Jason Evangelho
This morning over coffee, I did what I normally do. I scanned the RSS feeds, checked email, browsed the social media platforms I'm on... and absolutely nothing interested me. It felt like a complete waste of time. Maybe this is the "winter blahs" or my typical melancholy November mood -- or maybe it's something deeper this time.
Maybe I'm just tired of the internet. Anyone else feeling this more and more as the years wear on?
Jason Evangelho
@ernie Finding balance has never been my strength :D
I think all this backpacking, hiking, and camping has fundamentally changed how I'm feeling about most interactions and content online...
Speaking of social media, this would be the ONLY place I truly missed if I just pulled the plug on the internet for a while.
Ernie Smith
@killyourfm I wrote something relatively recently about how, when blogging tired me, I would emphasize design work more. I think the challenge with social media is that it doesn’t make it easy to switch tracks.
Jason Evangelho
@deadlinux "Big moody beanbags of chemicals..." You know what, NOW I've read something that interested me today :D
Thanks for that.
Deadlinux 🐧💀
@killyourfm Definitely, and especially this time of year - here, everything gets cold, and gloomy. Kills interest for a lot of things.
And, true, the Internet doesn't possess novelty forever, but I consider this another example where we as humans are big moody beanbags of chemicals that are constantly changing, so the feeling is likely temporary.
That, or I'm just getting old lol
Jason Evangelho
Also, I went to bad last night with crushing existential dread and severe anxiety about what I'm doing and accomplishing with the years I have left.
So there's that...
Jason Evangelho
@invisivel Hmm. Indeed. More of the same with just a slightly different coat of paint.
invisivel
@killyourfm Also thought it was the november mood on my side. What puzzles me is that things are presented as a breakthrough or something especial and new, and I, more and more, look at it with a: oh! That again... More of the same. And today it looked that everyone was horny with bluesky... What a waste of time.
Jason Evangelho
@mlabowicz Yep, that's a good insight. I felt happiest the last few months when I'm outside hiking, camping, backpacking. That was a massive switch to my routine! But the more I do that, the more listless and sadder I feel being at home...
Michael Labowicz
@killyourfm sometimes it's just good to switch up your routine. I get sick of the Internet from time to time as well and step away for a bit to do other things. After a while the interest seems to come back
Jason Evangelho
@akm That's a good insight, as sad as it is... Thanks for mentioning it.
Reflecting on it, it feels like there are 2 major things wearing on me:
1) The onslaught of AI slop and seemingly EVERY tool and website wanting to shove it down my throat. I should take some steps to filter as much of that out as possible.
2) The state of politics, and the increasing toxicity surrounding it.
AKM:skp287:
@killyourfm Well, for one, cutting back on caffeine helps if you deal with anxiety.
I just think that as the internet has continued to be enshittified (largely by AI slop) and driven into the ground by commercial interests, it's harder and harder to find stimulating content (except the kind that targets the most base urges).
Jon
@killyourfm You had an amazing outdoor experience and perhaps the winter blah is making you feel this way.
I feel the same reading my RSS feeds. I'm slowly removing tech news & replacing them with great blogs. Reading about others experiences makes me feel better. I've stopped watching & reading local news too.
As we get older, I feel we have seen it all and have less patience. Especially around social media.
Don't spread yourself thin on all the social networks & stay where you're happy.
Jason Evangelho
@jnv THAT is amazing advice my friend. I'll put some of that into action today.
This also reminds me I need to create more than I consume...
Jason Evangelho
@kilroy_was_here "I've been reminded of mortality a lot in the past year, I don't want to die having lived in front of a screen."
This hits me like a hurricane of bricks.
Kilroy_Was_Here
I've felt the same about computers overall. I'd rather do stuff in the real world. No real sense of achievement when it comes to computers.
I was gonna buy a 3D printer, but such equipment would mean more computer time. More and more I'm asking myself "do I really want to spend more time on the computer?" I've been reminded of mortality a lot in the past year, I don't want to die having lived in front of a screen.
Computers are valuable tools. Not something to build life around.
Jason Evangelho
@thibaultamartin I can certainly relate to this! In my case, I just want to be outside but I'm not equipped for the winter -- or am just too inexperienced to do serious winter backpacking/hiking on a regular basis. (I suppose the equipment side of that is relatively straightforward to solve, though... just expensive!)
The whole fireplace + books (or comics) is a comfortable place to exist though.
Your comment also makes me realize that going to sleep AND waking up in the dark isn't awesome.
Thib
@killyourfm year ends are increasingly difficult as I age.
I'll be enthusiastic in the summer, I will find things a bit more difficult in fall.
And I will want to spend my whole winter away from computers, next to the fireplace with a warm cocoa and books. Or go outside, have a walk and enjoy the few hours of sunlight I can get.
Winters are cold, dark, and they suck the joy out of us. Working in winter is an ordeal.
Jason Evangelho
This entire thread and all the thoughtful insights are exactly why I love this place.
You are people with depth, character, and realness. Thanks for being brave enough to share your own personal struggles and for being awesome.
Jon
@killyourfm How is your garden? Maybe continue through winter?
Jason Evangelho
@jnv Let's just say it was a brutal summer and I learned a lot of lessons... that said, I'm successfully growing some carrots and radishes for the winter, and planted some rainbow chard and a variety of lettuce and cabbage. Fingers crossed!
Jason Evangelho
@mlabowicz Then I best figure out how to keep this during during the winter months!
Michael Labowicz
@killyourfm you may be turning into an outdoors person... and that's ok 😃
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