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Simplicity | |
October 23rd, 2017 | |
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There's been quite a bit of discussion on asceticism or | |
technological simplification as an approach to generally | |
simplified living happening on Gopher lately [0,1,2,3,4]. So much | |
has been said and I'm late to the party, as it were. | |
First of all, I love technology. I am a collector of archaic tech | |
in particular: abacus, sextant, slide-rule, spinning wheel, etc. | |
On the other hand, I would rather do without many of the more | |
recent technical innovations. I don't have a firm definition for | |
where I draw the line. Instead, I rely on my experience and | |
emotional response. Does this device make me feel more empowered | |
or is it "doing it for me" to such a degree that I'm crippled | |
without it? Does the device make me feel more connected or does it | |
give the impression of connection while actually distancing? | |
I am a backpacking, camping, casual-prepping, dutch-oven-cooking, | |
yarn spinning, flute carving, boardgame playing, outdoorsy tech | |
guy. I daydream about apocalyptic scenarios where my hobby | |
interests would suddenly become my focus. I appreciate what | |
a giant, sprawling information network does for humanity, but | |
I still prefer cabin life like many of you. | |
At its core I'm expressing an emotional preference with a bit of | |
spiritual guidance. I also fully understand that my daydreams of | |
a Walden lifestyle would come with a heavy price. Reality as it | |
is, I still don't see any problem living with that floating desire | |
driving my actions and interests. Even if I am never accidentally | |
transported back in time a hundred years I can still find great | |
enjoyment in the thought. | |
I really appreciate this gopher exchange. I hope we see more | |
threads like this evolve over time. | |
[0]solderpunk - Asceticism or Something Like It | |
[1]jynx - On Asceticism | |
[2]slugmax - Cabin | |
[3]jynx - On Technology and Personal Honesty | |
[4]solderpunk - Technoskepticism or Something Like It |