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Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by valbaca on Monday December 30, 2024 @12:43PM (#42551554)
Ironic that they're claiming to take a break from technology but misunderstand what actually IS technology.

> Technology is natural. A seed is technology.

A seed is not (necessarily) technology.

> like reading a book, watching a film

Those are technology. And each generation has had its fill of panic of "over consumption" of the new technology; see Plato re:writing. Every generation has panicked over books/movies/music/tv/internet/games. Yes, even books. I remember as a kid they encouraged us to read but not TOO much.

Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by YinglingHeavy on Monday December 30, 2024 @01:47PM (#42552267)
"The more things change, the more they stay the same" doesnt account for Dopamine level stimulation, which differs depending on the medium.
Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by renox on Monday December 30, 2024 @03:09PM (#42552940)
> Yes, even books. I remember as a kid they encouraged us to read but not TOO much.

Which is a good advice: too much of a good thing isn't a good thing..

Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by graemep on Monday December 30, 2024 @01:09PM (#42551862)
I think the meaning of the word technology is shifting. In common usage things such as simple tools are not described as technology.
Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by valbaca on Monday December 30, 2024 @01:16PM (#42551950)
Yeah, that's fair, in this sense they obviously mean "internet/modern technology" but it's funny to me that the "take a break from tech" isn't to go for a walk or reflect, but instead it's "Go consume a different form of media!"
Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by hombre_fatal on Monday December 30, 2024 @01:23PM (#42552033)
Well, it's to go do something more fulfilling. A book is more fulfilling than, say, doomscrolling. To lump them both into "media" misses that difference.

Just like you wouldn't lump tiktok comments and a thought-provoking book into "reading".

Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by drekipus on Monday December 30, 2024 @07:22PM (#42555109)
It's still reading.

you can get profound insight from random youtube comments. A book can be a waste of time.

To separate them is to put a value on it that isn't there by any objective measure.

I'd argue "take a break from tech" does definitely involve putting down the books. go be with yourself for a bit. let your own thoughts develop, go "touch grass"

Re:They'd rather have dumbphones than brain rot by kayvulpe on Monday December 30, 2024 @05:30PM (#42554263)
“Technology is anything that was invented after you were born, everything else is just stuff.” - Alan Kay

“Technology is everything that doesn't work yet.” - W. Danny Hillis

Just wanted to add this. I'm sure there are a few more. Coming from these, they _were_ technology.