From 4645b767a05dcf79e06a6b84d02c6495da33dad6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Amolith Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2023 01:48:42 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] rename post --- .../pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md | 94 +++++++++++++++++++ ...vs-push-intentionality-and-the-internet.md | 5 - 2 files changed, 94 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md delete mode 100644 content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentionality-and-the-internet.md diff --git a/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md b/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aef80e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +--- +title: "Pull vs push: intentional notifications" +date: 2023-03-16T17:20:32-04:00 +draft: true +toc: false +--- + +Modern internet services heavily rely on push-based systems. YouTubers used to +say "smash like and subscribe!" at the end of videos because they wanted you to +get a _push_ notification when they publish a new video. When YouTube stopped +sending notifications for subscriptions and added the bell, YouTubers started +saying "smash like, subscribe, and hit that bell!" instead. Free Android games +often ask for permission to send notifications because they want to periodically +remind you that "hey!! you downloaded me! don't forget about me! come play me, +run out of energy, get annoyed, then buy some extra energy with your hard-earned +money! also, pay a bit more and remove the ads while you're at it! 😃" + +E-commerce platforms often ask you to subscribe to their newsletter in exchange +for a small discount on your next purchase because they want to _push_ their +marketing to your inbox. Some news websites serve massive popups asking you to +subscribe to their newsletters so they can, again, _push_ their new content in +front of your face. In some cases, this tactic may be perfectly benign; there +are some individuals and companies with newsletters that might be genuinely +interesting and they just want to let you know that the newsletter exists in +case you want to subscribe. But they still result in content being _pushed_ in +front of their subscriber's faces. + +Similarly, instant messaging is all about push notifications. It's in the name: +_instant_. When someone sends you a message, you usually want to know +immediately; maybe it's a family emergency, maybe your food delivery person just +arrived, maybe the sky is falling, etc. Those are all situations where you +genuinely do want notifications pushed in front of your face. But think about +while you're at work. Do you really need to know that there's no more coffee in +the lounge when you're waist-deep in a big code refactor and having to mentally +juggle variables and signatures and business logic and overarching structu— look +at this funny meme! + +Ah shit. Where was `x` set again? _Does_ this function duplicate the logic of +that other function 83 lines above? You've lost your train of thought and it's +going to take you about 30 minutes to get it back.[^1] + +Maybe you're spending time with your family but that new hire keeps asking for +help with this snippet of code they can't figure out. You genuinely want to help +them, but time with family is incredibly valuable. It can wait until tomorrow. + +There's a time and place for push notifications. Intentionally setting +boundaries and being thoughtful with your time is important. + +## Some suggestions + +Make heavy and extensive use of Do Not Disturb rules on as many platforms as +possible; on mobile devices, it's often possible to automatically enable DND +during calendar events as well as enable it while you sleep. Mark yourself as +unavailable in Slack (or Teams or XMPP or \_\_\_\_) outside of work hours. +Disable push notifications for YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, etc. Maybe consider +using alternative clients for those services that are more user-respecting in +general. + +Get an [RSS reader!][rssr] Please! + +[rssr]: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator + +They allow you to subscribe to multiple sources of information — like news +websites, YouTube channels, blogs, etc. — and aggregate that content into one +place. You can read what you want when you want without having anything thrust +in your face by The Algorithm™. Depending on the reader, you can sort sources +into categories or folders that allow you to focus on one thing at a time rather +than being treated to a firehose of the internet. + +If you're looking for a service, check out [Feedbin,][fb] [NewsBlur,][nb] +[Feeder,][feeder] [Feedly,][fdly] and [Inoreader.][ino] Be thoughtful about +enabling notifications though. + +[fb]: https://feedbin.com +[nb]: https://newsblur.com +[feeder]: https://feeder.co +[fdly]: https://feedly.com +[ino]: https://www.inoreader.com + +If you're into self-hosting, I very highly recommend [yarr.][yarr] At the time +of writing, I've been using yarr for 6 months and don't see myself switching any +time soon. I only wish it had a maximum content width so reading was more +pleasant on wide screens and that [the theme would switch based on your system +theme.][yarr-theme] + +[yarr]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/ +[yarr-theme]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/issues/46#issuecomment-798896310 + +[^1]: + I've seen and heard 30 minutes cited many times from sources I remember + trusting, but I can't remember exactly which sources they were. After a + quick search, The Muse says [_It Takes Nearly 30 Minutes to Refocus After + You Get + Distracted._](https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-is-nuts-it-takes-nearly-30-minutes-to-refocus-after-you-get-distracted) diff --git a/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentionality-and-the-internet.md b/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentionality-and-the-internet.md deleted file mode 100644 index d8c304d..0000000 --- a/content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentionality-and-the-internet.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: "Pull vs push: intentionality and the internet" -date: 2023-03-16T17:20:32-04:00 -draft: true ----