(aka Digital Minimalism)
I espouse a philosophy called digital minimalism, although I prefer the term analog maximalism. Analog maximalism’s basic premise is that digital technologies, broadly speaking, should only be used at the service of the “real world”, that is to say, the offline, the physical, or what is sometimes jocularly called meatspace. Technology is best used in intentional, rather than addictive, ways.
Analog maximalism is not an absolutist philosophy. It admits exceptions, and that persons must work out for themselves the best balance between digital and analog in their own lives. For me, analog maximalism leads to some rules about communication, summarized here:
Rule 1: I almost never use asynchronous text messaging, that is to say, Facebook messenger, phone texting, WhatsApp, and so forth.
Rule 2: For almost all interactions, I in this order prefer communication that is:
- Face-to-face in real life
- Face-to-face on videochat
- Audio calls
- Written, physical letters
Rule 3: I very rarely use social media. Evidence suggests social media does more psychological harm than good. Social media is actually, however, very practical for emergencies or when you might need urgent help.
Rule 4: I do not research people online outside of a professional context, unless it is a public person such as a celebrity or politician. I try always to accept the version that a person presents to me directly, and place very little weight on gossip or reputation, particularly online.
Experience has proven over and over again that complex problems are often impossible to solve via electronic writing such as long emails, and even worse, text messaging. I recognize that some people feel more comfortable writing than speaking, especially when using a foreign language. While respecting their preferences, I still believe that conversations are, 95% of the time, more productive, and efficient, than writing. The best use of writing is to set up a time to talk.
Given all of this, I also understand that different people are at different points in their journey trying to integrate technology best into their lives. I’m tolerant of others’ practices and habits, and try to compromise when people have other preferences than mine.
Want to learn more about digital minimalism? Start here.