I was fortunate to be at your London book launch for The Outrun in 2016. My signed copy is a talisman; the lovely chat with you - *with encouragement and care, transformation is possible* - a reminder to breathe and pause. Cherish analogue connection - that is where real life lives. Look forward to your new writing. We'll be here to welcome you back.
This resonates so deeply. That line about 'chasing the sniff of a future hit' perfectly captures the addiction cycle of social media validation. I deleted Instagram for three months last year and the withdrawl symptoms were real - kept reaching for my phone like a phantom limb. Your writing makes these complex feelings feel less isolatig.
I listened to Calderdale libraries podcast “chat from the stacks”episode yesterday and it mentioned the factories and mills sucking in the workers so they never saw daylight in winter, emptying the moors.
I think it’s possible to curate my internet use so that I’m scrolling fab articles like this. I think I’m the same age as you - I went on a school trip to “visit the internet” when I was about 16 in 1998.
We can bend algorithms - and they can shape us too as you describe so well. I want to stay in the drivers seat of my consumption i suppose. Easier said than done sometimes. Thankyou.
I had no idea there was a Calderdale libraries podcast. That sounds good, I’ll listen.
& good point re curation. When I was on Twitter (before my account got hacked and stolen from me!), everyone I followed was talking about birding etc and I didn’t see the angry side.
The episode I linked is John Billingsley on moorland folklore - he tells a couple of Churn Milk Joan stories there. Sorry you said you were getting overwhelmed by the internet and here I am adding to information overload
The OG reason I ever arrived on any platform at all was that a (lonely) friend ( minus any online friends to commune with at that time ~2005 ) set up a Facebook profile *for* me ?! I’ve often wondered how things would’ve panned out without that bold unrequested shove.
I’d like for there to be a word for someone who refuses to para-exist at all and may well dream of being one tonight.
Yes, using the internet to escape from the day to day, and connecting with friends far and wide, was definitely a motivation twenty years ao. But now, if I can summon up the strength of will, life is so much better without it. The mounting horrors of the real world are unknown to me, the latest ramification of madness might not even be happening when I'm in my garden for six hours on the trot. It takes a moment or two of pain to separate myself and then it's pure relief.
I think we were probably friends on Friendster. I really enjoyed this - especially the physical compulsion to reach for your phone. I need to think a lot more about my use as the kids get closer to secondary school age (a long way yet, but still)
Yes the urge to check the phone has become an addiction for so many of us. Seeking external validation from Internet platforms, including Substack, seems to be part of life unfortunately. Nobody is immune to it. So it's how we manage it individually is the most important thing 👍😉
More and more people seem to be feeling the same way about the online world’s turn for the worse. There’s still uplifting stuff out there, but it’s getting harder and harder to find. I’m also trying to cut back this year—but, as this comment demonstrates, I’m failing miserably!
Loved reading this. Really enjoyed the quote about "we went online to escape real life and now we use real life to try and escape the internet." and "people’s strengths are often the same things that will destroy them and of how our flaws can also be qualities. Addictive tendencies can be harnessed and used as a creative force." Made me think about my relationship with the online world.
Thanks for sharing. Also attempting to step back from the suck of online, slowly but surely backing away from online spaces that keep me hypnotised. Probably leaving a comment is not helpful for the dopamine chasing but also I loved the Outrun. Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability x
I was fortunate to be at your London book launch for The Outrun in 2016. My signed copy is a talisman; the lovely chat with you - *with encouragement and care, transformation is possible* - a reminder to breathe and pause. Cherish analogue connection - that is where real life lives. Look forward to your new writing. We'll be here to welcome you back.
That was exactly ten years ago!
Perfect synchronicity to re-connect ten years later! Highlight of 2016. Thanks for responding, appreciate it.
If this was at the Tabernacle then I was there too.
Whatever, I feel what you say.
Ah, twas Waterstones, and a later nature reading evening at Heal's. Highlight of 2016.
The Outrun is one of my favourite books of all time
I am proud to hear that!
This resonates so deeply. That line about 'chasing the sniff of a future hit' perfectly captures the addiction cycle of social media validation. I deleted Instagram for three months last year and the withdrawl symptoms were real - kept reaching for my phone like a phantom limb. Your writing makes these complex feelings feel less isolatig.
I listened to Calderdale libraries podcast “chat from the stacks”episode yesterday and it mentioned the factories and mills sucking in the workers so they never saw daylight in winter, emptying the moors.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/history-out-loud/id1558188365?i=1000673027172
I think it’s possible to curate my internet use so that I’m scrolling fab articles like this. I think I’m the same age as you - I went on a school trip to “visit the internet” when I was about 16 in 1998.
We can bend algorithms - and they can shape us too as you describe so well. I want to stay in the drivers seat of my consumption i suppose. Easier said than done sometimes. Thankyou.
I had no idea there was a Calderdale libraries podcast. That sounds good, I’ll listen.
& good point re curation. When I was on Twitter (before my account got hacked and stolen from me!), everyone I followed was talking about birding etc and I didn’t see the angry side.
The episode I linked is John Billingsley on moorland folklore - he tells a couple of Churn Milk Joan stories there. Sorry you said you were getting overwhelmed by the internet and here I am adding to information overload
🫶
In case this helps anyone: https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/
Thanks.
The OG reason I ever arrived on any platform at all was that a (lonely) friend ( minus any online friends to commune with at that time ~2005 ) set up a Facebook profile *for* me ?! I’ve often wondered how things would’ve panned out without that bold unrequested shove.
I’d like for there to be a word for someone who refuses to para-exist at all and may well dream of being one tonight.
Hmm it’s likely it’s would have sucked you in some other way.
Yes, suctioning my soul inside one globulous drop of dopamine at a time. 🙈
Yep. Here for all of this. 🤍
Well said, I get nothing from scrolling yet it's so hard to break the habit.
Yes, using the internet to escape from the day to day, and connecting with friends far and wide, was definitely a motivation twenty years ao. But now, if I can summon up the strength of will, life is so much better without it. The mounting horrors of the real world are unknown to me, the latest ramification of madness might not even be happening when I'm in my garden for six hours on the trot. It takes a moment or two of pain to separate myself and then it's pure relief.
Thank you for this always a reminder and how not to be an extension to our devices, time to get out the spinning wheel
I think we were probably friends on Friendster. I really enjoyed this - especially the physical compulsion to reach for your phone. I need to think a lot more about my use as the kids get closer to secondary school age (a long way yet, but still)
Yes the urge to check the phone has become an addiction for so many of us. Seeking external validation from Internet platforms, including Substack, seems to be part of life unfortunately. Nobody is immune to it. So it's how we manage it individually is the most important thing 👍😉
More and more people seem to be feeling the same way about the online world’s turn for the worse. There’s still uplifting stuff out there, but it’s getting harder and harder to find. I’m also trying to cut back this year—but, as this comment demonstrates, I’m failing miserably!
There’s masses of good stuff out there Rich buts it’s just all Too Much for my noggin.
Loved reading this. Really enjoyed the quote about "we went online to escape real life and now we use real life to try and escape the internet." and "people’s strengths are often the same things that will destroy them and of how our flaws can also be qualities. Addictive tendencies can be harnessed and used as a creative force." Made me think about my relationship with the online world.
Thanks for sharing. Also attempting to step back from the suck of online, slowly but surely backing away from online spaces that keep me hypnotised. Probably leaving a comment is not helpful for the dopamine chasing but also I loved the Outrun. Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability x