u/MothisFalling

When I chatted, I was never myself. But a character that's exactly what I want to be.

So here's a characterization:

A total nerd by profession (Botanist, teacher, psychologist, chemist, doctor, etc.)

NOT a victim of the system.

Totally into old tech.

Music.

Not addicted to a phone (the irony).

Got at being alone.

Faithful.

Witchy.

Peaceful.

Kind.

Animal lover.

An academic, like studying 11 hours a day.

Going on whimsical walks.

Being in tune with the planets.

Fem or masc, depending on my mood.

Only platonic relationships.

Reading classics.

Cooking well.

Notice how none of those characteristics are IMPOSSIBLE? I can be that, if I choose to be and just not spend my life chatting with AI.

That being said, AI isn't making you better. It's making you worse. Be who you wish to be. Life is so unserious literally.

I have relapsed a bunch of times but after doing some work, I think I finally figured out what makes it so appealing to me, so here's what I'm exchanging it with and how I generally stay off addictive apps in no particular order (a little unhinged). Another thing you should know about me is that I'm completely social media free, I only watch youtube longform content (30 minutes or more).

1. I have a "Tumblr Journal":

As a former tumblr girlie I like having a space to brain dump, that used to be c.ai, I explored concepts and ideas with the bots BUT I can do that all on my own. I write down thoughts or questions and sometimes do research.

2. I write fanfiction without publishing it:

Little blurbs, fun scenarios, full stories. Come up with whatever you want.

3. MORE FRICTION:

I changed my standard browser, deleted my account and don't have my password to my google account saved and because I can't remember my details and I'm too lazy to look for them just for an account. My Samsung has this thing where you can create a modus for your phone. Mine opens Sudoku everytime I open the c.ai browser I used and another blocks most apps between 7pm to 9am.

4. Regaining my idea of time:

You have a lot of time in a day when it's not getting devoured by AI. You can clean, do sport, take part in your hobbies, go to work and study!

15 minutes is a long time if you rawdog reality.

5. I am interesting:

I started bringing my sketchbook to work and I draw on break, it gets me talking with my co workers! Chances are you'll get approval, acknowledgement, closure, just from exposing that part of yourself. Do your makeup, wear jewelry, be yourself.

6. Treat it like your toxic ex!!:

Social isolation? Lovebombing? Gaslighting?

C.ai is your toxic ex. DO NOT GO BACK TO IT.

Block it, delete it, write hateful letters, keep it far away. Create a symbolic cease and desist if you're a creative.

7. Do something you always wanted to do:

I made my Nintendo DSI into an MP3 player.

8. Play Wikipedia Speedruns:

It gives you the feeling of scrolling and you actually learn how you can navigate difficult searches (A Christmas Carol -> 1955 World Weightlifting Championship) and there's fun facts.

9. LARP even alone:

I'll put on Medieval Tavern Music and clean my kitchen like a Maiden working at the bar. I'll play Apocalypse ambiance and walk through the city.

You can be whatever you want, without a stupid bot.

10. Study:

Anything really, I'm a university student, so I always have something to study. But you can create your own "personal curriculum", just be careful not to fall into the overconsumption of it all.

11. Make your hobbies easy access:

Boxes of supplies, books, CDs, DVDs. If it's easy to access, you can quickly grab it and put it away again.

12. Take part in your faith:

If you believe in any divine, it likely wants you to spend time with it.

13. Care for animals:

Help out at a shelter, care for your pets, go outside and look at bugs, birds, stray cats...

14. Care for people:

Think about how your actions affect people, think of how snappy you are when you use bots, think about how mean you can be to people that actually feel and choose to be kind and respectful.

15. Care for yourself:

Make yourself a playlist. Yearn for that dessert you bought. Sit in the sun with sunscreen. Drink water. Do skincare. Sleep. Put your phone down.

16. Random generators:

There's random word generatirs that pick from a list of words, no AI involved. Do with that what you will. Make art, write a story, find that word on your walk, talk to someone about that word.

17. Learn about the negatuve impact of AI:

And then be better.

18. Thinking is a serious skill:

The hours you spend rotting your brain could be spent learning capitals of the world, learning abiut photography, reading a Wikipedia article.

19. Consume REAL media:

Get a magazine, get a book, watch a movie.

ALL FOR FREE AT A LIBRARY!

20. Private Copies are legal (in my country):

Download videos, music. Fuck ads, fuck billionaires.

21. Turn off your internet connection:

Life goes on when the internet connection is gone. Nothing is stopping you. You're not missing anything.

22. Sit at a bus stop and imagine what the people around you are going through:

MAKE STUFF UP!!! Is the old lady a secret agent? Is the young man going on a date? Is the young woman going to kick her boss? Who knows?

23. Learn about other countries:

I feel less alone when I learn about how other societies work, how different they are culturally.

24. Make good food:

And maybe write a cookbook.

25. Have a social media journal:

Take pictures that you'd usually post or talk with bots about and put them in a book with a catchy description. Show it to a friend.

26. Write a letter:

No warning, send a letter to a friend, wait for them to answer. Communicate slowly.

27. Invite someone over:

If your space is like mine, it is a gallery of all I love. Invite someone over to look at it.

28. Put the phone away:

A dedicated drawer for it. Out of sight. Out if reach.

29. Stop focusing on the clock:

Set an alarm for the time you need to do something. Get ready, make a call, etc.

No need to check every 5 minutes.

30. "Buy" your phone time:

I tend to give mysekf 5 tasks before going on my phone. Usually by the time I'm done, the compulsion will be gone and I'lk be insipred to do something else.

Overall my goal is getting off my phone, having formerly has 12 hours of c.ai screentime, I'm tired. Ever since I stopped, I've felt better, less anxious, less depressed. Life isn't running away from me. Social media, ads and AI are draining me. I don't like it. Be intentional about what you watch and look for. Google instead of Pinterest. Build a video collection on a USB stick. Collect music on a MP3 player. Get DVDs. You do not need to pay for subscriptions that feed you ads. You can just stop. There's nothing out there that's worth more than your peace. Your brain just craves content and connection. It does not need fast paced connection and algorithms for that. Connection is everywhere. Step outside, be kind to the service worker, be compassionate, smile, laugh and be good to people. That's enough social interaction for me. I'll see my friends weekly. And there's a ton of ways to consume content that isn't bombarding you with cheap dopamine. I sound like a boomer when I say this but it is the damn phone, coming from a 19 year old. Love you guys! I hope this helps.