I'm tired of being on the network
Smartphone and internet fatigue is prompting renewed debate over how much control individuals really have in a world where essential services, entertainment, and even banking are increasingly locked behind apps and attention‑maximizing design. Commenters split between framing constant connectivity as a personal responsibility problem—“just put down your phone”—and seeing it as an addiction engineered by trillion‑dollar companies and reinforced by app‑only access, dark patterns, and social expectations. Many share practical coping strategies, from “dumb” phones, strict notification hygiene, and FOSS setups to outright rejecting app‑gated services, while others argue the online world still offers immense value if used intentionally.
Reactions to being “tired of the network”
- Many relate to compulsive phone use despite disliking it, likening it to junk food: relief and guilt in the same loop.
- Others don’t relate at all; they keep phones in their pockets but use them sparingly, or genuinely enjoy being “always online.”
- Some see the core issue as constant distraction preventing deeper thinking or meaningful work.
Addiction, willpower, and responsibility
- One camp frames phone/tech addiction mainly as a willpower and habit issue: “just put down the phone.”
- Another stresses engineered addiction: trillion‑dollar companies optimize for engagement, making this more like gambling than a simple choice.
- Debate mirrors arguments about food and obesity: personal responsibility vs environment, biology, and “rigged” incentives.
Coping strategies and digital minimalism
- Suggested tactics:
- Use “worse” phones (cheap Android, flip phones, e‑ink devices).
- Disable almost all notifications; keep calls/voicemail on a landline/VOIP.
- Remove “dopamine apps,” delay checking mail/news, and add friction (carry phone in a bag, not pocket).
- Use FOSS/privacy OSes (GrapheneOS), RSS, ad blockers, and OS-level restrictions or “kid mode” to lock configuration.
- Some use two devices: a smart device mostly off and a basic phone for calls/texts.
Mandatory apps and shrinking offline options
- Several note areas where smartphones or apps feel effectively mandatory: banking, HSAs, tickets, access to buildings, some public/club services.
- Others counter that alternatives (web, phone, paper) still often exist, though more inconvenient.
- A minority consciously choose the inconvenient path to resist app creep, while acknowledging this is a privilege.
AliExpress, package tracking, and practical concerns
- Many see AliExpress as a poor example of “forced” app use; they track packages via web or not at all.
- Others argue functionality is increasingly gated behind apps, and in some places package theft makes tracking genuinely useful.
Views on the article’s rhetoric and MiSTer angle
- Some praise the writing and emotional accuracy; others call it hyperbolic, theatrical, or self‑contradictory (“complaining on the network about the network”).
- The MiSTer retro-console section is read by some as an awkward ad insertion, by others as just one person’s “detox” tool.
Broader attitudes toward tech
- A portion of commenters remain enthusiastic about modern tech and the internet, seeing them as long‑dreamed‑of tools that require personal discipline, not rejection.
- Others emphasize nostalgia for more “offline,” idea‑driven computing and lament feeds, algorithms, flattened discourse, and pervasive ads.