Topic: Pressure and distraction of modern tech
+Anonymous A — 1.6 year ago #64,772
I bet many of us feel a sense of being under pressure when using technology (computers, laptops, mobile phones), even without any explicit external demands (no one's there directly telling you what to do, or expecting anything from you). We keep saying that we miss the good old days when ‘life was simpler and less distracting’…
Are we always comparing ourselves with other people's accomplishments along with their subjective opinions leading us to feel inadequate and inferior, that we're not keeping up with the latest trends and techniques? That we can never be good enough, that we'd rather not share our own stuff, to talk about ourselves, or even think about doing it in the first place and end up being stuck in a rut?
This perfectionism can create a lot of pressure and make it hard to take risks or try new things, to worry that our work isn't good enough, or that we're not talented enough to succeed.
There's also this shift towards a culture of commodification on most social media platforms. Everything is monetized, optimized for user engagement, and reduced to its most basic, consumable form. Which has given rise to clickbait, content farming, product reviews, rage bait, nihilistic essays, doomerism, and brain rot content, that preys on our natural tendencies towards curiosity and fear through sensationalism, and our desire for quick hits of dopamine which has resulted in a culture that values shallow and superficial content over depth and substance. Moreover, the algorithms used by social media platforms and search engines can also contribute to cultural hegemony, thus a lack of individuality and originality, where everything starts to look and sound the same, as whatever that aligns with these norms is more likely to be promoted and shared.
It's a huge time sink, it's so easy to get lost in this endless stream of content and useless information that's available right at our fingertips. Before you know it, hours have passed and you've accomplished absolutely nothing yet again, which happens to be every day. It's hard to focus on the things that really matter.
When we're feeling lonely or bored, we turn to our devices for comfort. We browse social media, listen to music, watch videos, read articles, anything to fill in the void of human connection, showing us suggestions which are tailored to our personal interests and preferences that's designed to keep you staying on their platform for as long as possible, constantly seeking out new information and stimulation for the sake of escapism, to improve ourselves, but to never feel truly satisfied or fulfilled.
Multitasking might also seem like a great way to get more things done in less time, but in reality, it can actually make us less productive and more likely to be stressed out. When we try to do too many things at once, our brains have to constantly switch between tasks, which can be exhausting and lead to mistakes (forgetting specific details we had in mind). Plus, it's hard to fully focus on any one thing when we're constantly being pulled in different directions. Another issue is that it can lead to a never-ending cycle of abandoned to-do lists where you often end up starting multiple tasks but never actually finishing any of them. Furthermore, when we constantly switch between tasks, it can be difficult to remember where we left off or what we were supposed to do next, thus wasting all your time and energy as you try to figure out what the fuck you weresmoking… working on and where you're supposed to pick up.
Another issue that contributes to feelings of pressure is closed ecosystems; some apps and services deliberately make it difficult to export your own data or use it in other ways, which can make it hard to switch to a different app or service. When a service, website or platform that you've been relying on (for years) announces that it will soon be shutting down (please fucking stop doing this shit, I don't want them permanently gone, also a reason why FOSS is the best choice when it comes to EOL), it can be a major source of stress and pressure. Some services even have policies that allow them to delete your data if it is deemed offensive or inappropriate, even if it's important to you. If these are synced across devices or stored in the cloud, there is a risk that they could be deleted without your knowledge or consent (this happens to bookmarks for example).
I guess that's what I have to say, we don't have to let tech giants control us.
What about you, anons? Have you noticed this constant pressure? Do you feel like you have enough time and you can concentrate? Did you do way better when you were younger?
Are we always comparing ourselves with other people's accomplishments along with their subjective opinions leading us to feel inadequate and inferior, that we're not keeping up with the latest trends and techniques? That we can never be good enough, that we'd rather not share our own stuff, to talk about ourselves, or even think about doing it in the first place and end up being stuck in a rut?
This perfectionism can create a lot of pressure and make it hard to take risks or try new things, to worry that our work isn't good enough, or that we're not talented enough to succeed.
There's also this shift towards a culture of commodification on most social media platforms. Everything is monetized, optimized for user engagement, and reduced to its most basic, consumable form. Which has given rise to clickbait, content farming, product reviews, rage bait, nihilistic essays, doomerism, and brain rot content, that preys on our natural tendencies towards curiosity and fear through sensationalism, and our desire for quick hits of dopamine which has resulted in a culture that values shallow and superficial content over depth and substance. Moreover, the algorithms used by social media platforms and search engines can also contribute to cultural hegemony, thus a lack of individuality and originality, where everything starts to look and sound the same, as whatever that aligns with these norms is more likely to be promoted and shared.
It's a huge time sink, it's so easy to get lost in this endless stream of content and useless information that's available right at our fingertips. Before you know it, hours have passed and you've accomplished absolutely nothing yet again, which happens to be every day. It's hard to focus on the things that really matter.
When we're feeling lonely or bored, we turn to our devices for comfort. We browse social media, listen to music, watch videos, read articles, anything to fill in the void of human connection, showing us suggestions which are tailored to our personal interests and preferences that's designed to keep you staying on their platform for as long as possible, constantly seeking out new information and stimulation for the sake of escapism, to improve ourselves, but to never feel truly satisfied or fulfilled.
Multitasking might also seem like a great way to get more things done in less time, but in reality, it can actually make us less productive and more likely to be stressed out. When we try to do too many things at once, our brains have to constantly switch between tasks, which can be exhausting and lead to mistakes (forgetting specific details we had in mind). Plus, it's hard to fully focus on any one thing when we're constantly being pulled in different directions. Another issue is that it can lead to a never-ending cycle of abandoned to-do lists where you often end up starting multiple tasks but never actually finishing any of them. Furthermore, when we constantly switch between tasks, it can be difficult to remember where we left off or what we were supposed to do next, thus wasting all your time and energy as you try to figure out what the fuck you were
Another issue that contributes to feelings of pressure is closed ecosystems; some apps and services deliberately make it difficult to export your own data or use it in other ways, which can make it hard to switch to a different app or service. When a service, website or platform that you've been relying on (for years) announces that it will soon be shutting down (please fucking stop doing this shit, I don't want them permanently gone, also a reason why FOSS is the best choice when it comes to EOL), it can be a major source of stress and pressure. Some services even have policies that allow them to delete your data if it is deemed offensive or inappropriate, even if it's important to you. If these are synced across devices or stored in the cloud, there is a risk that they could be deleted without your knowledge or consent (this happens to bookmarks for example).
I guess that's what I have to say, we don't have to let tech giants control us.
What about you, anons? Have you noticed this constant pressure? Do you feel like you have enough time and you can concentrate? Did you do way better when you were younger?
+FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI — 1.6 year ago, 13 minutes later[T] [B] #649,989
I'll read this later, but holy shit that's a proper wall of text if I ever saw one.·Anonymous A (OP) — 1.6 year ago, 38 minutes later, 51 minutes after the original post[T] [B] #649,990
Another thing I have to mention is that having real-life friends is just better than online friends, or at least try not to be terminally online. Social media in general is just unnatural, think about it, you're forced to self-censor your own thoughts and opinions to avoid backlash from others, you must conform to certain standards, beliefs and ideals (that are constantly changing) to be accepted and validated by others, people hiding behind their screens can be talking shit behind your back without facing any repercussions whenever they want, you'll only have to showcase your best moments and hide any of your flaws or vulnerabilities, you may even feel compelled to engage in conversations about current popular (usually controversial) topics of the day, and literally anyone around the world can see you, eventually you might even forget how to speak your own mother tongue fluently (that is if English is your second language). However, this thread is meant more to be focused on technological aspects rather than social issues on the Internet. But it seems even socially reclusive introverts themselves have become more inclined towards social interaction online rather than focusing on themselves.
+Anonymous C — 1.6 year ago, 6 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[T] [B] #649,991
> Multitasking might also seem like a great way to get more things done in less time, but in reality, it can actually make us less productive and more likely to be stressed out
I agree big time. Plans often feel like a anchor when I have them. I'd rather much more have more options to freely choose as I go, being able to turn both left and right when a obstacle appears. I think I agree with your post but I urge caution in your conclusions, these two social worlds might seem like two different things but sometimes they mirror each other.
I agree big time. Plans often feel like a anchor when I have them. I'd rather much more have more options to freely choose as I go, being able to turn both left and right when a obstacle appears. I think I agree with your post but I urge caution in your conclusions, these two social worlds might seem like two different things but sometimes they mirror each other.
+Anonymous D — 1.6 year ago, 2 hours later, 9 hours after the original post[T] [B] #649,993
+Anonymous E — 1.6 year ago, 3 hours later, 13 hours after the original post[T] [B] #649,996
I had that realization and decided to fall back on media I have more control over (books for one). That or just enjoying beer/coffee/tea outside and listening to the world go by. I sometimes wish I had been born a few hundred years back, but then I'd be farming for 14 hours a day and broke. I'll take the curse of having free time over that, but I too am looking at healthy ways of spending it. And I'm not into hustle culture, why waste that time doing more work??
+Symtax — 1.6 year ago, 5 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[T] [B] #649,997
+Anonymous G — 1.6 year ago, 8 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[T] [B] #649,999
@649,989 (FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI)> I'll read this later, but holy shit that's a proper wall of text if I ever saw one.
When you do read please provide a Readers Digest version.
+TJR — 1.6 year ago, 3 hours later, 17 hours after the original post[T] [B] #650,011
> Have you noticed this constant pressure?
Sure. Sometimes I'll plan on uploading a TikTok video in a certain timeframe but then I'll be greeted with a video unpon opening the app, starting the uncontrollably mindlessly scrolling to the next video until I eventually realize I've missed my upload timeframe... Very infuriating.
> Do you feel like you have enough time and you can concentrate?
I have enough time to do everything. Some things cannot be delayed, however or I'll have to wait an entire week to wait until I complete it. I am easily distracted and this can make concentrating difficult.
> Did you do way better when you were younger?
Way better? No. I was a GTA SA addict as a child. Games are no longer an issue.
Sure. Sometimes I'll plan on uploading a TikTok video in a certain timeframe but then I'll be greeted with a video unpon opening the app, starting the uncontrollably mindlessly scrolling to the next video until I eventually realize I've missed my upload timeframe... Very infuriating.
> Do you feel like you have enough time and you can concentrate?
I have enough time to do everything. Some things cannot be delayed, however or I'll have to wait an entire week to wait until I complete it. I am easily distracted and this can make concentrating difficult.
> Did you do way better when you were younger?
Way better? No. I was a GTA SA addict as a child. Games are no longer an issue.
+Anonymous I — 1.6 year ago, 18 hours later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #650,041
Stop posting
+Anonymous J — 1.6 year ago, 35 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[T] [B] #650,044
+Anonymous K — 1.6 year ago, 1 week later, 1 week after the original post[T] [B] #650,295
Motion Picture Association CEO Charles Rivkin yesterday said his group plans a major push to impose a site-blocking law in the US. The MPA will "work with members of Congress" to require Internet service providers to block piracy websites, he said during a "state of the industry" address at CinemaCon 2024 in Las Vegas, a convention for movie theater owners.
"This danger [of piracy] continues to evolve, and so must our strategy to defeat it," Rivkin said. "So today, here with you at CinemaCon, I'm announcing the next major phase of this effort: the MPA is going to work with members of Congress to enact judicial site-blocking legislation here in the United States."
A site-blocking law would let copyright owners "request, in court, that Internet service providers block access to websites dedicated to sharing illegal, stolen content," he said. Rivkin claimed that in the US, piracy "steals hundreds of thousands of jobs from workers and tens of billions of dollars from our economy, including more than one billion in theatrical ticket sales."
He also told the audience that pirate-site operators "aren't teenagers playing an elaborate prank. The perpetrators are real-life mobsters, organized crime syndicates—many of whom engage in prostitution, drug trafficking, and other societal ills. They operate websites that draw in millions of unsuspecting viewers whose personal data can then fall prey to malware and hackers."
Rivkin said the industry is already "collaborating with local law enforcement authorities and global cybersecurity experts to identify and investigate illegal piracy operations," but that this alone isn't enough—a site-blocking law is also needed, in the MPA's view.
"This danger [of piracy] continues to evolve, and so must our strategy to defeat it," Rivkin said. "So today, here with you at CinemaCon, I'm announcing the next major phase of this effort: the MPA is going to work with members of Congress to enact judicial site-blocking legislation here in the United States."
A site-blocking law would let copyright owners "request, in court, that Internet service providers block access to websites dedicated to sharing illegal, stolen content," he said. Rivkin claimed that in the US, piracy "steals hundreds of thousands of jobs from workers and tens of billions of dollars from our economy, including more than one billion in theatrical ticket sales."
He also told the audience that pirate-site operators "aren't teenagers playing an elaborate prank. The perpetrators are real-life mobsters, organized crime syndicates—many of whom engage in prostitution, drug trafficking, and other societal ills. They operate websites that draw in millions of unsuspecting viewers whose personal data can then fall prey to malware and hackers."
Rivkin said the industry is already "collaborating with local law enforcement authorities and global cybersecurity experts to identify and investigate illegal piracy operations," but that this alone isn't enough—a site-blocking law is also needed, in the MPA's view.
+Anonymous L — 1.6 year ago, 2 hours later, 1 week after the original post[T] [B] #650,303
@previous (K)
> The perpetrators are real-life mobsters, organized crime syndicates—many of whom engage in prostitution, drug trafficking, and other societal ills. They operate websites that draw in millions of unsuspecting viewers whose personal data can then fall prey to malware and hackers. (Please trust us, we're the good guys! It's bad vs. evil, just like in your Marvel slop movies! We must stop them now, otherwise people won't pay to watch our American propaganda!)
🤮
> The perpetrators are real-life mobsters, organized crime syndicates—many of whom engage in prostitution, drug trafficking, and other societal ills. They operate websites that draw in millions of unsuspecting viewers whose personal data can then fall prey to malware and hackers. (Please trust us, we're the good guys! It's bad vs. evil, just like in your Marvel slop movies! We must stop them now, otherwise people won't pay to watch our American propaganda!)
🤮
·Anonymous K — 1.2 year ago, 5 months later, 5 months after the original post[T] [B] #656,743
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