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Comment by Bakary | Hacker News Reader

By a rich life, I'm referring to something that needs no further justification. When you are in this state, the need to contextualize, criticize, or philosophize about your experiences almost disappears. Think of a young child in a state of playful flow. Even if you fully take on the anti-natalist conclusion, the experience still justifies itself on its own, as an end in itself.

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Which is what you get from computers? The only bad thing about them is the low social status associated with it. There is some weird bias in society that you are a lesser human somehow if you spend a lot of time in front of computers instead of doing more "rich" things like reading books. At least for me all anxiety related to spending a lot of time with computers disappeared once I stopped caring about what others think, I don't think there is anything inherently bad with it other than that.

Being sedentary is not very good on your body, muscles atrophy, joints become stiff, your body tires easier and from there it’s a downward slope. If you have enough physical activity then you need not worry about this but there are other factors. Like muscles all other faculties atrophy as well without use. Physical activity is good for the brain as well.

I think of the computer as a tool at the end of the day. It is a very powerful tool which has radically changed how we do things but it’s still a tool.

Lastly it’s healthy to take a break from whatever main activity, whatever that is - could be being on the computer all the time programming or playing games - so that a different perspective sweeps in.

Talking about health is a rather lousy justification. It's not because of worry for one's health that spending time in front of computers is considered low-status.

My suspicion is it's because of perceived individualism. Computers may provide you with rich and social experiences, but they detach you from people physically around you, and some people can't stand that.

I'm not sedentary. You just have to get up and move a few minutes regularly throughout the day.

Do you think being sedentary is literally not moving at all throughout your day? Doctors generally recommend at least 4-5 hours of vigorous exercise a week, getting up and circling your apartment a few times each day is not equivalent.

No, I go and do an exercise regime every hour, why would you just walk around your home? Waste of time to not exercise hard.

Moving a few minutes regularly throughout the day? You just described being sedentary.

Nah, if you max out your pulse 30 minutes a day you aren't sedentary, and that is just 5 minutes 6 times a day. It is healthier to spread it out like that rather than sit still and do it all at once.

I've also struggled with the stigma against computer-based activities in my lifetime. I'm more interested in the opportunity cost for the individual, however, irrespective of what others think. I've posted here with my own experiences, but they are not necessarily applicable to everyone. I'm certain that many people have a perfectly healthy relationship with computers but given the context of the thread I was writing for those who didn't, that is to say those who sought refuge in them in the face of an unsatisfying reality.

In my case, I'm trying to reverse the flow and build the life I was always afraid of. I've caught glimpse of it here and there so I know it's not just a figment of my escapist imagination but a genuine interest. I know that many activities leave me more fulfilled than using a computer, but organizing my life so that I can engage in those regularly is the same difficult challenge that nudged me to get addicted to computers in the first place.

By all means, if you've found a life that's inherently satisfying, don't let yourself deviate from it!

Personally, I would rather spend my time doing things I find fulfilling instead of killing an hour+ scrolling through Reddit and getting distracted by the internet. I don’t care that if I’m spending all my time on my computer if Im doing things I find meaningful. Compulsively checking my phone and scrolling Reddit is in no way meaningful to me anymore.

Similarly I'd rather spend my time doing things I find fulfilling instead of killing an hour+ talking about the weather with acquaintances. I don't see the difference.

Who mentioned talking to relatives about the weather? Is that the only alternative you have to being on the computer all the time? How about spending some time outdoors?

> Who mentioned talking to relatives about the weather?

Who mentioned spending all time on reddit on new? We can't just take the good non computer activities and compare them to crap computer activities. I don't see why unfulfilling computer activities would be more worse than the unfulfilling non computer activities and vice versa.

Great for you if you can. Many of us have a harder time doing so and end up doing things which we end up regretting. For one I think I spend too much time on HN. I did a few detoxes and eventually sucumbed to it again.

> When you are in this state, the need to contextualize, criticize, or philosophize about your experiences almost disappears.

For me browsing and often gaming fulfills this description of rich life.

So the perfect distraction?

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