For at least 5 or 6 years in the ’00s, my new year’s resolution was short, simple, and elusive:
Get the %@&* off the internet.
I don’t mean wikipedia, the US patent office archives or the Bernard Cumberbatch name generator – those things are cool.
I mean (I cringe just thinking of saying it) … social media.
Maybe you haven’t noticed, but there is something very wrong with a huge number of people on the internet. You might disagree, but you’d be mistaken. Research has clearly shown people on the internet are at least 37% more likely to suck, and four times as likely to be wrong about just about everything. I’ll post a link later – right now I can’t really be bothered backing this up with proof, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
Anyway, I finally kept that resolution the year I started Daed Toolworks. Turns out the long hours involved in self-employment are the fourth-best strategy for avoiding social media – right behind extraordinary rendition, power outages, and brain-death.
Unfortunately for me, it’s also meant that at least once a week one of my friends comes up with a new way to mock my (ahem) sporadic blog posting schedule.
So for 2016, my resolution was to walk back my inter Web 2.0 boycott. A little. Seeing me on Facebook is still about as likely as Sid Vicious will be elected president of the US. And since he’s a) a murderer, b) dead, and c) british, I think we can rule that out.
so does this mean I’m going to start blogging thrice weekly? Well, no. It doesn’t. Among other reasons, I’ve got a very, very busy year in store. Planes to make, new designs I’d like to get developed, a writing project or two, and a not-ready-for discussing undertaking or two as well. It’s going to be busy.
So a couple of friends convinced me that I should be using that instagram account I set up way back when. I decided they’re right.
Why? Partly because it’s much much faster than blogging, partly because it’s visual, and partly because it’s got a very informal vibe that I like.
Plus I hear it’s the best place to see new pics of Justin Bieber. Man is that kid’s hair talented!
I’m not abandoning the blog. I do really like having it as an outlet for more long-form thoughts or posts. I think it’s a great tool. It’s just that, for me, it’s one of those tools you only use a few times a year, and usually have a hard time finding when you realize you need it. Like a turkey baster, or nose-hair trimmers.
What I think can be expected is that I’m going to use this blog a little more to talk about some of my thoughts about craft and woodworking and toolmaking, and how western culture is refusing to heed my advice and is thus turning to undeodorized crap (Bieber’s hair notwithstanding). In other words, I’ll probably stop being so evasive on the blog, and start posting what I really think…
But that doesn’t mean you should expect it to be any less fits-n-starts than it has been since I started it. Just the way I am.
Now ‘scuse me – I gotta go break me some instagrams. I’m sure it’ll be fine – what could go wrong?
@daedtoolworks
J. J. Jingleheimerschmidt says
Too much internet apparently also causes simultaneous facial implosion and follicle expansion. The Daedlab is a wondrous place.
[email protected] says
Thank you for noticing mr. Jingleheimerschmidt. It really is magnificent. In winter, the whole place is warmed completely by the power of its pyramid superstructure.
Plus, this year we’re going completely lean six sigma, and installing a 65 foot waterfall for mixing hot cocoa! With the labor we save, I should be able to lay off half the staff! With the money I save, I should finally be able to realize my lifelong dream of organizing a fantasy football for children in war-torn central Africa. What with the the book haram craziness and the lack of potable water, those kids really need something to take their mind off heir troubles.
God bless America!!!
J. J. Jingleheimerschmidt says
Too much internet apparently also causes simultaneous facial implosion and follicle expansion. The Daedlab is a wondrous place.
[email protected] says
Thank you for noticing mr. Jingleheimerschmidt. It really is magnificent. In winter, the whole place is warmed completely by the power of its pyramid superstructure.
Plus, this year we’re going completely lean six sigma, and installing a 65 foot waterfall for mixing hot cocoa! With the labor we save, I should be able to lay off half the staff! With the money I save, I should finally be able to realize my lifelong dream of organizing a fantasy football for children in war-torn central Africa. What with the the book haram craziness and the lack of potable water, those kids really need something to take their mind off heir troubles.
God bless America!!!
Steven Danenman says
I hate Facebook, don’t get twitter, but come to believe Instagra is the right amount of social. Quick and small snipets with reasonable comments (at least in craft arena). Quick interchange of ideas between shared interests and seeing new things, ideas, and tips.
Steven Danenman says
I hate Facebook, don’t get twitter, but come to believe Instagra is the right amount of social. Quick and small snipets with reasonable comments (at least in craft arena). Quick interchange of ideas between shared interests and seeing new things, ideas, and tips.
Drew Gillespie says
I thought that Sid would probably have been quite good at the job; which is not any kind of reason to have a Facebook account. Looking forward to reading the blog.
Drew Gillespie says
I thought that Sid would probably have been quite good at the job; which is not any kind of reason to have a Facebook account. Looking forward to reading the blog.
Bill says
Totally agree. This year I dropped off Facebook, already feel better and have been more productive. Plus, I’m a lot less pissed off and depressed, but after years its like coming off heroin.
Instagram is the one outlet I still use, like you said easy, quick and visual. Lot less crap to get sucked into.
Bill says
Totally agree. This year I dropped off Facebook, already feel better and have been more productive. Plus, I’m a lot less pissed off and depressed, but after years its like coming off heroin.
Instagram is the one outlet I still use, like you said easy, quick and visual. Lot less crap to get sucked into.
konrad says
Damn you Nelson, damn you to hell!
konrad says
Damn you Nelson, damn you to hell!
Pedder says
From a reader without a smartphone: would it hurt to publish the pictures here, too? I mean that is a 10 sec. action.
I’d love to see more oif your wonderful work, but no way I’d buy a new phone to follow you on instagram.
Cheers
Pedder
[email protected] says
Hey Pedder –
I own a smartphone, but it never ever leaves my car (or even gets charged) unless I’m traveling, so I get it.
Two things – I actually started watching Instagram a while back to follow my friend Narayan’s feed. He’s a stupidly talented photographer. Anyway, you can definitely access IG from a web browser, you just can’t post photos from one.
Second – I actually added a mini-feed of my instagram to the right column of the blog, for just that reason.
Hope that helps
Pedder says
From a reader without a smartphone: would it hurt to publish the pictures here, too? I mean that is a 10 sec. action.
I’d love to see more oif your wonderful work, but no way I’d buy a new phone to follow you on instagram.
Cheers
Pedder
[email protected] says
Hey Pedder –
I own a smartphone, but it never ever leaves my car (or even gets charged) unless I’m traveling, so I get it.
Two things – I actually started watching Instagram a while back to follow my friend Narayan’s feed. He’s a stupidly talented photographer. Anyway, you can definitely access IG from a web browser, you just can’t post photos from one.
Second – I actually added a mini-feed of my instagram to the right column of the blog, for just that reason.
Hope that helps
Kees says
Instagram is Twitter for images. And about as usefull.
At least that’s how I feel about it.
[email protected] says
Kees – I’d agree completely that it’s twitter for images. I’d disagree completely about the usefulness equivocation.
For me, the counterargument is that the whole point of an image is that it’s largely self-contained and communicates MUCH more than a hundred or so characters of text.
Besides, unless you’re mostly interested in technique or engineering, isn’t woodworking primarily a visual medium? That’s how I see it, anyway. Woodworking and metalworking are just the media I use – at heart, a huge component of what I do is about design.
Jarrod says
Hey Raney,
I hope that title is a reference to the Fugazi song from The Argument. Great Album. Anyway. I agree with Facebook and the like. When I was a skateboarding punk we had a term, posers. But instead of calling them out publicly and demanding they do the tricks they claim, all that needs to be done by those who can do the tricks to do them. Instagram is a great place to show it. Simple and straight forward with no real serious culture for mind numbing dialog, like I think Facebook has, if you know what I mean. Participating on our own terms is important and I can’t wait to read about what you ‘really think’. Nice shirt by the way!
[email protected] says
Hey Jarrod – fugazi. No doubt about it. Great album indeed.
I couldn’t agree more with all you said. I’m hoping IG is the ‘happy medium’ where you can keep some contact with the world, but not get wrapped up in it. We’ll see, but so far I gotta say I really really like it as a medium.
r
Jarrod says
Hey Raney,
I hope that title is a reference to the Fugazi song from The Argument. Great Album. Anyway. I agree with Facebook and the like. When I was a skateboarding punk we had a term, posers. But instead of calling them out publicly and demanding they do the tricks they claim, all that needs to be done by those who can do the tricks to do them. Instagram is a great place to show it. Simple and straight forward with no real serious culture for mind numbing dialog, like I think Facebook has, if you know what I mean. Participating on our own terms is important and I can’t wait to read about what you ‘really think’. Nice shirt by the way!
[email protected] says
Hey Jarrod – fugazi. No doubt about it. Great album indeed.
I couldn’t agree more with all you said. I’m hoping IG is the ‘happy medium’ where you can keep some contact with the world, but not get wrapped up in it. We’ll see, but so far I gotta say I really really like it as a medium.
r
Jon says
Raney,
Glad to see a new post! I’ve missed your wit and way with words.
Jon Fiant
Jon says
Raney,
Glad to see a new post! I’ve missed your wit and way with words.
Jon Fiant