this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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Sticking your head in the sand will do that. Nothing will actually change but it’ll feel like it’s not there.
More like "don't stick your head in a pile oft shit", ignoring these platforms is not ignoring the world, it's changing your point oft view, you won't miss anything of importance.
That's may be true for you, but a lot of these type sites are a great source for news and information about the world. Ignorance is bliss as they say, but the world keeps spinning whether or not you pay attention to it. I'm not saying you HAVE to get news from social media, but that's what I primarily use it for.
You get a lot of information, but it isn't news relevant to your life. It's information meant to upset and disturbing you so that you pay attention to it, not because it's a threat to you, but because then the website can get paid for pushing advertisements for products you don't need under your eyeballs.
Give it a shot for a month or so. Stay off social media, only use direct contact communication with your friends and loved ones. Instead of news, talk to them about anything else. The world indeed will keep spinning, but you don't need to know to worry about every little turn. It'll be in the same place when you're done with your break and your observation of it won't change the trajectory.
Sorry but I don't have the ability to stop caring how the world is doing
Sorry in advance for the unsolicited advice, but if you’re a news junkie (like me), try out an RSS feed reader (Feedly, Inoreader, Newsblur is a FOSS option).
You get to bypass the comment section of social media while still being aware of what is going on around you. I use Ino because it’s cross platform. It makes it super easy to subscribe to anything from Nature to Vogue to my local news affiliate, and it has a trending section, as well as curated groups for hobbies/interests and your work industry as well.
You don’t have to stop caring about the world in order to live without social media.
Nah you're right, but I'm always curious what people think too haha
Oh I totally understand, I’m the exact same way. But lately looking at social media comments is the equivalent of taking +1000% psychic damage.
I understand, good luck with it and I hope you can find peace of mind later in life.
If you have the opportunity, you might wanna try fishing. It's a great way to step away from the information overload and just enjoy what's around you. It's cheap and accessible, as long as you're near water, and it's quite rewarding to spend a few hours casting away in nature.
I've considered fishing, but the equipment is expensive, and all the closest locations are pretty far. When I need to chill I just play a game or go for a smoke.
Well, location can be tricky, that's for sure, but they sell some pretty cheap rod and reel combos that are great for trout fishing for around $20-$35 that'll get you going pretty quickly. Other than that, you just need a lure, or a bobber and hook, all of those are gonna be around $5 total, and some bait. Digging for worms after it rains is pretty easy, even grabbing bugs on location is a great way to get bait!
I'll bring something to smoke with me, usually, too. It's a nice combo. Or a cooler with some crisp beers inside, great way to spend an afternoon or early morning.
I appreciate the concern and know about the potential negative consequences. But with all due respect, you don't know me or the type of news I seek out or how I feel about it. I prefer to know what's going on around me and the world so I can work towards making impactful changes. That doesn't mean everyone else has to but it works well for me.