Thread

1. fedeb95 · 1789998586 · focus · HN ↗

   I like reading, and I read a lot. Still, I don't think it's right that a public service encourages reading. People must be free to do what they want in their free time, and this gamification stuff smells of imposing values and habits.

   I'm against this idea of indoctrination of the population by a public entity, no matter which is the habit. I'm also against private companies doing this, which governments should focus on regulating instead of copying them.

   If reading books is valuable, just as I think it is, people will find its value by trying.

   1. latexr · 1790001128 · focus · HN ↗

      > If reading books is valuable, just as I think it is, people will find its value by trying.

      Eating healthy and exercising are both valuable, no one disputes that, and yet we’re not all doing both those things on the regular. Even those who tried it.

      Books, like healthy eating, compete with massive industries who spend enormous amounts of money and resources to get you to do something else.

      I’m not at all advocating for forcing people to read, but let’s please not be naive that everyone will simply do what’s best for themselves on their own.

      1. fedeb95 · 1790092678 · focus · HN ↗

         this is true. We should focus on avoiding bad habits and forming good ones. But they are bad also because of the methods they use, because of the deliberate and systematic study of how the mind works and how to tweak it. It is also the method that needs to be changed, and using it for "good" habits is just as problematic. That is because we don't need others to decide what is "good" for us.

         As for "we're all not doing both those things" I am sorry to contradict you. No one is perfect, but adopting simple strategies can help a lot. I know because it has been almost a year since I have done the following:

         1) I deleted all my social media, except for Mastodon which I use very rarely since it's not that interesting, and it is ok to be so: no mind engineering on their side, even though I don't like the concept of social media in general and am still undecided whether to keep it or not.

         2) I try not to eat junk food, or keep it at a minimum. What helps a lot is not buying food from restaurants, even good ones use an impressive amount of oil and fats that is not good for our system. Cooking for double what you cook and freezing is a good thing. Cook simple things and don't do complex recipes, they can taste mild at first, but with habit our mouth adapts and even a simple bowl of rice with vegetables tastes good.

         3) I try to incorporate exercises into my daily routine. Some weightlifting at home, because I have 30 minutes every 2 or 3 days to do it, and since I work at home most of the times I cut transport time; if I were to work outside I'd pay a gym near my work, or go to a gym near my house to again cut transport time; I cycle to work (1:30h). The point is minimizing barriers between you and exercises. I read some of the atomic habits book a while ago and I think I am using some ideas from there, but I really can't remember.

         4) I cut all TVs if not for movies; sometimes I watch TV series because my girlfriend like those, but they are a waste of time too.

         Less is more.

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