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Comment by valbaca | Hacker News Reader

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.

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"The more things change, the more they stay the same" doesnt account for Dopamine level stimulation, which differs depending on the medium.

“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.

> 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..

I think the meaning of the word technology is shifting. In common usage things such as simple tools are not described as technology.

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!"

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".

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"

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