F*uck the algorithms
From slaves to samurai?
This is another personal blog post with minimal value. I will provide more “quality” when Q2 results are dropping. The main focus will be Helsinki. The majority will focus on AI, NVIDIA, and what the Fed will do next. Let’s try to find good businesses; there could be few in Helsinki.
I don’t know what it was like when the Soviet Union collapsed. This is some crazy shit that is happening in the world. Everything feels so “off” and absurd. I don’t want to succumb to that.
Yeah, we want to know what’s happening and be with our gadgets 24/7. I have witnessed in recent years how many have fallen to this from my friends and family - and let's not kid ourselves, I was also this when the C started. The fucking news, social media, and everything just makes me hate life.
When I go “online”
When I go “online” I hate life (everybody seems stupid).
I just waste time scrolling the same doomporn that’s on X and the “theories” (Yeah, maybe 5% is good shit, but 95% is utter shit, and the algorithm nowadays is shit, bombing with videos and photos only)
The news is just stupid, as are the “takes” they have. When was the last time I gained some insight from the news? Or I thought to myself, wow, ok, that was pretty smartly said. “I never thought this way.” I can’t remember. Reading the news also makes me mad. It feels like they are programmed to make us hate everybody and think that the world is stupid.
I get addicted to this shit.
I get hopeless, and my future outlook becomes depressing. Yeah, I have the past 2-years calling that the bottom of this “depression” is here. Eventually, it will turn around. It always gets bad, but then it gets better!
It is a good time to do the exact opposite.
Go more outside, say hi to random people, and talk with the workmate you rarely talk to or say something nice on social media. Nature is beautiful, and people are not that stupid.
Read more books and longer-form pieces, and replace some podcasts with audiobooks. Spend more time with family and stuff that matters. Or maybe a new hobby, I don’t know, whatever makes you feel good.
Some plan where you want to be and what you want to do. Plan finances rigorously and work hard for that goal. We can become whatever we want - So I became an annoying little fucker… Now, I am trying to work my intelligence from 2/10 to 4/10, and the future no longer looks that depressing.
My little tips and tricks
Phone+tablet.
Make your phone a dummy. Delete all social media and unnecessary apps. I also deleted all the browsers.
I also set my screen to black and white, so I rarely use it.
Set app limits for messaging (I use Telegram and Signal).
If you already have a smartphone, why not make it a little bit dumb but keep the banking apps, log-in stuff, etc.? I use Audible for audiobooks, YouTube for podcasts, and Substack for occasional “reading.” I also use NOSTR occasionally. It is mainly spam about bullish Bitcoin memes, but there is some good stuff, too, and generally, the place makes me feel good, so it’s a win.
I have tabled as a “sidekick,” where I have the X and browser, but using that is always a bit of a hurdle. Is there anything worthwhile to read? Yeah, tabled stays on the shelf if I take a mindful second to think what the fuck I do now.
There are also heavy limits on how long I can scroll X or the news. Watching some football Euro 2024, I found myself often scrolling some shit on my tablet…
Computers at work and home
Adblocker (I use adguard) and protonVPN. Block the news sites and social media. When eating lunch, I take the filter off and scroll a little bit of the shit… I will try to make a schedule, for example, 5 minutes at 09:00 and 14:00, that’s enough.
Journaling
It's just basic; it doesn’t need to be pretty. In the morning, I plan what I want to do: go to the gym, read a bit, and spend time with family.
At the end of the day, how it went? What could I have done better?
Today, I will only be 5min online! Repeat this for a few weeks, and it works!
Meditation
I do only 10 minutes daily; it makes me much more peaceful and less prone to succumb to algorithms.
So the plan:
Digital Detox: Phone a tool, not a trap.
Structured Online Time: 5min at 9am and 14pm?
Embrace Nature and Human Connections: Go out!
Consume Quality Content: Books!
Personal Growth and Planning: Intelligence from 2/10 to 4/10.
Mindful Media Consumption: Block 95% of the internet.
Daily Practices: Journal and meditation.
It does not help or make you a better version of yourself if you spend more than 10 minutes a day reading conspiracy theories or chasing the next shocking news, fuck the algorithms.
People will ultimately win. I sense a significant shift is on the horizon. The pendulum is swinging away from being slaves to algorithms and peak consumerism toward self-discipline and minimalism. Amid the current chaos and confusion, the natural progression is towards simplicity and mindfulness. I genuinely believe we are on the brink of a better, more mindful world. Go out and be a samurai or something awesome!
Stay vigilant and stay relentless,
