• Posts
  • RSS
  • ◂◂RSS
  • Contact

  • Retrogrouch

    December 22nd, 2009
    tech
    I've been thinking about my approach to computing. It's a little strange. I mostly interact with computers remotely over ssh. I use emacs only in terminal mode. I don't use an IDE to program. I prefer tiling to overlapping windows. I prefer mailing lists to forums. I read mail in mutt. I like clicky keyboards. Talking about this with someone a while ago, the best word I had at the time was "luddite". That didn't really fit, though, as I like technology, just not "improvements" that make things worse. (So I like python, chrome's one-process-per-tab, lcd monitors, browser-integrated spell checking, and led bike headlights because these really do improve over the previous systems.) There is a word from bicycling, though, "retrogrouch", that means about what I want. (I'm also retrogrouch about non computing stuff. My bike has rod brakes, a coaster brake, internal hub gearing, an enclosed chain case, and is made of steel. I prefer to play acoustic instruments and listen to live music. I don't like teflon in cookware. I don't like cell phones. Learned music is better than read music.) The goal is not to be misled by new technology as good because it's new. Older technology has had a lot of thought put into it, and the faster new technology comes out the less time it has had to mature.

    Comment via: facebook

    Recent posts on blogs I like:

    Rereading Roald Dahl

    Taking out a few words doesn't change much. The post Rereading Roald Dahl appeared first on Otherwise.

    via Otherwise March 25, 2023

    What does Bing Chat tell us about AI risk?

    Early signs of catastrophic risk? Yes and no.

    via Cold Takes February 28, 2023

    Why Neighborhoods Should Have Speed Bumps

    I have several reasons I think why neighborhoods should have speed bumps. First, speed bumps are very useful to stop cars from hitting people in the streets. Second, when construction workers installed speed bumps on the street in front of our house it was v…

    via Lily Wise's Blog Posts February 27, 2023

    more     (via openring)


  • Posts
  • RSS
  • ◂◂RSS
  • Contact