Thread

1. yipinwong · 1789921754 · focus · HN ↗

   For me it's not the phone that's stopping me from reading books but my computer, on which I play games, and browse, and do private stuff.

   Where I live, electricity price is so ridiculous, I leave my PC off for 3 to 5 hours a day.

   You get bored after 5 minutes. This is the best time to open your book and read.

   ----

   Same idea applies for the phone. Just leave it off.

   1. wbobeirne · 1789922045 · focus · HN ↗

      It's difficult to turn your phone off if you have a spouse or children or other dependents who you can't drop communication with for hours at a time. But it's helpful to strip it down to the essentials so it doesn't double as an entertainment device.

      1. downut · 1789924021 · focus · HN ↗

         It is in actual fact not difficult to "drop communication with for hours at a time". This was the human norm for millenia, up to a decade or so ago. And given the toxic side effects of all this communication it's probably going to have to be worked out again.

         We raised a child with the principle that "No News is Good News". She turned out great! And she lives that way still. That constant level of screen stimulation is strictly not necessary for family happiness, and I think you all who think so have not really internalized what it means for a child to learn responsibility.

         See also free-range kids, and the social insanity that causes kids/parents to get arrested for eg playing in a park alone. There's a bunch of mental illness out there, and the screens are big reason why.

         Oh right. My beautiful daughter reads books constantly. Weird that, huh.

         1. hdgvhicv · 1789956142 · focus · HN ↗

            20 years ago I would be reachable at work on my desk phone. I’d be reachable at home on the landline. I’d be reachable at the hotel via reception.

            The only place that remains is the hotel.

            If I were out and about and wanted to reach home or the office I could drop a coin in a payphone. That’s not possible now.

            That’s before you factor in changing societal expectations on reachability.

            When it comes to kids, they would be able to phone home as they remember their home number and have some money or worse case could reverse charges from a payphone. That’s not possible today.

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