sad.

i used to love YouTube. people being silly and creative and free. teaching each other stuff. being hilarious. everything DIY.

now it sucks complete ass. so many commercials. ad-read interruptions. BUY THIS SHIT!! no.

strict guidelines. every video is the same. everyone has the same opinion.

pRoDuCtIoN qUaLiTy. stfu. seriously who cares?

the like and dislike has no effect on your recommended videos. it used to use that info to give you more of what you like. now the algorithm is so thoroughly opaque that there’s no “you” in it anymore.

it’s just regular TV now, but the actors don’t get paid much.

ai slop. not even fun slop. just pure garbage.

i want to quit youtube

not fully, i’ll still follow my favorite creators with RSS, but i already deleted my youtube account.

now i am in the phase of analyzing the gap this has left. here is what i (apparently) use youtube for:

• noise to help me concentrate (wtf?)
• instructions for fixing hardware
• learning new skills
• podcasts
• something to waste time when i’m too lazy to do something real

plan

needing noise to help me concentrate is stupid in the first place. music. i will replace this with regular-ass music.

instructions for fixing hardware - i have no ideas for how to do this without youtube. i’ve installed a browser extension called “Improve Youtube” to hide the recommendations.

learn new skills - my current hobbies only require written instructions. i’ll cross this bridge when i get there.

podcasts - all the podcasts i used to like aren’t good anymore, so i will switch to audiobooks.

laziness - also audiobooks. or real movies. as if reading is hard? i am such a retard.

metrics

i will keep notes of the following:

• how many videos i watch
• how often i find myself watching without having had the conscious thought that i will now watch
• feelings of withdrawal/cravings/impulses

quitting is a skill

everyone gets an addiction sometimes. it’s normal, i guess. the better you are at quitting, the easier it is.

quit all the things that suck in your life and you’ll be left with only the things that rule. fact.