A post blocked on elektronauts, I decided to jump board.
It's not my first time wanting to jump ship, but this time
I just did it. I have a bit of regret. It's a nice community
and I use elektron device for my music making.
This was not a break up with the elektron community
but a break up with the surface web. This was my last
public social account on the surface web. I still have a
few repository of files here and there, a public github
account, but this was a big piece.
As many other people on gopher, I am slowly removing part
of my online consumption. Similar to my food habit change
I realize that my digital consumption have negative effect
on my mood and on my mind. Although I've used the word
detox in the past, I start to realize that this is more
of a long term change. I don't just want to detox for a
bit and go back to a unhealthy dose of technology.
I see a lot of paralelle between digital consumption
and food. It would be interesting to grade
our technology usage and see where we stand.
In the digital world there are a few elements to consider.
There is the software part. Open source, closed source,
hand coded etc. Then you have the hardware, what device
and company your support with your money.
Then there is the money aspect. How much do you spend on
technology? How much do you pay monthly for all your
accounts? Who do you pay for these services? Also
how many time do you change your phone per year?
How much technology do you throw away and give away
because you keep on buying.
Then there is the concept of using technology or being
used by technology. To give an example with food, if you
only use food to satisfy your senses, then you are used
by food. If you just want to 'fuel' your body with whatever your
put in there, then although your not 'used' by the food,
it's still detach from it's potential. If you use food
to help your body and your life, food as medicine to help
your internal and external balance, then you maximize
the activity of feeding yourself.
Technology is the same. You can be addicted to technology.
Not being able to be without it for an extended period
of time. You can default to using technology because
everyone does it. You spend too much time not being able
to use it properly. It's frustrating but it seems like
you have to do it. Or you can use technology for your
own good. You use technology for creativity, to generate
income, or for communication.
By looking at all these aspect of technology you could come
up with not only a proper diet, but also a classification,
a position you take in the digital world. Here is a short
list of what it could look like:
Digital Foodist
You reliaze there are healthy and unhealty part of your
digital life. The fast food part of the web and technology
doesn't interest you as much and you seek the ultimate
balance of enjoyment and quality.
Some digital foodist enjoy retro computing for instance,
or esoteric OS. They will still use commercial OS and devices.
Digital Vegetarian
You make the distinction between open and closed source.
Give up on your google life and Facebook life but you still
have a few online account. Apple is a vice still permited,
although the Digital Vegetarian feels shame when buying a
new iphone.
Digital Veganism
You don't participate in the social network histeria.
You've given up on the surface web. All your software
are open source. Your phone is de-googlelised, your
life is ad free, without any paid subscription.
Raw Foodist
A complete open source life. Minimal use of technologies.
Text only, offline first is prefered. Not participating
in the major GAFA and surface web. Minimal investment in
computer part and devices. Prefer trades and used material
and never buy new. You don't even come near an apple or
windows computer.
Digital Brutalism
You code your own tools and build your own electronic device.
Technology works for you. Everything is recycled, upcycled
or someone else throw away.
Digital Breatharian
You live off wireless and cell phone networks, touch a
fiber optic strand to absorb its data. The physical world
mix in an unending whirlpool where our body and
technology are all part of a raw experience.
