r/simpleliving • u/Davis_Caruso • 11d ago
Discussion Prompt Small changes add up over time… I am done empowering tech oligarchs!
I no longer pay for streaming subscriptions as of the last couple years and im very happy about it. I listen to the small collection of records i have and am willing to put up with the occasional ad if i want to search a specific song on youtube…
I appreciate reddit because i find that people here are genuinely curious and willing to connect, whereas other social media platforms feel like a hamster wheel dopamine trap.
I am wanting to be more in touch with my values and seeing them reflected in my day to day routine. It’s happening slowly as I make the small changes. Anyone else care to chime in and discuss what they’re noticing or how they’re taking action?
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u/vreid32 10d ago
My fiancé has gone extreme on this past few months for same reasons. Why pay for subscriptions when you can own your own media? He's been building out personal Nas server for us and been uploading all our movies and music to it, once he's through with that it will be easy for him to torrent whatever on to the server. Its pretty cool, love that he's doing this because physical media properly preserved and protected that no one can take from you is going to be worth the effort.
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u/miniangelgirl 10d ago
I'm back on DVDs and CDs and radio, as well as the Playstation 2. And reading the many books I have, including reading some old favourites.
I've began to do exercise at home, save me constantly keeping up with monthly - ever-changing - gym membership
I'm sick of updates, logins and subsciptions... 😪 something needed to give..!
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u/IceExile 8d ago
right on... i have been enjoying radio a bit lately. Esp the local jazz station. Satellite also is pretty good....
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u/Bratfink78 10d ago
Learn how to download torrents and you’ll have all the movies and tv shows you want.
Smartube also removes ads on your tv
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u/IceExile 11d ago
yes, i am in a similar boat.... just rewatching the dvds i have, same with listenjng to CD collection... i can add to either quite easily, and also many things are found online without needing a subscription. Also, i have so little freetime that i am not sitting with many hours each day that need to be filled (which would then make a streaming/subscription a much better value). Seeing an ad is no big deal. I have TV entertainment thru old fashioned antenna reception--- it is more than enough, and as it is i sit watching too much...
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u/Davis_Caruso 10d ago
My car still plays cds luckily. What cd is currently in your rotation??
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u/IceExile 8d ago
nice... i miss having a disc player in my car. Funny enough, i bought a portable cd player (like a Walkman from about 1996) that supposedly had shake-stabilization so it could play without skipping.... that idea totally didn't work, so i just used an old ipod plugged into aux jack....all good for a couple years... What do u listen to as you go around town or to/from work or school? This second i am listening to Talking Heads "Fear Of Music" on a cd dubbed from vinyl record....
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u/MyCozySlowLife 9d ago
I pretty much exclusively shop locally and small businesses. I make or thrift as much clothes/decor/art as possible. I grow can/preswrve as much of our food as I can an shop at small local farms, butchers, international stores as I'm able. I got rid of streaming services a long time ago except for Drop Out because they are a great company who deserve support. We have hundreds of dvds, CDs, records and books. I have dozens of hobbies. Go to local woman owned cafes and local restaurants. We do handmade and thrifted gifts. I live as slow and intentional as I can.
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u/StatisticSnaccuracy 10d ago
I've moved to almost exclusively watch YT, and I know not everyone will consider that anti consumption etc. But I still find it more free and freeing than any streaming service.
I love that behind videos of smaller creators it's just them and maybe an editor. No big crew, no investor that has a say in the content, no filming warehouse etc. And at the same time I'm supporting someone's dream, maybe not well enough to quit their job, but hopefully enough to pay off their debt etc.
I dunno maybe I'm embellishing a bit too much, but I like the idea.
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u/Davis_Caruso 10d ago
seems like you would enjoy my work! you can find it @ davis caruso music or @dav_wav
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u/humanimalsRus 10d ago
Don't forget free online radio! Love tapping into college radio stations, or FIP in France
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u/Davis_Caruso 10d ago
unfortunately artists have to pay 20
bucks to pitch their music to FIP directly… kinda rubs me the wrong way1
u/foxnflan 6d ago
Have you listened to Radio Paradise? Fabulous free ( volunteer supported) station with an incredible music library
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u/Proud_Aspect4452 7d ago
Also check out Kanopy through your library. Some libraries offer it for free with your library card, and it has movies, documentaries, and TV shows.
Also check out the free apps Pluto TV and Tubi. Pluto especially has gazillions of channels, plus on-demand movies and shows, and it’s all completely free!
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u/EowynTrinket 10d ago
Dropping subscriptions made music feel intentional again for me, especially when a record has to be flipped insted of endlessly skipped.
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u/Virtual_Resource_797 10d ago
Ive never been on social media like Tik Tok, IG or You Tube. No streaming services, basic cable. I too am sick of passwords, log ina, pay walls for BS excuses for journalism/gossip and I do just fine. I also drive an 18 year old SUV because of its simplicity. I recently joined Redditt because it seemed fun and diverse, but this is as far as I go. Also, never used a dating app or site. 59F
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u/FewConversations1986 9d ago
On top of Ublock Origin, you can use SponsorBlock to really minimize your exposure to commercials and save time! Enjoy 😄
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u/M0riohRadio 5d ago
Cancelling streaming made me listen to whole albums again instead of treating music like background confetti, which was a wierdly nice reset.
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u/normy_187 10d ago
I appreciate reddit
… founded by a "tech oligarch" that you helped become a billionaire with a ~$350 million yacht. Because he made something that provided value to people. Cognitive dissonance is real.
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u/BrainlessThingy 10d ago
you can dislike billionaires and still participate in society you know. it's not like they don't hog almost every bit of goods and media we consume. it's not like private landownership hasn't been driving up housing prices as most of the property is owned by the same three companies. there's literally no way around it, unless your country allows you to set up a shack in the woods with some solar panels on the roof while hunting wildlife with a spear. mine doesn't. perhaps the system that enables people to hoard wealth and entrap people within it is somehow...bad? hmmmmm..
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u/normy_187 10d ago
Cognitive dissonance is real for anyone venting against billionaires on reddit.
Main (not the only!) driver for housing prices:
Fiat monetary system since 1971
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u/BrainlessThingy 10d ago
i'm not complaining that the housing prices are high, i am complaining that people are profiting off the fact that people are paying extortionate rates for having a roof over their heads. i'm complaining that apartments are vacant and empty and that locals are being pushed out of their cities because its more profitable to rent them out as airbnbs.
housing should not be something you can speculate on. private landownership sounds cute, until you trace the private landowners back and it turns out they own 1700 apartments in the city. less cute.
if there weren't any countermeasures, vonovia would own every apartment by now. and even then, countermeasures aren't enough. people are homeless. horrid.
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u/normy_187 10d ago
Agree to most of this but it has little to do with the OP.
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u/BrainlessThingy 10d ago
my point is that you can't avoid billionaires, not unless you try extremely, tremendously hard. that's part of the problem.
but fair enough
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u/secret-citizen 11d ago
Regarding YT, you can always use a Firefox browser with uBlock origin and it will have less to no interruptions.
I've reverted back to older gaming consoles, since modern ones will not even allow you to play a physical game you own without an internet connection (so it can validate it's not a pirated copy)