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PaperclipPerfector  3mo ago (text post)   2146 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for August 24, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Are smart phones a Bostromian 'black ball' that just makes everything worse upon being discovered?

They inflicted mobile gaming on the world. They made social media worse I think. Dating apps proliferated. Sleep disruption. Short-form video in an ugly vertical format. People are watching movies on smartphones, it's destroying film. All these companies that make you install their app (it doesn't work).

Almost everything that can be done on a smart phone is done better on a PC or laptop. Cameraphones were good enough for communicating IMO.

Google maps is actually helpful but besides that? 2 factor authentication? Seems like a net negative to me.

Eh? Smartphones have made my life immeasurably better (well, I can measure it, in the sense I would willingly pay a lot of money for a phone if there was no other way to get one cheaper).

  1. It's a phone. People forget these devices do, sometimes, allow for phonecalls.
  2. It is a very convenient and half-decent camera.
  3. I can use the internet anywhere I please.
  4. I read books on it.
  5. There are very few tasks that make me want to shift to my iPad, gaming laptop or gaming pc. Mostly if I need to handle complex forms, multitask a lot, or need the screen real-estate. I do 99% of my writing on my phone, I can touch type on a virtual keyboard with my eyes closed, no joke.

The ball is very white as far as I'm personally concerned. Being even 50% as good at {everything} as a larger, more dedicated device is inherently valuable, especially when they fit in your pocket and carry charge for a whole day. I'd say it's closer to 80-90% in actuality.

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