2019-09-05 - Textmode browsing
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Earlier this week i decided to uninstall my graphical browser from
my computer. I was using Chromium, and i am now trying to solely
use Lynx for my browsing needs. Now this should not be too
difficult, as my browsing needs are quite modest nowadays.
In the beginning of this year i had stopped my ADSL internet
subscription, because i found that i was spending a bit too much
time idly browsing the internet. I found that 90% of my browsing
behaviour consisted of checking the same sites over and over again
in some kind of auto-pilot loop. So over time i had grown pretty
tired of the way i was using the internet. As this habit showed
some hints of an unhealthy addiction, i figured it would be better
just to cut the cord, and stop with the internet for a while.
A couple of months i had no internet at home. And while it took
some getting used to, i must say it is very doable. Furthermore it
is quite relaxing, and got my mind in a much more creative mode.
However, this creative mode got me interested in writing, and
dabling around in programming, so i noticed i liked to have a tiny
bit of internet to look things up. [#Footnote]
Now, a couple of months later, i am tethering this little bit of
intenet over a 4g phone connection. The amount of data i can use is
limited to 500mb a month (which is really quite a lot if you think
about it).
Now, since i use my home computer only for 'recreative' browsing
(For administrative tasks i use a computer at work) i didn't have a
real need for a graphical browser at home anymore. So i removed it,
and now Lynx is my go-to browser. The nice thing is that i seem to
be using the internet in a bit different way. It is purely an
information source or reference, for things i am working on.
There's not so much appeal for mindless browsing in textmode, or
getting lost in cat pictures.
Still, i have to limit my browsing, and only switch on the 4g
tetherphone when needed. Maybe reduce my dataplan from 500 to 100mb
a month. But in this way things seem much more controllable.
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[#Footnote] Now i read this part back, i sound like an actual
junkie; "No, i stopped this heroin, cold turkey. But i just keep
injecting a tiny bit to take the edge off, otherwise i start
shaking..." :D
Maybe this is a way of finding excuses for myself to keep using
internet, and keep an addiction going... So perhaps i should
contemplate on this for a while, and maybe i should limit my
internet usage even more strictly and get rid of the 4g tetherphone
as well. Perhaps, instead i could resort only to using internet
over WIFI in the local library.
That would be quite charming as well. Be offline most of the week,
be creative, and write etc. And only on saturdays, upload my stuff
to the internet, and read up to some gopherholes and phlogs, and be
done for the coming week.
Hmm... i have to think about my relation with the internet some
more.
I remember there's a real nice post on Raptitude.com about
internet, which i saved a copy of on my computer. Its called; "It's
time to put the internet into the box in the basement". Might be
nice to read.
