woogiewonka

Slack (don't know if you'd qualify it as social media) has been raining havoc on my attention. For the life of me I can't seem to disable notifications and get constant emails and crap. Every new group you join you gotta go to settings and mess with settings forever. Why can't they just have 1 single button right in the channel that mutes EVERYTHING. Let me check the damn thing.

Did you read the article? The topic of conversation was teenagers who are looking to unplug because they are tired of what social media turns their peers into. They obviously have many things "not to love". I don't see anyone complaining about having a miserable time on social media - it's just that they recognize the need to unplug due to what social media does to your brain.

I don't believe this. I think humans are capable of rapid change if appealed to their emotions in a powerful way. I think kids are the key to this and I am willing to try it. Imagine if 1000 people wrote urgent messages that actually reached these people who have significant control over how things are produced - that has to make some impact!

As an individual who wants to make the biggest impact on this issue, what are my options?

I am a UX/UI designer and I wonder what I could do to help rid the world of microplastics. I was thinking off the top of my head:

1. Write a letter to every company that uses exorbitant amount plastic in it's product or packaging (tons of them here in Japan) and try to make them aware of the issue (appeal through emotions - their kids). I figured, if I send 5,000 letters, perhaps I get an action rate of 2%, that could amount to 100 companies acting to reduce their product waste. 2. I could write to every politician that comes in contact with this issue on a regular basis - but what do I tell them? I think it needs to be something very specific and actionable, but maybe it doesn't? 3. I could create a website that helps expose the issue. I think, especially here in Japan people are just unaware of the environmental disaster pending outside their nation. It seems the island as a geographical feature creates a very strong bubble and we hardly ever hear about anything environment related. I could also do the same in U.S. (multi-language site)

That's where my creativity stops... what other things can I, or people like myself do right now to make an impact?

EDIT: If anyone wants to help me make a list of top Japanese company executives (preferably with their email, and or any other personal information we can find - hopefully their kids names), I can write a compelling letter + email to try to get past their gatekeepers.

EDIT 2: I am starting a doc to get info on Japanese Execs who have the most impact on this issue. I will try to find ways to communicate action to them in ways that do not cost them, preferably help generate additional revenue. Here is a link to anyone who would like to participate. I think if we crowd-source this issue, we can make an impact: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1biahioKkh7ZbYBxquWaM...

There is no mention of 9-5 in the parent comment. What made you get so aggressive at the statement above?

What kind of consulting? How did you find success in it?

Good for you! What kind of freelancing and how long? I know of many who burned out, and I'm borderline there myself since I hadn't developed a passive lead stream.

I was 23 when I lost all taste for ordinary work. After being borderline homeless to making 300k in 3 months in affiliating marketing, the though of office work made it unbearable. Little did I know the new found good life would crash around me and I'd have to do the unthinkable - work in an office. The next 4 years were the most miserable years of my life. I was saved by a remote job, followed by another remote gig which ultimately ended in a layoff. The whole experience has made it impossible for me to ever return to an office. Instead, I now struggle as a freelancer / wannabe consultant.

Are you still freelancing?

Software engineers / developers live in their own bubbles. It takes a certain amount of willfulness to want to get into that type of work, so it is no wonder a handful (or more than a handful) of well paid engineers actually enjoy their work. Of course that goes for other professions but I imagine the majority of the population does not live in your reality.

I'm always impressed with how Japan handles recycling, despite being a heavy plastic user and producer. Last figure I read was 70% of all plastic recycled.

Why not ban manufacturing certain plastics that end up in consumers' hands?

I wouldn't say it's standard but it doesn't surprise me. People who work late, have too much on their plate (pun), would probably not shy away from using a single use plate. I know I've done it myself (shame on me) but hey, I'm trying now!

Now if only we could do the same in Japan. I am always amazed to see individually-wrapped cookies wrapped in plastic, inside a box, wrapped by more plastic, inside paper inside a single-use shopping bag. I mean... C'MON!!!!

I suspect a large number of comments across any crypto sub are from fake accounts - marketing teams, account farms, team members themselves. The level of fraud and scam in crypto now is so high, it's hard to distinguish genuine comments from fake stuff.

TIL Favism.

You can be OK with it and still seek answers.

Brilliant.

If I had to bet on the right answer it would be this. The time scales of the universe are mind-fucking and we are just naive if we think we can maneuver around them.

Had exact same thought. "Based on what we know (which is not enough), I can say with greater confidence" ^^ oh really?

Milky Way is estimated to be what... 13.5 billion years old. Humanity is 200,000 years old. The time span in which we are actually able to detect anything outside our own planet is what.. 100 years old? I suspect it's a lot more than a dozen times. If life is more likely to develop, then humans have only been able to look out into our own galaxy for an entire 0.00000074% existence of our galaxy. Now, let's say a civilization does not last more than 1 million years for whatever reason, that means we exist for a whopping 0.00074% age of the universe to date. I don't know if I did my math all wrong, but if correct there is an enormous chance that 2 civilzation's paths may never cross. We could be living right next to the remains of a civilization before us and never know it.

I have always had a sneaking suspicion that the time scale on which we seek answers is far too narrow for answers to be found. Is it not likely that the period during which advanced civilizations actually exists is so short that they never cross each other's paths? I mean, if this were the case, wouldn't it throw the entire Drake equation out the window?

I should mention that I will be validating these ideas before proceeding so we are not building a junk app. Cheers.

I have a bunch of app ideas if anyone wants to build one with me. I am a UX/UI designer, would need a developer (probably iOS or Android, but web would be helpful too). Reply with contact info if interested.

Wait, these are cons to working from home? If you get distracted at home, you probably get as equally distracted at work. I have been working from home for close to 5 years now and for me it's been the exact opposite - less distractions, more work done in shorter amount of time it would take me to do it in the office. Less social interaction - sure, but it doesn't have to be that way. Social interaction lost one place can be gained elsewhere. Stringent routines? What's wrong with discipline and having the ability to engage and disengage when you please?

I am most productive in early mornings and late evenings. Should I go ahead and tell my boss that I won't be doing anything mid-day and they should be cool with that? Name one place where people will okay this.

I can already hear the argument - "but, working at home doesn't mean you can take the afternoon off!!!" I'm sorry to say this, but anyone who thinks they are 100% productive all throughout the day has not had to try hourly work where you get paid by the hours you work and not by the full day. Hourly freelancers know what I am talking about. I will go on record to say that most if not all people can NEVER function at 100% capacity. To believe that looking busy all day long = working is just wishful thinking, ignorance or foolishness, take your pick.

1. Poop any time you want 2. Take a nap vs. pretending to work 3. Less stress - no dealing with assholes in person, now you can simply click away. 4. Spend time with kids 5. No driving needed, avoid polluted highways, more sleep, less stress, less frustration. 6. Eat healthy home made. No need to ingest preservatives every day. 7. Keep sanity by working only when you are most productive vs. pretending to work when you can't get anything done. 8. Less stress from seeing asshole "managers"

I wish Stripe interface was more friendly. Looking at Freshbooks and Stripe, Freshbooks makes it look so simple and nice. Any plans to make your user interface more friendly to casual users who are not devs? Thanks.

Checking out her podcast, looks interesting.

I don't know about nothing.. I think paper and ink were used.