Digital Veganism

A post blocked on elektronauts, I decided to jump board.
It's not my first time wanting to jump ship, but this time
I just did it. I have a bit of regret. It's a nice community
and I use elektron device for my music making. 

This was not a break up with the elektron community
but a break up with the surface web. This was my last
public social account on the surface web. I still have a
few repository of files here and there, a public github
account, but this was a big piece. 

As many other people on gopher, I am slowly removing part
of my online consumption. Similar to my food habit change
I realize that my digital consumption have negative effect
on my mood and on my mind. Although I've used the word
detox in the past, I start to realize that this is more
of a long term change. I don't just want to detox for a 
bit and go back to a unhealthy dose of technology. 

I see a lot of paralelle between digital consumption 
and food. It would be interesting to grade
our technology usage and see where we stand.

In the digital world there are a few elements to consider. 
There is the software part. Open source, closed source, 
hand coded etc. Then you have the hardware, what device
and company your support with your money. 

Then there is the money aspect. How much do you spend on 
technology? How much do you pay monthly for all your 
accounts? Who do you pay for these services? Also 
how many time do you change your phone per year?
How much technology do you throw away and give away
because you keep on buying. 

Then there is the concept of using technology or being 
used by technology. To give an example with food, if you 
only use food to satisfy your senses, then you are used 
by food. If you just want to 'fuel' your body with whatever your 
put in there, then although your not 'used' by the food, 
it's still detach from it's potential. If you use food 
to help your body and your life, food as medicine to help 
your internal and external balance, then you maximize 
the activity of feeding yourself. 

Technology is the same. You can be addicted to technology. 
Not being able to be without it for an extended period 
of time. You can default to using technology because
everyone does it. You spend too much time not being able 
to use it properly. It's frustrating but it seems like 
you have to do it. Or you can use technology for your 
own good. You use technology for creativity, to generate 
income, or for communication. 

By looking at all these aspect of technology you could come
up with not only a proper diet, but also a classification,
a position you take in the digital world. Here is a short
list of what it could look like:


Digital Foodist

You reliaze there are healthy and unhealty part of your 
digital life. The fast food part of the web and technology 
doesn't interest you as much and you seek the ultimate 
balance of enjoyment and quality. 

Some digital foodist enjoy retro computing for instance, 
or esoteric OS. They will still use commercial OS and devices.

Digital Vegetarian

You  make the distinction between open and closed source. 
Give up on your google life and Facebook life but you still
have a few online account. Apple is a vice still permited, 
although the Digital Vegetarian feels shame when buying a 
new iphone. 

Digital Veganism

You don't participate in the social network histeria. 
You've given up on the surface web. All your software
are open source. Your phone is de-googlelised, your 
life is ad free, without any paid subscription. 

Raw Foodist

A complete open source life. Minimal use of technologies. 
Text only, offline first is prefered. Not participating 
in the major GAFA and surface web. Minimal investment in
computer part and devices. Prefer trades and used material 
and never buy new. You don't even come near an apple or 
windows computer. 

Digital Brutalism

You code your own tools and build your own electronic device. 
Technology works for you. Everything is recycled, upcycled
or someone else throw away. 

Digital Breatharian

You live off wireless and cell phone networks, touch a
fiber optic strand to absorb its data. The physical world
mix in an unending whirlpool where our body and 
technology are all part of a raw experience.