives, no wonder they're hard to shake. And when you factor in control and advertising, as you say... not great. You've inspired me to work on my balance, thank you!
This resonates sooo much “...as much deep breathing as I did, as much conversation as I made with the incredibly friendly locals, I couldn’t fight the low-lying feeling of panic that kept creeping in. The feeling that I was missing out on something. “
I want to escape but also to stay connected - just in case. There’s always that feeling of ‘there’s more’ Abit like the grass is greener over there even while recognising how amazing the grass is right here and now.
That's exactly it, and kind of what I was trying to get at with reminiscing about internet cafes in Dublin - I'd be hanging out to get online, but then be disappointed once I was. That feeling of FOMO remains, but now so many basic aspects of our lives are intertwined with the internet. Like most things it's a question of balance I guess.
I travelled in the 1990s and remember that feeling of logging on to check email, couldn't wait, what was I missing, and then once I did it realizing a bit sheepishly that the anticipation was misplaced.
I find that the accidental discoveries during travel are often far more valuable and memorable than the activities tediously planned and scheduled in advance. I try to leave plenty of time for "happy accidents".
100% best way to travel! Plan a bit, but never too much.
Same! It’s challenging and saddening and maddening and inspiring and beautiful and generous all wrapped up in a tiny isle. Happy planning!
I went to Latin America a number of times, all in the pre-cellphone era. The first time, the only way to call my family was to trek into town once a week, line up for a phone booth and connect to an operator for an expensive several-minute call. I long for my travelling days, a lot, and am resentful at my scrolling addiction but feel powerless to control it (except for our no-devices-in-the-bedroom rule). I now realize that being offline was important to my enjoyment of those trips. If I went now, with a mobile, I think it would be different, and I shudder at what I'd be sacrificing.
I had plenty of experiences like Tony had with the mother in her house. They are precious, and even more so now that I know how our daily and social world was destined to change.
Loved this piece. It made me reflect on my own relationship with the online world.
For many years, I've had the privilege to stay at my partner's beach front family land in Northland.
Cell coverage wasn't really a thing, when an uncle had a heart attack, someone had to drive to the top of the hill to call 111.
Once a year, we stay there and it has always felt like a detox.
A couple of years ago, a cell tower was built somewhere close by and now I have to make a conscious effort to turn off my phone. I'm fascinated by how much of a struggle this is. FOMO does play a part, but so does the reluctantence to be still and contented, despite the beauty of my surroundings.
I think my happiest holiday was in Rarotonga where we had no cell reception or internet. Knowing it was impossible to get made it easy to disconnect.
That's such a great way to put it - 'a reluctance to be still and connected'. I struggled! Some friends of mine go on 10 day meditation retreats without phones to do a similar detox, but honestly I don't think I'd last a day.
This was a really lovely piece. It gave me a safe little haven in a stranger’s home in a quite earnest moment.
send your favorite Worm barista some good energy and/or some prayers. I’m knee deep in my work week and my store has gone to hell. No where else to go and nothing else I can do, but it just got worse.
And still, I’ll have that little garden haven to picture, and that solace means a lot to me.
It sounds like you are in the weeds of it, Kate. It's one feeling in life I hate the most - being cornered in a way. The way out is through, and all that shit. Thinking of you. It's not forever.
Kate, I 'm so touched that my story gave you a moment of peace during a tough time. Kia kaha, stay strong. Remember the garden. This too shall pass.
Great article Tony! Cuba is a fascinating conundrum in that it is ex-pats that appear to be the ones stopping the US govt from moving to a more normal relationship, which would greatly benefit the actual people of Cuba who are most affected by sanctions. Obama took the plunge because he didn't have to worry about electoral consequences - I have read some insights from people who were working on it, & another one of the egregious actions of the Drumpf administration was rolling this back.
On going offline - I well remember when the Christchurch earthquakes happened, people being in deep backcountry (tramping) & emerging to find their city in chaos, & home destroyed ... And more recently, emerging from their adventure to find the country in total COVID lockdown & being unable to travel home to anywhere else in NZ ... or further afield.
Yes, I like to keep up with what is happening on an armslength scale (US elections, mu$krat implosions, Ukraine survival fight, etc.) BUT I worry more about close to home information - natural disasters, relatives & friends & neighbours having accidents/getting ill - and emerging from the internet black hole to find out too late to help... It has happened often enough to make me think about being in cellph free coverage areas for days, but so far have some success in deciding that life will happen whether I know about it or not!
We forget how recent it is that we only had landlines, and when we travelled away from our HOUSE (let alone city, province, country ...) we were incommunicado unless we dialled in from a phone box! And no way of finding someone at the Mall if you got separated! And internet came via a lound squeal, a tiny memory capacity, and verrrry sloooowww downloads! We just dealt with being out of touch, and news only through once-a-day newsprint and/or radio hrly news, & TV news once a night ...
I wonder if the generations who have grown up with constant access have any change in resiliency? I'm sure someone is studying that!
Mu$krat lol...
My first trip to Europe I was reliant on pay phones! Things move quick huh. As I said in the piece, it was the pandemic that prompted Cuba to get everyone online (or so I was told) - your point about disasters etc is bang on.
And politically yeah you'll notice I avoided that stuff for the most part - I'm not an expert and it would take a whole other article - but the ex-pat aspect is sad, and your point about Obama bang on. The people I spoke to said they expect a similar thing from Biden at the end of his run - a token gesture that can be easily overturned. What was heartbreaking was hearing how things brightened for them for a brief time, and was then taken away. It completely screwed them, and four years later came the pandemic.
Whoops! Comment posted part way through so I deleted mid thought!
I agree re Biden - am hoping before his term ends we know that there is a Democratic president-elect, House & Senate majorities going into 2024, and that spurs them to act on Cuba. The way US works, if it is entrenched for 4 yrs businesses & communities won't allow a roll back - that is my hope, even though it is too far away. I love how Cuban Drs & medics etc. turn up all over the world to help poorer countries with emergencies - their system has had it's upsides...
Yes, all that was so recent! And if you made a plan to meet up you had to show - none of this shifting/not committing right up to the moment! I do wonder if it all serves us, but it's just where we are now isn't it.
Thanks Tony for the reminder to unplug every now and then.
(puts down phone, walks out the door to sniff the air)
I plan on touching some grass today.
What sort of grass Tony
*snicker*
My 10 days in Cuba in 2017 is still one of my favorites. The people were awesome, the pace was relaxed, and the lack of internet was delightful
The people are incredible huh. Every taxi ride I had finished with me shaking hands with the driver, there's a much thinner line between formality and friendship than I've ever experienced.
We stayed in casa the whole time we were there. My favorite family was in Cienfuegos - fresh fruit, a full cooked breakfast every morning, and the most beautiful views from the rooftop. Simple accommodations, but abundant love
Love this! Last time I had no internet for 3 weeks was when I was in Antarctica. I managed one satellite call to my fiancé, and in our 5-minute call he told me John Key had resigned, Austria had voted a Green President in, and Trump was getting impeached! I was so excited I burst into our shared common room and told all the other lady scientists the exciting news, only for one of them to give me an almighty dressing-down that I had "failed to seek her consent to be exposed to the real world"... that was an eye-opener as to how seriously some folks take their enforced time off the internet!
Thanks for the reminder Tony! Blimey we are so addicted to the internet aren’t we? How do you get the balance right between staying informed and connected to wonderful communities online (like this one for example), and consuming so much media that it consumes you? Genuine question - I’m interested in what people do. My fingers have their own little brains and I click on the social media icons on my phone and start scrolling without even thinking about it.
I feel like I need to exit Twitter soon. I waste about 30 minutes each morning just scrolling for no reason. No reason. I keep saying this, but find it hard to do in case I "miss" something.
Also - those braindead parts of the internet can be relaxing, in a weird way. I feel my brain goes to the same place scrolling twitter as it does watching a bad reality show. Maybe that's OK. Maybe it's not. And maybe it's doing way more damage than a bad reality show, I just don't realise it.
Ahh Twitter! Elon Musk pushed me over the edge and I left a couple of weeks ago. The FOMO is real, but I’m more addicted to Instagram and can’t see myself exiting that world anytime soon (or ever). Where would I get my memes from....
I do think about the long term impact that constant stimulation has on my brain. I’m pretty sure my attention span is getting shorter by the day!
I wonder if there are internet addict support groups or courses on how to reduce screen time. Seems like it could be a growth industry.
Internet addict support groups on the internet 🤣
Yes I'm sure there are. I've heard about these.
Drink mango juice and coffee, eat yellow gooseberries and don't think about Elon. Sage advice for our times.
Also, I love the light standards (if that is what they are) in the photo of central Havana :)
You know I hadn't even noticed that, and yes that's what it is.
Your Cuban experience sounds quite lovely, Tony, despite it not being exactly as you had foreseen, but then, isn't that what life does anyway?
The old "people staring at their phones" thing makes me a bit sad. I've seen small children talking to their phone-engrossed parents and of course, getting no answers; I've also seen very small children, far too small to be doing this, spooling through hand-held devices instead of looking around them, as they're wheeled through city streets in their pushchairs, pushed by phone-gazing Mum or Dad. Life passes by, while "life" on the internet takes all the attention.
When I arrived I hadn't expected cell phones to be common at all. Day one was like 'hang on...'