Has anyone else been feeling more positive spending time here instead of other social media?

[GardeniaSky]

I've been on Reddit a lot less recently because this forum is here. I feel like this is so much less toxic and damaging to my psyche. Doomscrolling is super real.

I'm noticing it's a really hard habit to break, grabbing my phone whenever I have a little down time.

 

[DrunkOcelot]

This place is alot more chill than most places on the internet.

 

[Gorse]

I don't get it – why do people doomscroll? Why don't you just stop using the app if you don't like it anymore? Before I was on RGT, I used precisely zero social media platforms, and it's going to stay that way because they're all full of the same slop, regardless of what the app's name and layout is.

 

[bjork]

I've always used social media as a way to keep up with a handful of people, and also a microdiary of sorts. So my experience is fairly tight and confined to what I want to see, and when I feel like seeing more, I can go looking for it. That said, recent world events have made a lot of stuff spill onto my feed that I wouldn't see otherwise, for better or for worse. So I've been on some of that stuff far less.

I think this forum is good and mellow, but as it grows, it'll have the same problems as anywhere else: world views influenced by either seeing too much, or not enough yet. I think where I've improved is that I can kind of parse that out and just let things go, instead of seeing a post and replying like, "fucking what? come on dude" to things. Which I guess is my way of helping it be mellow here, less in-fighting.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's iconRanmyakuIchi]

I haven't used much social media in general here lately, but this place is pretty different. This place actually feels nice and pleasant to be a part of.

 

[Antilocal123]

I inject myself with heroin before browsing so I have a smile on my face whenever. /j

 

[Asian girls lover]

I used TikTok more than how I really wanted, so I had to delete my account. Same for Instagram and Reddit. Now I'm only here, and I never thought about deleting my account.

 

[Grumpy_Old_Man]

There is enough crap in the "real world", why I would want to suffer in a "fake one".
Also there is no space for discussions or dissenting opinions in the so called antisocial media.

 

[Bakuma1997]

So far i haven't used any social net aside of a Discord server i share with lots of friends from a former forum that imploded, i feel confortable recharging my social batteries here, he, to think i only made the account for the games

 

[Danny_Dogg]

I feel social media is just a good way of spending your time doing nothing. And congratulations on getting me to post my first post here, i'm more the observer kind of type, but avoiding or deleting social media can help, especially when you see the world full of crazy people that can writes they thoughts online thinking it's just virtual when a lot of stuff can have an impact irl.

 

[MasterEn]

I don't get it – why do people doomscroll? Why don't you just stop using the app if you don't like it anymore? Before I was on RGT, I used precisely zero social media platforms, and it's going to stay that way because they're all full of the same slop, regardless of what the app's name and layout is.

the creators of the apps and sites spend an insane amount of money to get people hooked on it. especially to get you to sign up. every once in a while, i browse deviantart without being signed in, you get like 12 pictures before you have to click a button to go to the next page. signed in, i can scroll for as long as my computer or phone can handle it. and that money spent on the app or site is used not only to maintain the site, but for implementation of business practices; you can sell stuff on deviantart.
and the most insidious part, the content that you are shown is determined by what you click on, and who you have on your watch list. as far as i can tell. it seems more like what you view is the major factor.
you click on 2 pictures of princess daisy in a swimsuit, next time you log in, your home feed is peach, daisy, rosalina, zelda and others in swimsuits. look up some memes, you get more memes next time.
your visit is tailored to what you look at, and it gets you addicted, because its stuff that you want to view. same with youtube. watch a video game review, get more reviews. watch a podcast, more podcasts. watch a animation, more animations.
that's why people are doomscrolling.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Yes, actually.

I just got off an argument with some rando on Twatter and now I'm honestly wondering why the hell I ever stepped away from forums.

RGT gives me a creative outlet, whilst social media makes me wanna off people. It's really no contest.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

I like this place, the A/C works and everyone has the same taste in anime, music and games. Its nice.

 

[AkiraSO4]

Yeah, mostly. It's alright.
I don't stick to social media anyway.

 

[SageoThyme]

Haven't been here long, but I feel welcome and I'm not having too many issues with my anxiety so that's great.

 

[LiberoVulpes]

This place is very chill, and as i said in another thread, is like a small town where everyone knows everyone. Not even the other forums i used to be a member of can compare.

I only use Twitter for news about devs i follow anyway.

 

[MaraFirebrand]

I don't get it – why do people doomscroll? Why don't you just stop using the app if you don't like it anymore? Before I was on RGT, I used precisely zero social media platforms, and it's going to stay that way because they're all full of the same slop, regardless of what the app's name and layout is.

From personal experience? Because it's an addiction. And for those vindictive like I, it's outrage porn.

But to answer OP's question? Yes. Absolutely. 100%. These forums let me fulfill something that social media only tries to emulate. It's fun to talk shop with my fellow game geeks, something I can't quite get IRL. Y'all are great people, on top of that. I might not always agree with everyone on everything, but I like you folks.

 

[pHoeniX_WRIght]

Of course!

 

[RageBurner]

Social media apps are made in such a way that they hijack your brain chemistry, especially the neurochemical processes connected to reward mechanisms.

Contemporary humans (us) are severely dopamine deprived and we have a tendency to try and compensate for it in the simplest ways possible. They know this.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

I don't get it – why do people doomscroll? Why don't you just stop using the app if you don't like it anymore?

the creators of the apps and sites spend an insane amount of money to get people hooked on it. especially to get you to sign up.

Certainly sounds right.

Honestly Social media shouldn't be where discussions are held and that holds your life. The main purpose i see of say Twitter and Facebook, is

a) Business updates.

This is where a business says it's having a sale, 30% off yellow plates at the sushi restaurant, 20th year celebration at the local shop, discount on ammo or art supplies, etc etc.

This is the main reason i'd think the services should exist. And the only time i think bots would be acceptable. Though limit frequency to no more than 1 a day.

b) updates on family

This is a similar feed, but only for family and maybe friends. Oh brother had his second son born, Jessica got first place in reading class and a book assignment, etc. Terry went to the hospital due to an accident, but he's doing okay...

This i would accept, naturally you only get said feeds and they shouldn't be that large, i would say immediate family primarily, or anyone you could meet up with in your friends list within say 50 miles.


After that social media probably starts to get too loud, too clustered, too much information to process. Your mental ability for the number of friends you have I think i heard was something like 200. After that unless you have a very strong mental mind is just too much.

Addiction to a site so they can sell your data and get money on ads, can only get worse.


And you know what, sure i'll add a third category.

c) Items for sale.

This would be on par with what you'd find in the local newspaper, so again anything within 50 miles should be listed. Though how big the feed should be i don't know. Probably have a 1 day/week/month categories based on size and rarity. (A TV may sell within a couple days, a camper could take a month or more).

Course sellers could get black marks on their username (literally a black circle) when someone gets a bad deal from them. Certainly systems can be abused so how that's handled i am not quite sure.

 

[MaraFirebrand]

Social media apps are made in such a way that they hijack your brain chemistry, especially the neurochemical processes connected to reward mechanisms.

Contemporary humans (us) are severely dopamine deprived and we have a tendency to try and compensate for it in the simplest ways possible. They know this.

And depending on who you ask, humans are also wired for negativity. In prehistoric times, it helped people do amazing things compared to bigger, stronger, more seemingly adaptable animals. It's probably how in the modern day, people seek to do something with their lives more than just work and have families.

Heck, that fact is an idea I like for humans in fantasy and sci-fi worlds. We want to accomplish so much in spite of our relatively short lifespans and lack of natural power. Well, short-lived and weak compared to elves and dwarves and psychic space aliens, et cetera, anyway. Thus humans are the plucky go-getters, the innovators, the empire-builders. Humanity, fuck yeah.

Of course, just as you mentioned with modern dopamine depravation, people also have trouble finding ways to get their evolutionary fix. Social media is no different than the skinner boxes of predatory mobile games. And before that (and alongside it), drug addiction.

 

[JaguarGod6]

Definitely. This place is much better.

 

[antii]

I’m on here a lot less sometimes cause I feel like it doesn’t like take me away from my life I sometimes just come on here to read an article or two and that’s it. But when I’m on anything else you end up scrolling or finding some rage bait just nonsense

 

[Antilocal123]

I’m on here a lot less sometimes cause I feel like it doesn’t like take me away from my life I sometimes just come on here to read an article or two and that’s it. But when I’m on anything else you end up scrolling or finding some rage bait just nonsense

Unrelated but nice username.

 

[antii]

Unrelated but nice username.

Ty it’s short for antijenics (