I have the same fears.. been visualizing a future where all the people in an airport are wearing VR gear.
I wonder.. Is canceling subscriptions the solution? It’s something.. I feel we need to remind and reground people in what it means to be human - part of nature, feeling and learning from our emotions, connecting with others, etc. We can do this with our own kids and families… it would be huge to have this type of messaging coming from leaders and public figures. Where is that??
I like to go to coffee shops and write to penpals or family. It blows me away how many are glued to laptop or phone and don’t even make eye contact with others that walk by or look at them. If I drop something no one even blinks or notices— it’s very strange to be without device and see so many in trance
I used to go every Saturday and Sunday to my local cafe 5 mins away from my apartment just to read (books). It was my weekend treat to relax. During the Scamdemic they were forced to only offer food and beverages to go, nobody could sit down. When restaurants and cafes were allowed to reopen, they didn’t as it was less work overall for them. Such a shame as I love the owners and they were completely aware of the scam but they preferred to have an easier life.
I see it as “something,” some steps as part of the solution, a path to breaking away from our gadgets and the overwhelming thrall they have on our lives. I’m trying to spend less time on my screen and more time walking and being in nature. I need that. We all do.
(Your scary airport image is not too far away I fear. 😱)
A beautiful piece, my dear!! And yes, that is an abomination, and I think that the hard push for masks really has to do with normalizing smart face wearables, it's about creating a new massive habit to have something on your face all the time, they go at it from different ends.
Thank you Tessa! And that is such a good point re the normalization of mask wearing. I was writing this last night and at one point I thought about the things-on-face connection but had to stop writing as it was late. But yeah, MAKE FACES NAKED AGAIN 🙂
In answer to your query: My own battles with this stuff, subscriptions & tech, I'll sum up this way:
- No TV since 2010 or thereabouts (gave away my TV). And, very seriously, I count this as an important accomplishment in my life.
- Highly annoyed for various reasons, I canceled my NYT, Harper's, Atlantic and New Yorker and other subs 2020 or before
- Consistently minimal smart phone use-- never take it on walks, never take it to the dinner table, except if I'm alone, and never in bedroom. Usually on airplane mode.
- No Whatsapp. NEVER. EVER. This is a tough one. Everyone who wants to communicate with me is annoyed at me for this, and I know miss out on a lot as a result. But I just. won't. It's owned by Google. And I'm already overwhelmed by email. If people really care about me, they can call or email or actually come to the door. I have a doorbell. I also receive snail mail.
- Gave up FB, Twitter, Linked In years ago (and as "Transcriber B" I steer wide clear of participating on social media. I have transcribed some sm posts, however.)
- I make a point of reading an actual (paper) book every day, even if only for a few minutes on some days. Other days I read much more.
- I used to subscribe to Adobe InDesign but now I rely on freelancers for that. I don't use it often enough to justify the cost of the subscription and the hassle of coping with the software updates.
- Am considerating a move to open source software for wordprocessing, to get away from Microsoft.
* * *
Finally, the saving thing I find is simply getting outside walking.
* * *
I spend more time than I would like on my laptop. But I wouldn't want to miss your Substack! And basically, I aim to channel whatever I can do on the smartphone onto the laptop.
pretty good strategies. I like to read first thing in the morning. And on some days I like to come home, put the smartphone in a drawer, and leave it there until after reading time the next morning.
I am going to write that book down and maybe suggest it for book club. Will watch the video at the very least.
Me: no TV for at least 2 decades and not much before that. Apart from as a child. I watched a few shows with my sisters and cousins like Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons and The Wonder Years.
I love your smartphone rules! I need to get stricter with myself.
I don't know if would recommend PLANTATION OF THE AUTOMATONS for a book club because it really is huge. Better for a book club might be one of his other, normally-sized books, such as TECHNOBONDAGE.
I suspect his novels might be even more apt for a book club, but I have not read the novels, so I don't know.
Great post on what many parents see but don’t do anything about and that is children addicted to the internet whether it be gaming or just internet roaming. It’s a cheap babysitter for sure but in my experience children are angry and more violent after a long session of gaming which has become increasingly violent.
I can see my own addiction to my iPhone reading and commenting on alternative media news or opinion sites including Substack. I read your comment about never using it in the bedroom and thought that great advice.
It’s important to have non-internet activities for our children. Sports especially team sports are important to not only maintaining health but also learning camaraderie. I read to my children since very little and progressing until 8-10 years of age which instilled a love of books. I know music is another alternative. Family trips and other outings in my case to the woods are another sound alternative. I’ve tried all of these and more but my two boys (second batch) are still addicted to the internet and it’s a big battle to keep them off. It’s frustrated me to no ends. I have to hide the WiFi at bedtime to stop them from using it. I don’t know if humanity can stop the world from all becoming people similar to the poor girl in the picture.
Cheap babysitters, that’s it. These machines are addictive because humans are so easily diverted.
(In French, “divertissement” means “entertainment”; se divertir = to entertain oneself.)
Brent, I relate to absolutely everything you wrote about yours and your kids’ habits. I don’t even have kids but I observe they are tinier, more vulnerable versions of us. ✨👶🏽
PS I think it was Transcriber B who said that about bedrooms.
We stopped watching tv and I’ve given away TVs in the past or thrown out. I’ve always been distracted and feel like Ive wasted to much time on tv in the past. I’ve missed a lot of the Covid hysteria because I don’t watch tv.
Good for you Tami! I haven’t had a TV in 2+ decades and barely watched one when I did. I feel so glad about that, plus it helped me not get infected with the fear virus in 2020. (I was walking around those first few months thinking “why is everyone acting so weirdly?”)
First, thank you for linking to my UnPsyOppable post! And yes, I'm right there with you on the merging of tech with humans in subtle ways. The only subscription I have is Amazon Prime because it gets me free shipping and free Firestick which allows me to watch old movies on the TV and listen to YouTube there too. Haven't watched network TV my entire life. It just never did anything for me. Laugh tracks and completely precictable scripts, UGH. Fantastic post!
Smart cookie, you’ve watched TV less than me. Good for you, literally. I can’t stand the canned laughter either. And now that I know everything is scripted...
I quit Amazon in June 2020. I was learning about the staggering wealth Bezos and other billionaires possess and thought “Wow, I’m adding to that. Why?!” It felt so indulgent because I hardly ever buy “things” and then suddenly I would find myself “browsing” and I’d see random things that I would contemplate purchasing and on occasion did. I think I had it for a couple of years prior to that moment. I know it’s convenient for many so I suggested to people via a FB post, that at the very least, one could half Bezos’ Prime membership income by joining forces with a trusted friend, family member or neighbour, where one or two peopld could drop the membership fee and use another’s to get the free delivery perks. That’s what I do now but I only buy 2 or 3 items a year from Amazon now, only things I’ve really looked into and decided I definitely need.
I hear you. I had to use it this past year after breaking a bunch of bones and not being able to walk for 9 months. But normally I don't buy much there, just watch the Firestick movies. ❤️
I totally get it Heather. There are times when we have to make certain choices and they make sense for us and our individual lives. Firestick is that a movie channel?
Btw, I am so sorry to hear about the broken bones and that you were out of commission for 9 months! I hope you are healed and back to walking. 💕
Thank you. Yes, I'm walking now. Firestick is a device you buy from Amazon for about $20 I think. You plug it into the back of your TV. There are a bunch of free movie channels you can download to it. You can also pay for Netflix etc through it for reduced prices. We only use the free channels. It keeps us from having to pay for any cable service. I'm a bargain hunter since birth. 😂
Quitting Amazon Prime is...like quitting sugared foods? It is a goal of mine, and I suppose not that hard, right? Just click the 'cancel subscription' button! If I want a product from Amazon, I will have to pay the shipping, thus likely purchasing fewer items. Hmmm....🤔 not such a bad idea!
What happens when their tummies start to grumble for food or mouths for water, or they need to, er...relieve themselves? And how will those glasses replace the smell of jasmine or the song of the mockingbird? Reality will still be inevitable as there truly is no full-on escape.
Interesting you (and a few commentators) should mention “subscription”. Subscription is a hobby horse of mine, and I keep meaning to write my own piece on the galloping rush to a “subscription society”, but I might as well give a little taster here:
Subscription society is part and parcel of the infamous “you shall own nothing and be happy” social engineering project. Everything you literally own now, from the clothes you wear to the car you drive (if you have a car) to the house you live in (if you own rather than rent) is to become subject to the subscription model. Subscriptions to entertainment media is one small part of that. The more you get used to that model and its faux convenience that blinds you to the downsides, the more readily you will accept subscription in other parts of life. You might say entertainment media on subscription is the gateway drug to the fully property-free, pay-as-you-go life.
What happens to the films, for example, that you have purchased (not just hired) on Prime should you decide to cancel your account? Back in the day when you purchased actual physical DVDs, and dare I say even videotapes, they were yours in perpetuity. But films stored in a cloud with Prime? Legit question as my SO is considering cancelling…
Another example of the creeping inroads of subscriptions: in the UK you pay a monthly rental charge for utilities, like old fashioned landline phone or gas or electric meter, before you even get charged for any usage. You are subscribing to the privilege and then getting charged for actual units on top of that. Also, electric vehicle makers I believe in effect lease the batteries, so your Tesla is never actually owned outright.
A Rentier Society is another word for feudalism (and less anachronistic to the Middle Ages). We are in full sprint towards a modern rentier system where a few techno globalists own everything and the peons pay for the usage.
Oh I talk about the subscription economy because the writer of the post I link to suggests we do that and I agree. You nailed it with your summary Irina. ✨
All you need is the Neuralink chip in the cocks of 1000s of young men so you can feel like can come like you did 40 years ago and the 'vision' is complete!
OMG, this is soooooo creepy! I was at the Apple store today because my ancient cell phone finally gave up the ghost and I got a "new" one (model from a couple years ago). In the store a young woman was trying out a Vision Pro device, with that weird headset covering her eyes and her hands moving strangely through the air. Hard to believe anyone would actually fall for this. Beware!!!
Yes, I use technology, too, but with moderation and purpose. I can't yet see benefits to any of the VR or "spatial computing" technology, the way it encapsulates you and separates you from your real surroundings. What benefits do you see? And of course the way they are using it on us is utterly nefarious....
Well, the one I would see that Apple would sell as a huge benefit is immersive learning. A friend who works at Apple told me she thought this post was a bit one-sided and "negative" (I agree that it is, talking about the dangers of this type of gadget and where it ultimately seeks to corral us). I will ask her to elaborate on the pros.
Thanks, I'll be curious to hear her response. I mean, perhaps it could be used to train surgeons or dentists before allowing them to cut into real people, and perhaps it's helpful for quadriplegics. If so, then it should be made available for those specific purposes and not heavily marketed to the general public and especially not to our youth, who already suffer so much from the social isolation that came with lockdowns. They'll say it's for "learning" but then it ends up mostly used for vapid and addictive entertainment. I can see Vision Pro turning "social distancing" into a perpetual lifestyle, aside from the ravenous data harvesting.....
I have the same fears.. been visualizing a future where all the people in an airport are wearing VR gear.
I wonder.. Is canceling subscriptions the solution? It’s something.. I feel we need to remind and reground people in what it means to be human - part of nature, feeling and learning from our emotions, connecting with others, etc. We can do this with our own kids and families… it would be huge to have this type of messaging coming from leaders and public figures. Where is that??
I like to go to coffee shops and write to penpals or family. It blows me away how many are glued to laptop or phone and don’t even make eye contact with others that walk by or look at them. If I drop something no one even blinks or notices— it’s very strange to be without device and see so many in trance
I used to go every Saturday and Sunday to my local cafe 5 mins away from my apartment just to read (books). It was my weekend treat to relax. During the Scamdemic they were forced to only offer food and beverages to go, nobody could sit down. When restaurants and cafes were allowed to reopen, they didn’t as it was less work overall for them. Such a shame as I love the owners and they were completely aware of the scam but they preferred to have an easier life.
I see it as “something,” some steps as part of the solution, a path to breaking away from our gadgets and the overwhelming thrall they have on our lives. I’m trying to spend less time on my screen and more time walking and being in nature. I need that. We all do.
(Your scary airport image is not too far away I fear. 😱)
A beautiful piece, my dear!! And yes, that is an abomination, and I think that the hard push for masks really has to do with normalizing smart face wearables, it's about creating a new massive habit to have something on your face all the time, they go at it from different ends.
Wearables ‘R’ Us!
Thank you Tessa! And that is such a good point re the normalization of mask wearing. I was writing this last night and at one point I thought about the things-on-face connection but had to stop writing as it was late. But yeah, MAKE FACES NAKED AGAIN 🙂
Thanks for this. The Time Machine music is intriguing, thanks for sharing that.
If you haven't seen it already I think you might find James Tunney's books of interest, especially PLANTATION OF THE AUTOMATONS.
https://www.jamestunney.com/books?pgid=lafn0qlu-4937163a-4f3e-4674-b2a8-a92571439005
Caveat: It's huuuuuuuuugely huge.
Tunney gave Jeffrey Mishlove a very interesting interview (among many others, also very interesting) at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1aVidizZqg
(about 50 minutes)
* * *
In answer to your query: My own battles with this stuff, subscriptions & tech, I'll sum up this way:
- No TV since 2010 or thereabouts (gave away my TV). And, very seriously, I count this as an important accomplishment in my life.
- Highly annoyed for various reasons, I canceled my NYT, Harper's, Atlantic and New Yorker and other subs 2020 or before
- Consistently minimal smart phone use-- never take it on walks, never take it to the dinner table, except if I'm alone, and never in bedroom. Usually on airplane mode.
- No Whatsapp. NEVER. EVER. This is a tough one. Everyone who wants to communicate with me is annoyed at me for this, and I know miss out on a lot as a result. But I just. won't. It's owned by Google. And I'm already overwhelmed by email. If people really care about me, they can call or email or actually come to the door. I have a doorbell. I also receive snail mail.
- Gave up FB, Twitter, Linked In years ago (and as "Transcriber B" I steer wide clear of participating on social media. I have transcribed some sm posts, however.)
- I make a point of reading an actual (paper) book every day, even if only for a few minutes on some days. Other days I read much more.
- I used to subscribe to Adobe InDesign but now I rely on freelancers for that. I don't use it often enough to justify the cost of the subscription and the hassle of coping with the software updates.
- Am considerating a move to open source software for wordprocessing, to get away from Microsoft.
* * *
Finally, the saving thing I find is simply getting outside walking.
* * *
I spend more time than I would like on my laptop. But I wouldn't want to miss your Substack! And basically, I aim to channel whatever I can do on the smartphone onto the laptop.
Epic comment TSB! Will respond properly after I get a few things done. ✔️✨💕
TSB, can we talk on email or ‘phone?✨
That would be grand. You can find my email at the end of this page
https://transcriberb.dreamwidth.org/9102.html
Sorry it’s taken a while but I hope to reach out soon. I hope you are well, TSB. 💛
pretty good strategies. I like to read first thing in the morning. And on some days I like to come home, put the smartphone in a drawer, and leave it there until after reading time the next morning.
Brilliant.
I am going to write that book down and maybe suggest it for book club. Will watch the video at the very least.
Me: no TV for at least 2 decades and not much before that. Apart from as a child. I watched a few shows with my sisters and cousins like Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons and The Wonder Years.
I love your smartphone rules! I need to get stricter with myself.
I don't know if would recommend PLANTATION OF THE AUTOMATONS for a book club because it really is huge. Better for a book club might be one of his other, normally-sized books, such as TECHNOBONDAGE.
I suspect his novels might be even more apt for a book club, but I have not read the novels, so I don't know.
Great post on what many parents see but don’t do anything about and that is children addicted to the internet whether it be gaming or just internet roaming. It’s a cheap babysitter for sure but in my experience children are angry and more violent after a long session of gaming which has become increasingly violent.
I can see my own addiction to my iPhone reading and commenting on alternative media news or opinion sites including Substack. I read your comment about never using it in the bedroom and thought that great advice.
It’s important to have non-internet activities for our children. Sports especially team sports are important to not only maintaining health but also learning camaraderie. I read to my children since very little and progressing until 8-10 years of age which instilled a love of books. I know music is another alternative. Family trips and other outings in my case to the woods are another sound alternative. I’ve tried all of these and more but my two boys (second batch) are still addicted to the internet and it’s a big battle to keep them off. It’s frustrated me to no ends. I have to hide the WiFi at bedtime to stop them from using it. I don’t know if humanity can stop the world from all becoming people similar to the poor girl in the picture.
Cheap babysitters, that’s it. These machines are addictive because humans are so easily diverted.
(In French, “divertissement” means “entertainment”; se divertir = to entertain oneself.)
Brent, I relate to absolutely everything you wrote about yours and your kids’ habits. I don’t even have kids but I observe they are tinier, more vulnerable versions of us. ✨👶🏽
PS I think it was Transcriber B who said that about bedrooms.
We stopped watching tv and I’ve given away TVs in the past or thrown out. I’ve always been distracted and feel like Ive wasted to much time on tv in the past. I’ve missed a lot of the Covid hysteria because I don’t watch tv.
Good for you Tami! I haven’t had a TV in 2+ decades and barely watched one when I did. I feel so glad about that, plus it helped me not get infected with the fear virus in 2020. (I was walking around those first few months thinking “why is everyone acting so weirdly?”)
Same
First, thank you for linking to my UnPsyOppable post! And yes, I'm right there with you on the merging of tech with humans in subtle ways. The only subscription I have is Amazon Prime because it gets me free shipping and free Firestick which allows me to watch old movies on the TV and listen to YouTube there too. Haven't watched network TV my entire life. It just never did anything for me. Laugh tracks and completely precictable scripts, UGH. Fantastic post!
Thank you (and I obviously loved yours too)!
Smart cookie, you’ve watched TV less than me. Good for you, literally. I can’t stand the canned laughter either. And now that I know everything is scripted...
I quit Amazon in June 2020. I was learning about the staggering wealth Bezos and other billionaires possess and thought “Wow, I’m adding to that. Why?!” It felt so indulgent because I hardly ever buy “things” and then suddenly I would find myself “browsing” and I’d see random things that I would contemplate purchasing and on occasion did. I think I had it for a couple of years prior to that moment. I know it’s convenient for many so I suggested to people via a FB post, that at the very least, one could half Bezos’ Prime membership income by joining forces with a trusted friend, family member or neighbour, where one or two peopld could drop the membership fee and use another’s to get the free delivery perks. That’s what I do now but I only buy 2 or 3 items a year from Amazon now, only things I’ve really looked into and decided I definitely need.
I hear you. I had to use it this past year after breaking a bunch of bones and not being able to walk for 9 months. But normally I don't buy much there, just watch the Firestick movies. ❤️
I totally get it Heather. There are times when we have to make certain choices and they make sense for us and our individual lives. Firestick is that a movie channel?
Btw, I am so sorry to hear about the broken bones and that you were out of commission for 9 months! I hope you are healed and back to walking. 💕
Thank you. Yes, I'm walking now. Firestick is a device you buy from Amazon for about $20 I think. You plug it into the back of your TV. There are a bunch of free movie channels you can download to it. You can also pay for Netflix etc through it for reduced prices. We only use the free channels. It keeps us from having to pay for any cable service. I'm a bargain hunter since birth. 😂
Ah, gotcha. Same here! 🤓
Quitting Amazon Prime is...like quitting sugared foods? It is a goal of mine, and I suppose not that hard, right? Just click the 'cancel subscription' button! If I want a product from Amazon, I will have to pay the shipping, thus likely purchasing fewer items. Hmmm....🤔 not such a bad idea!
Great metaphor! 👌🏾
What happens when their tummies start to grumble for food or mouths for water, or they need to, er...relieve themselves? And how will those glasses replace the smell of jasmine or the song of the mockingbird? Reality will still be inevitable as there truly is no full-on escape.
You ask the most sensible and beautiful questions, BZE. ✨
Interesting you (and a few commentators) should mention “subscription”. Subscription is a hobby horse of mine, and I keep meaning to write my own piece on the galloping rush to a “subscription society”, but I might as well give a little taster here:
Subscription society is part and parcel of the infamous “you shall own nothing and be happy” social engineering project. Everything you literally own now, from the clothes you wear to the car you drive (if you have a car) to the house you live in (if you own rather than rent) is to become subject to the subscription model. Subscriptions to entertainment media is one small part of that. The more you get used to that model and its faux convenience that blinds you to the downsides, the more readily you will accept subscription in other parts of life. You might say entertainment media on subscription is the gateway drug to the fully property-free, pay-as-you-go life.
What happens to the films, for example, that you have purchased (not just hired) on Prime should you decide to cancel your account? Back in the day when you purchased actual physical DVDs, and dare I say even videotapes, they were yours in perpetuity. But films stored in a cloud with Prime? Legit question as my SO is considering cancelling…
Another example of the creeping inroads of subscriptions: in the UK you pay a monthly rental charge for utilities, like old fashioned landline phone or gas or electric meter, before you even get charged for any usage. You are subscribing to the privilege and then getting charged for actual units on top of that. Also, electric vehicle makers I believe in effect lease the batteries, so your Tesla is never actually owned outright.
A Rentier Society is another word for feudalism (and less anachronistic to the Middle Ages). We are in full sprint towards a modern rentier system where a few techno globalists own everything and the peons pay for the usage.
Oh I talk about the subscription economy because the writer of the post I link to suggests we do that and I agree. You nailed it with your summary Irina. ✨
All you need is the Neuralink chip in the cocks of 1000s of young men so you can feel like can come like you did 40 years ago and the 'vision' is complete!
Ell oh ell
Is there a word missing between like and can?
Many programs will convert your CD to flack a losslless format that is high fidelity. I have hundreds of albums on my phone
I’m so out of the loop. Glad I wrote my comment which led to this piece. So many good tips! ✨
OMG, this is soooooo creepy! I was at the Apple store today because my ancient cell phone finally gave up the ghost and I got a "new" one (model from a couple years ago). In the store a young woman was trying out a Vision Pro device, with that weird headset covering her eyes and her hands moving strangely through the air. Hard to believe anyone would actually fall for this. Beware!!!
I know there are benefits to this technology -- and I’m an avid user of technology-- but I see the nefarious agenda. It’s the same template.
Yes, I use technology, too, but with moderation and purpose. I can't yet see benefits to any of the VR or "spatial computing" technology, the way it encapsulates you and separates you from your real surroundings. What benefits do you see? And of course the way they are using it on us is utterly nefarious....
Well, the one I would see that Apple would sell as a huge benefit is immersive learning. A friend who works at Apple told me she thought this post was a bit one-sided and "negative" (I agree that it is, talking about the dangers of this type of gadget and where it ultimately seeks to corral us). I will ask her to elaborate on the pros.
Thanks, I'll be curious to hear her response. I mean, perhaps it could be used to train surgeons or dentists before allowing them to cut into real people, and perhaps it's helpful for quadriplegics. If so, then it should be made available for those specific purposes and not heavily marketed to the general public and especially not to our youth, who already suffer so much from the social isolation that came with lockdowns. They'll say it's for "learning" but then it ends up mostly used for vapid and addictive entertainment. I can see Vision Pro turning "social distancing" into a perpetual lifestyle, aside from the ravenous data harvesting.....
Totally agree. It’ll be sold as innovative tech but it’s ultimately a way to keep us in their machine.
Don’t forget about FM radio. It’s still going strong, it’s free, and there are some interesting stations around the bay area!
👌🏾
And SFPL offers Kanopy as a streaming service, which you’re already paying for through the library budget.
Actually I’ve been watching films on there for over a year now. Some really excellent films!
The enchanted world of lies
A psychic hole where spirit dies
Minds crushed by VR drugs
Delivered by big techie thugs
Who laugh as their victims cry
"Minds crushed by VR drugs,"... indeed.