Midnight Pub

Can't Manage what you can't measure

~mouse

The Ramble Chronicles II

Confession

I have been part of an online *game* for some fifteen years. I poke my nose in most days.

During lockdown it provided an escape, an oddly constant connection with people.

Time

I have been struggling of late with anxiety - many sources and causes.

I have realised that one thing that helps - for me anyhow - is get busy, get stuff done.

But I have become aware of a time sink, my gaming habit. I think - tongue in cheek - the term user is appropriate.

My own Big Brother

I installed a monitoring program, local only, that records what application or window was active and how long. Everything.

It's been sitting there nearly two weeks...

Ye Gods....

Wake up

Actually seeing the numbers, and working out what fraction of my *free time* was used. 30% to 50%. Some days.

I am still internalising this. A bit of shock.

Glad I did this, and will keep in going.

Picks up his cup of Earl Grey, sips slowly nodding to those here. And good to see new faces - welcome.

ns

Online game? 15 years? Hmm...what are the odds that, in this game, 99/2 is 92? Just, out of curiosity, or something...no reason...

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mouse
Completely confused.

That has gone right over my head but also intrigued me..?

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ns

Don't worry about it, 'twas but a RuneScape reference. How I miss the siren's call of the monotonous grind...

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tetris

I used to love going out into the wilderness with nothing but a cheap sword and a fishing rod, and eking out an existence on the edge. Caught the wrong side of a blade more times than I can count, but I was free

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mouse

Ah - Mystery solved. Thank you.

I was a D&D man myself. Still have the books.

I do miss completely messing up the scenario and all taking to our heels and running with what we could carry... With a DM it tears of laughter...

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ns

Hah, you say "still have the books" as if they are a relic of a forgotten age. If it's any comfort, my primary group was spawned from a local DM looking for new-to-D&D victims, and I now vow to keep the game alive to my deathbed.

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orchard

Good work buddy! Keep going!

utho, jaago, ane dhyey prapti sudhi mandya raho!

Take up one idea; make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, Live on that idea let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

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inquiry

Heck of an amazing paragraph, there, ~orchard!

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mouse
Thank you kindly ~orchard.

Sound advice. I have so many things on my list and my mind that get in the way, like mental 'wack-a-mole'.

One Idea: Be a person worth knowing?

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orchard

Be a person worth knowing? Or be a person who knows the worth of something?

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mouse

Ouch. Deep.

I know I need to change.

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moonsheep

On a related note, my free time spendage has improved significantly in quality ever since I redirected www.youtube.com to localhost in my hosts file. Can't recommend it enough.

This new face is happy to be seen.
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mouse
What a charmingly devious little plan!

I think young ~moonsheep will fit in well.

I used to use a dedicated hosts file to filter a lot of *carp*, but one update and all browsing stopped.

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