I tried. I really did.
I love Twitter but I’m taking yet another break. Lord knows how long this one will last.
The itch to compulsively check my phone hasn’t gone away. However, I feel slightly better overall.
Measuring stress and vibes is difficult and would probably only worsen my neuroticism so the feeling is just that. No data.
Twitter rules.
For someone wired like me, it is the ultimate dopamine machine.
It really has everything but it’s the intermingling of it all that makes it so addictive for me.
A quick analogy. Whenever I get Chipotle or Cava or wherever, I like to mix it as much as possible. I love all the flavors at once.
Twitter is a lot like that.
I get tech bro shit mixed with German humor mixed with conspiracy shit mixed with news mixed with funny reactions to the news mixed with markets mixed with market news and on and on.
And what a year it’s been so far between the United States nabbing a foreign leader, the rise of Claude Code, and the Epstein leaks. It’s only February!
Text as an interface is also satisfying. Yes, Twitter has images but the origin is text, 280 characters, originally 140, TIL. It’s incredible what people come up with. It truly is an art, the art of posting.
I also, generally speaking, respect Twitter.
First, I do support free speech and Twitter strikes me as forward in this spirit despite pockets of toxicity.
Elon has at least nudged towards open sourcing the algorithm.
Yes, I paid for Twitter premium. I would love a world where social platforms can profit from users rather than an ad ridden hellscape.
I told myself once I got the @clauss handle, I’d actually, use it, productively. That is, post anything and everything but try to keep it related to work. Develop my voice. Don’t have fear. Just post.
That went ok. I think I squarely fit the peg of “reply guy”.
But the feed is simply too much. I tried trimming my likes and following lists regularly but it just doesn’t work. None of those silly screen blocking apps do it for me either.
Wherever, you know the feeling.
In an Uber? Have a quick scroll. Have a quick laugh.
Sitting on the couch at home on a lazy Sunday? Why not?
Waiting for Claude? Especially if it’s compacting, I can check the feed.
So, only use it on the computer. Which computer? The work or personal. Just the personal? That seems restrictive.
My respect to anyone who can handle these compulsions. Maybe my brain is simply too rotted but I can’t handle it… for now.
The final note I’ll say is irony poisoning is probably net bad overall.
I love jestermaxxing, frame mogging, and all this stuff. I’m hip with the kids.
But I’m afraid of how this shit and being terminally online in general affects my worldview.
For now, I’m taking a break from the roller coaster and hitting the snack stand.
I’m sure I’ll be back soon.