consume less, create more

[hitchhiker]

https://tjcx.me/posts/consumption-distraction/


I have mixed feelings about this - on one hand, there is a misguidedly moralistic overtone that the author hasn't quite managed to shed, that passive consumption is "evil" and that creation is "self-improving".

On the other hand, I do feel that creating stuff makes me happier and more satisfied, and it was interesting to read his journey towards that same realisation.

As an aside he also misses an important point about consumption - it can be a great thing as long as you consciously notice whether it is making you happier or more satisfied when you do it. The infinite stream of content is not dangerous because it encourages passive consumption so much as it is dangerous because it can lull you into consuming past the point of diminishing returns.

Comments

[hitchhiker]

the bit i liked about it was not the "creativity" aspect (which i agree gets unnecessarily fetishised), but the psychological satisfaction of putting effort into "doing" rather than consuming stuff. i think editing and tweaking is a fine way to do that, as for that matter would be contributing to something like wikipedia or distributed proofreaders. it's all about how you feel at the end of it.

[leiacat]

I have indeed spent some time DP-ing back in the day. Good to see it's still around.

I submit that there are infinite ways to derive said psychological satisfaction, including not just the aforementioned, but also engaging in athletic activities, some aspects of child-raising, and so forth.

[hitchhiker]

sure, but he has discovered one of them and it was nice to see him encouraging people to give it a try even if it looked like work.

[leiacat]

I would not have described it as "encouraging" or "nice".

[hitchhiker]

okay, that's a good point. that could have been a way better article if he fixed his tone.

[leiacat]

I rather got the feeling that he considered his tone his greatest achievement about it.