Hunter gatherer

Everyone has likely heard about the remote tribe that was given internet access and is now addicted to porn and social media. The tribe got internet access and they’re now a big joke on the internet. That’s got to suck. You whole dang tribe now has this asterisk next to their name.

But the story has me thinking about my own addiction to YouTube. I don’t know that I’m addicted to YouTube, as much as I’m addicted to the action of hunting for videos and gathering ideas. It’s that feeling of false productivity. I feel like I’m productive.

It’s kind of like the Shiptalkers app that shows your tweets vs. commits. Why do we get addicted to tweets? Probably because it’s easier to feel productive there. On YouTube I feel like I find interesting topics to think about, and I may use the ideas to write down some notes here and in my Obsidian vault.

I joke about being addicted again to hydroponics, but there’s some truth to that. Having started some lettuces, I’m pulling out the seed packets and already wishing I had more space to plant. If I doubled my space I could plant parsley, oregano, mint, marjoram, cumin, coriander, sage, summer savory, basil, dill, thyme, chives, celery, swiss chard, escarole, endive, kale, spinach, strawberry spinach, mache, arugula, and cress! It’s all part of this instinct to hunt, and this drive to gather.