Ask HN: Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?
6scdnc19/5/2025, 3:57:53 PM
I know this is Hacker News, which is exactly why I'm asking
Comments (1)
Bender · 10m ago
Is anyone here deliberately low‑tech? If so, why and how?
Yes. I only own and operate vehicles that are pre-2004. They have computers, but are very simple, easy to replace, mostly easy to work on. Pre-1990 are much easier to work on. My tractor was made in 1947. Also dirt simple to work on. On all of these things I can disable the devices designed to cut engine life in half or to intentionally use excessive oil and fuel. My fallback vehicle is a side-by-side a.k.a. UTV. It's not street legal but I can get the kit for it to make it so. Many here go to the store in their side-by-sides.
Everything around the home is low tech and life can go on if they fail. They do not have any remote connectivity, so obviously no telemetry and no way for governments or corporations to override control or change behavior or try to up-sell some service crap to me. The most complex tech for the home is the controller for the well pump which is easy to replace.
Why? Mostly safe from Carrington like events [1] or high altitude nuclear explosions delivered by stratospheric balloons. No dependency on contracts or service plans with vendors, a.k.a. no vendor lock-in. I own these things. Either I can fix them or I can find someone locally that can.
I do own computers but I do not depend on them or cell phones in any way whatsoever. I have never browsed the web from a cell phone or installed an "app" to access a company. They are for convenience and fun only. It's not quite like new-order Amish [2] but I agree with some of their logic. If the internet or electricity ceased to exist forever life would go on.
Yes. I only own and operate vehicles that are pre-2004. They have computers, but are very simple, easy to replace, mostly easy to work on. Pre-1990 are much easier to work on. My tractor was made in 1947. Also dirt simple to work on. On all of these things I can disable the devices designed to cut engine life in half or to intentionally use excessive oil and fuel. My fallback vehicle is a side-by-side a.k.a. UTV. It's not street legal but I can get the kit for it to make it so. Many here go to the store in their side-by-sides.
Everything around the home is low tech and life can go on if they fail. They do not have any remote connectivity, so obviously no telemetry and no way for governments or corporations to override control or change behavior or try to up-sell some service crap to me. The most complex tech for the home is the controller for the well pump which is easy to replace.
Why? Mostly safe from Carrington like events [1] or high altitude nuclear explosions delivered by stratospheric balloons. No dependency on contracts or service plans with vendors, a.k.a. no vendor lock-in. I own these things. Either I can fix them or I can find someone locally that can.
I do own computers but I do not depend on them or cell phones in any way whatsoever. I have never browsed the web from a cell phone or installed an "app" to access a company. They are for convenience and fun only. It's not quite like new-order Amish [2] but I agree with some of their logic. If the internet or electricity ceased to exist forever life would go on.
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_event
[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Order_Amish