Is leaving the internet the end goal?

[SomaSpice]

Since I've joined the agora, my internet usage has decreased dramatically. I mean, I stopped using instagram, facebook, and twitter 5 years ago or so, but now I barely even use youtube or discord. I log onto the agora whenever I take a break from work and hang out a few minutes at a time. Even now I'm getting into the habit of leaving my smartphone in the car whenever I go somewhere, as that thing has the habit of demanding your attention some way or another.

Since implementing those changes I've noticed I'm happier and calmer, it seems like before my mind couldn't take a proper break and wind down. I'm still planning on leveraging the internet to make money, but maybe the end game is to use it as little as possible? What do you guys think?

 

[Monseigneur Humilité]

Since I've joined the agora, my internet usage has decreased dramatically. I mean, I stopped using instagram, facebook, and twitter 5 years ago or so, but now I barely even use youtube or discord. I log onto the agora whenever I take a break from work and hang out a few minutes at a time. Even now I'm getting into the habit of leaving my smartphone in the car whenever I go somewhere, as that thing has the habit of demanding your attention some way or another.

Since implementing those changes I've noticed I'm happier and calmer, it seems like before my mind couldn't take a proper break and wind down. I'm still planning on leveraging the internet to make money, but maybe the end game is to use it as little as possible? What do you guys think?

I think what tangles us up is not the Internet as a human invented technology, as it is a great improvement in our intercommunication. What makes it a bad experience is the manner it is being used in. Nowadays there are only small portions of it that can actually charge up your batteries instead of psychologically draining you and breaking you if you let your guard down. Weather the change of information and connection establishment between two people is a goal in itself, or it is a pretentious process generating endless resource for third parties who don't actually care about you - it makes a HUGE difference. A "closer to being true" version of self-care includes achieving the mental capability to realise others' intent of using you in an indirect way and without your actual consent, while using that knowledge for countermeasure.

 

[ZinRicky]

The Internet was intended to be used as a library, not as a mall. You go to the library when you need something, and you'll find what you need within some hours (often some seconds). The social (not "social media", but social verbatim) aspect should follow this principle, in my opinion

 

[IlluminatiPirate]

Since I've joined the agora, my internet usage has decreased dramatically. I mean, I stopped using instagram, facebook, and twitter 5 years ago or so, but now I barely even use youtube or discord. I log onto the agora whenever I take a break from work and hang out a few minutes at a time. Even now I'm getting into the habit of leaving my smartphone in the car whenever I go somewhere, as that thing has the habit of demanding your attention some way or another.

Since implementing those changes I've noticed I'm happier and calmer, it seems like before my mind couldn't take a proper break and wind down. I'm still planning on leveraging the internet to make money, but maybe the end game is to use it as little as possible? What do you guys think?

I think it is and I think Agora Road is the last step to get off the internet. I've been taking a break from this place like many others and I'm enjoying life. Don't get me wrong I will still manage the Road and do updates and community events but Real Life is so much better.

 

[SomaSpice]

I think it is and I think Agora Road is the last step to get off the internet. I've been taking a break from this place like many others and I'm enjoying life. Don't get me wrong I will still manage the Road and do updates and community events but Real Life is so much better.

You could say it is the light at the end of the road?

 

[夢遊病者]

100%. The internet now is a shadow of its former self, carefully designed to drain your energy at cost of your mental health to keep your attention. You could say the internet "grew up" into something corrupted. It's just not worth it to follow current social media anymore. And even if you recognize it, breaking out of the cycle is extremely challenging, especially when you want to stay in-touch with distant friends. It's just so cruel.
That's why I think most of us are here on Agora, to escape that hell, but also to reminiscine about the better times. And we've changed, too.
We are in the endgame now, and hopefully the future will allow us to continue living a life where we can healthily balance real life and the (still) good parts of the internet.
I'm glad to hear that people here share this. Cheers.

 

[DonRamon131]

yep. Ideally I don't want anything to do with internet. Still use >reddit though which imo is as harmful as any other social media so im working on leaving it along with youtube. There's so much content out there and majority of it is low quality that is not worth watching. the internet has served me by providing a place in which i feel comfortable, but lately i've kind of changed mindsets and no longer think the comfort zone is the ideal place to be if i want to grow as a person. the internet is still a great tool for learning, and i believe that is its virtue, but entertainment-wise we must put a limit to it.

 

[s0ren]

I'm not sure if zero usage is the endgame but generally when it comes to habits, activities, and just generally investing time in things, the right balance is to spend less time but get higher quality experiences out of it IMO. So a decreased use of internet but of higher quality than doom-scrolling through Twitter looking at shitposts is the right path. It doesn't mean you'll reach zero usage though. I was a lot happier when I started playing games a lot less but aiming for more fulfilling experiences than sitting around playing 12 hour sessions of WoW or Dota when I was younger. Similarly, I spend much less time hanging out with friends but what I've whittled it down to is much more enjoyable instead of spending time with lots of people I barely tolerated in college. Moderation is key, I think Aristotle would agree.

 

[Rikstah]

Since I've joined the agora, my internet usage has decreased dramatically. I mean, I stopped using instagram, facebook, and twitter 5 years ago or so, but now I barely even use youtube or discord. I log onto the agora whenever I take a break from work and hang out a few minutes at a time. Even now I'm getting into the habit of leaving my smartphone in the car whenever I go somewhere, as that thing has the habit of demanding your attention some way or another.

Since implementing those changes I've noticed I'm happier and calmer, it seems like before my mind couldn't take a proper break and wind down. I'm still planning on leveraging the internet to make money, but maybe the end game is to use it as little as possible? What do you guys think?

This is 100% what people should be aiming for.

The internet is a tool, you use it for specific purposes, its not a life or a lifestyle.

 

[Deleted member 3578]

Everytime I'm on the bus and someone's card doesn't scan/swipe right, the robot bus lady voice says "PLEASE TOUCH CARD AGAIN" and I hear "PLEASE TOUCH GRASS AGAIN" and I smile a little in my soul.

I am excited for a spring of walking, smoking weed, getting fit and maybe even reading some books. I still use social media, and even a lil more lately - but mostly cuz I like attention and being funny. The friends I have on platforms are just cool benefits.

 

[Deleted member 3578]

Also, cool shit Soma! Ganbate baby!

 

[SentFromMyMinitel]

I like that library analogy and think it's more or less correct.

I've done a lot to decrease my screentime alongside giving up booze in the last year and both have been really beneficial. Cal Newport's book Digital Minimalism is great on this stuff by the way. I've realised that the aesthetic and era we all collectively conjure here very much relates not just to a look or feel or even ownership structure of the internet- but most especially to a pattern of its use.

When I laughed at the Rick Astley music video on TV back in the aughts and had to explain to my father it was "something from the internet" I truly meant "the internet" as a distinct space with its own culture and alloted times for interaction. Now that the internet is all pervasive and algorithmically curated and designed for limbic addiction this distinction is now meaningless. I think the aim in recovering a sense of the World Wide Weird is very closely related with a more limited, purposeful and intentional use of online space

 

[FalseReality]

Sometimes it gets to me that I haven't gome a day without a phone probably since 2011 when I was a kid getting my new phone. I'd say every other habit, addoction, hobby (or just action) I've at least had days off from being fed up or not thinking about it. It's like whenever I can find a reason to put my phone away for the day I remember some work shit I need to check my phone for.

A lot of that is bs though. I've been slowly deleting apps off my phone. Also been considering moving to an £18 Nokia (maybe cheaper if I can find) where I can only use whatsapp reasonably at most. Maybe I'll wait for this phone to die, it has a million cracks and more keep appearing out of nowhere or maybe one day I'll feel angry or motivated enough to change it. Gonna log off of >reddit and YouTube (already deleted the app anyway). Try to reduce algorithms deciding things for me. And YouTube comments are a validation too. Wow inspiration video I wonder it other people got the same message I did so I know it's right because I can't decide for myself.

 

[Aral]

Maybe not get rid of it entirely per se, but at least not make it a way of life anymore. I don't want to spend my life on my laptop. Already spent my whole teen years on it. For a while it was so bad I would literally bring it everywhere. It was ridiculous, like a teen with their phone but with a huge ass laptop instead lmfaooo

I'm starting to consider either buying a tablet with a screen for drawing or simply going back to traditional art, although digital is more versatile. Might just do both. Posting my art on the internet, especially given how I allow myself more and more to draw my deepest secrets, makes me increasingly uncomfortable. I'm thinking of resuming my studies, go abroad and meet people offline, and tbh, if I had a social life outside my own home, with people I actually care about and want to spend time with, I'd not be as online as I am now. The internet is very useful for writing and learning languages, because I write in a language (soon, two) that are not my native and I still need dictionaries, verifying with translators, maybe looking up stuff. I don't plan on getting rid of it entirely, but rather make it go back to being a tool.

It's already MUCH better without all the mainstream social media. For youtube, well, I use invidious as a front end alt and I often find myself having no idea what to put as background noise, because I have no account and nothing is curated specifically for me. The invidious interface is also very plain, it takes off the addictive design. I have to think of something and then look for it, but I don't always have that idea so I just end up putting some music. I sometimes read >reddit posts when it answers a question of mine, but if I were to use >reddit for something, it would be, idk, for those nosleep stories or something. No fucking way I'm ever touching instagram or facebook again, deleted these in early 2020 iirc, maybe late 2019, and never looked back. I hardly open my VK account anymore ever since I deleted my art page on there... and I have no withdrawal. I only look at it for very specific publications that I may need for my writing, but that's it. And that's hardly ever.

If I do end up going back to college, I think I could possibly perform better than many students simply because I'm not wasting my time on that shit.

 

[Jessica3cho雪血⊜青意]

I think the internet is an extremely powerful tool. I think we can all benefit from the internet. I don't think we should approach the world through the lense of the internet. Just like any other tool, we should use the internet to aid us, not complete us. I hate to say the age old adage, but... "When your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail". There are parts of the internet meant to suck you in, steal your time, attention, livelihood. We need to be smart about using the internet, just like we need to be smart about walking into a Casino. And if you can't handle the temptation of gambling, maybe stay away from the Casino.

A lot of my work and hobbies require spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen, so by proxy I have Youtube and Agora open a lot. Outside of that, though, I don't use the internet much unless I'm looking for a manual/guide/instructions or material I can use in my work/hobbies. You'll even notice I typically go radio silent on the weekend.

I think there's a place for the internet, but maybe minimizing it as much as possible really is the end goal. All things in moderation.

 

[Moon-Watcher777]

I think it is and I think Agora Road is the last step to get off the internet. I've been taking a break from this place like many others and I'm enjoying life. Don't get me wrong I will still manage the Road and do updates and community events but Real Life is so much better.

This hit me. making me feel some kinda way.

 

[Jill Stingray]

Always wonder how far off the internet I should go. 2020-mid 2021 I nuked all socials and was living alone which was great for my personal development. I got back on Instagram around July last year and have kept it pretty private but I still get the urge to nuke it. Honestly don't have a reason to be using it still. I've also considered fully degoogling and getting rid of it all but idk if that's just me becoming a full hermit. This shit sucks, I just use Agora/other forums for my interests and discord, but it still feels like too much.

 

[Still a Youth]

i feel like this is probably why influencers hardly ever follow anyone. less internet means a happier life.

Since I've joined the agora, my internet usage has decreased dramatically. I mean, I stopped using instagram, facebook, and twitter 5 years ago or so, but now I barely even use youtube or discord. I log onto the agora whenever I take a break from work and hang out a few minutes at a time. Even now I'm getting into the habit of leaving my smartphone in the car whenever I go somewhere, as that thing has the habit of demanding your attention some way or another.

Since implementing those changes I've noticed I'm happier and calmer, it seems like before my mind couldn't take a proper break and wind down. I'm still planning on leveraging the internet to make money, but maybe the end game is to use it as little as possible? What do you guys think?

 

[shroomish]

It depends. I mean, there have been times in my life where I minimized just how good the Internet was for me; especially when I was living alone and wasn't really able to make friends IRL. I use to live in rural USA as a national service volunteer and wasn't really able to make the personal connections that I needed. I wish I didn't beat myself up about it at the time. It's okay to connect with people on social media or use Discord to try and make some friends. I did make a few friends off of /soc/ during the really hard times of my life, but I think people should just be careful not to get caught up in a bucket of crabs. I don't have Instagram installed on my phone right now but I still have an account. I imagine when I move again it will be really helpful for making connections. The thing is that you can't just expect people to make a huge effort to contact you. I have a friend who refuses to use social media at all and refuses to have a cell phone (he is a huge privacy nerd) which is fine, but I don't think he should expect people to make a huge effort to contact him by setting up PGP keys and alternative mail addresses and things like XMPP. Most people don't understand, I mean, you can express the importance of mass surveillance and privacy, but at the end of the day a lot of people don't have the mental resources to go through all the hoops. Cut them some slack.

 

[H1ssss]

Not for me, I want to be on the internet until I die.