Agree, the meat of the article is quite interesting. Also worth noting that, IMO, covid boosted the amount of engagement with the simulacrum (there was nothing else to do for many!), and people haven't weaned off of it. Algorithms will gradient-descend you into it very gradually, and you'll convince yourself you're just "looking for the truth."

Personally, I'm trying to cultivate more unmediated experiences as much as possible. The world and people aren't really attuned to this as much...to say nothing of my own inertia! But I do think they are an important component to both finding contentment and a sense of sustainable calm.

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ajmurmann 11 hours ago | parent [-]

"Personally, I'm trying to cultivate more unmediated experiences as much as possible."

Do you mind sharing what strategies you've found useful in this regard and what hasn't worked well?

	▲	mattgreenrocks 11 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Sure. Things with various degrees of success: * meditation - IMO this gets me close to a headspace where I want to seek out more unmediated things * practicing musical instruments * phone calls with people instead of texting * choosing the mundane versions of errands when time permits (grocery shopping in person instead of ordering via app and picking it up). There's a certain solace in the simplicity of mundane tasks that I need. Less successful: * getting outside more. This is pure inertia. * quitting social media. BlueSky helps here by being much lower volume.