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user-inactivated  ·  3185 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Could you live without a computer or smartphone?

Back before the internet, I spent a lot of time doing photography, art, writing. Which was a good thing. The bad things: was continually bored, restless, spent a lot of time in bars, drank a lot to kill time, never knew what to do with myself, etc.

Now in the age of internet: still do writing, but much less art and photography, which I miss and palpably feel the lack of. Good things: always have something to do now, with internet and a laptop: gaming, writing, reading, movies, music, tv, research, books, learning, online classes, online forums, and so on.

I did experiment briefly a few years ago with a smartphone that had 24/7 internet access, but I found I didn't use it often, and what I did use it for was stuff I could do on my early generation, no internet or data plan iphone--games, listen to music. Several years later, still have no desire for one, because I spend enough time at a computer as it is. I value quiet moments in the day where I can indulge in cognitive behavior stuff, sensory awareness, walking, meditation, independent thinking, being aware of my surroundings.

It vexes me to see so many instances of people hanging out together yet spending the entire time looking at their phones. This may be a generational thing, however.

Even if I did want a smartphone, I still wouldn't get one, because of privacy, security, anonymity, want to be left alone reasons.