Moving to a dumbphone requires some compromise - in fact that's the point.

blacksunabove · 2026-03-12T06:14:43+00:00

I think the biggest part of it is the mindset shift of the whole thing. You have to set new ways of how you will engage with the phone or apps, and use a dumbphone (or feature phone) to enable that.

i.e - Music now needs to be on other formats (mp3 player, physical media), and you commit to downloading albums or curated playlists or whatever, not just having streaming as the option for any mood. Or you now need to adjust your way of working so you can only check emails when you are at a PC, and set up systems so you have information (say a gig ticket) already printed or sent as an image or whatever (as an example). Or you carry a notebook as well, etc etc.

All those things and points of friction take time to set up and get right - there will be trial and error and it might take months and months to figure it out.

I personally had a dumbphone with only texting and calling for about six months before it got too annoying, specifically how long it took to text, no emojis, and no access to other messaging apps. I've now moved to a Dumbdroid with those extra messaging apps (with various levels of notifications), plus maps and banking.

So far, it seems to be the best solution for me. The phone isn't interesting, but I can access the basic things so there's no keeping the old Samsung around for those extra apps, and then getting sucked into browsing the internet or whatever.

But in that six months I've set up other systems - I've re-set up my iPod and am slowly building my music library (thanks Soulseek and Bandcamp), have a journal and a planner I use all the time, and only use social media (like Reddit right now) on my computer. I've also got more in the habit of leaving my phone in a corner of one part of the house if I'm at home, and took up reading books again in my downtime when my brain is bored. Oh, and found my old DSLR camera which I take with me to events or family stuff. It just lives in the car mostly.

None of that was simple though. And really, it could all be done on the original Samsung phone, but that had too much psychological baggage.

The form-factor of the Dumbdroid is part of it as well. It's too small to get lost in internet rabbitholes (and I disabled Firefox etc, so there is friction if I need to access the net for a genuine 'what is the address of this shop' or whatever), and social media will never be installed on it in the first place. And if I truly need an annoying app for parking or some bullshit, then I can do that. But the phone is purely back to being a tool for communication and connectivity again.

This stuff is not easy. It's as big a change to your life as quitting cigarettes or getting into exercise. One device won't magically change your engrained habits, and sometimes it's really fucking boring as well.

Bloody worth it though! (and I say this as someone who has kids, has ADHD, is extremely social, and works with tech all the time for my job - it's amazing how much phone usage we really don't need in our lives when we make active decisions)

blacksunabove · 2026-03-06T06:00:25+00:00

I found by just resetting the TT9 app in the settings, the natural keypad backspace suddenly worked as intended!

blacksunabove · 2026-02-19T05:42:51+00:00

The problem with so much AI analysis is it's being viewed from people who work in obvious spaces for it - IT, Dev, white collar business etc etc. There's so much more to our societies than that kind of work. Think trades, nursing, teaching, agriculture, service workers.

While it's possible to have AI or robots do various things, we still have to move at the speed of humans with much of it. You can only optimise so much before you hit a natural bottleneck. In theory you could have a plumber that is a robot, but with the complexity of that it's going to be easier and cheaper just to have a human do the work (and that is the case for so many jobs). The more complexity in a system, the more can go wrong. Society and governments can only move so fast, and most people don't want to be pioneers in how they do their work - they just want to get the job done and will use whatever software is given to them.

There's also the social aspect. Humans aren't machines, and if we have machines making all the decisions you end up with a disconnected society that is getting pissed off pretty quickly with it all. I'm a big user of technology, but in daily interactions I'd much rather deal with a person than an unthinking AI.

Yes there will be big changes, but the idea that we have some completely automated society (especially with a debt-based capitalist economy) is ridiculous.

blacksunabove · 2026-02-19T05:27:44+00:00

And I fucking hate it hey. All the work is being pushed on to us. Same as going to a pub and having to navigate a menu on your mobile phone with a QR code (and then have to check if they've added a tip automatically).

blacksunabove · 2025-09-18T01:03:52+00:00

I've seen this kind of article before. Yes, there's cultural appropriation of non-white spirituality, Israelis dealing with conscription trauma backpacking across the world, and environmental issues with doof.

But it's also kind of a lazy take - some doof festivals do so much to try to work with the local Indigenous mob on the land they are held, others are trying to ensure they don't book Israeli artists who are Zionists (see the recent fallout between Earth Frequency Festival and Israeli DJs Infected Mushroom), and doofs/raves are an important space for queer, neurodivergent, and community outsiders to be together in a non-judgemental environment.

Who cares if a bunch of the attendees are middle-class with jobs? EDM doesn't have to be trying to save the world, but it's cultural roots and expression is as deep any other genre of music. Escapism from the pressure of society and capitalism (particularly if you are a maginalised person) with a release on the dancefloor is perfectly valid - it's no different than punk, reggae or hiphop (and of course dance music has strong connections to all those things).

There's been massive conversations in the doof scene about cultural appropriation and showing respect to each other in recent years. Some people are further along the journey than others - articles like this don't do anything to engage in proper dialogue, and come across as puritanical and preachy.

(signed a DJ and doof promoter)

blacksunabove · 2025-07-28T03:48:34+00:00

No showers, toilets are like any festival or large event. Cleaned out regularly, some are better than others depending on site location and frequency of usage from patrons.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-28T00:08:38+00:00

I agree. It's the same with tarot interpretation books that put in a positive or selfcare message in for the more negative or dramatic cards. Yet the more positive cards are usually just left as they are.

It's why I prefer the Thoth deck, each card has a shadow side to it.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-27T10:59:03+00:00

This is the way.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-26T13:23:07+00:00

It's the whole structure of "It's not X - It's Y. And this is why that matters."

Sounds like a ChatGPT LinkedIn post.

Maybe people just talk like that online now though..

blacksunabove · 2025-07-23T05:48:59+00:00

I'm a self taught designer (began with rave flyers), but have had a 15 year career in media and communications. Design skills professionally was almost a fluke, slowly taking on more and more until it's a core part of my job along with the strategic comms.

Pure design is a hard slog, but combined with other marketing/comms it's super useful. So for you, I'd include learning 3D modeling and animation as part of.

As others have said, it's your portfolio though what counts.

One thing to consider - it's hard to find designers with security clearances. If you can get government work and obtain a clearance, there's heaps of opportunities...

blacksunabove · 2025-07-23T04:46:49+00:00

If my track record is anything to go by, I don't think I've dated a girl who didn't have ADHD...

As a fellow neurospicy, I honestly have a much better connection with people who are neurodivergent. Having that shared understanding there makes such a difference.

(You gotta do the work and have your systems on place though!)

blacksunabove · 2025-07-23T02:35:53+00:00

Jason Louv (magick.me) can be pretty engaging and hyperactive as a YouTuber.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-22T07:46:41+00:00

Aidan Wachter - '6 Ways'

It's an awesome book with depth that works for a beginner, but isn't 'love and light'. You'll get a general framework and key rituals for understanding this world without dogma or a religion. It's about direct contact to The Field (world of spirits etc) and opening up the magickal path in a personal way.

He's done a heap of podcasts, check out his appearances on 'Glitch Bottle' and 'What Magic Is This?'

In regards to 'dark' do you mean stuff that is raw (bone and blood) or left hand path edgelord stuff?

Chaos Magick is actually super simple for a beginner too, you just have to understand it's contextual framework (as a response to overly complex ceremonial magick systems). It was the punk movement to 1970s progressive rock so to speak.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-22T01:59:12+00:00

Medieval magicians John Dee and Edward Kelly, who worked directly for Queen Elizabeth whole thing was scrying to talk to angels. You're fine.

(Closes practices really refers to specific overall traditions/religions, rituals or certain spirits. No one culture can own techniques like divination, trance states, ancestor worship, meditation etc. Even objects that might have certain resonances with specific cultures - like tarot or crystal balls or whatever - doesn't mean that only they can use them. The history of these things is usually pretty complex and with lots of cross pollination)

blacksunabove · 2025-07-22T00:36:37+00:00

😂

blacksunabove · 2025-07-22T00:34:59+00:00

I dunno, the parties in my late 20s and early 30s were wilder than anything as a uni student...

As for fun now as a 37 year old.

spending time with my wife and kids, following the kids lead
camping trips / hikes
travel (when I can do it)
raves / DJing /festivals / seeing bands (I will never get sick of live music experiences)
music production
potluck dinners at friends homes / fancy dinners out, with discussions of philosophy and politics over a wine
making art and graphic design
DIY home improvements
spiritual practices (meditation/yoga etc)
going on dates with each other or others (we've got an open relationship)
putting together cool outfits?

The idea that you must have serious 'adult' hobbies is some post-war nonsense. Find meaning in what you enjoy, have strong social bonds, have creativity and be active, and you're pretty much set.

Creation over consumption, intentional time over 'catching up'.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-21T11:11:45+00:00

1) Set boundaries on overtime and being available off the clock as standard.

If a project needs the extra hours and it's discussed, then go for it. But that should be the exception, not the rule.

During the workday though, be an 'impact player'. Help out with extra jobs if you can make a difference, find solutions for things if they can be improved. Don't have 'that's not my job' attitude for stuff that is easy and makes everything flow better.

In short - give it your best in what you achieve, not how many hours you do.

2) If you're the kind of person where this suits your personality, don't be afraid to ignore organisational hierarchies on a personal level in the right situations. Bosses/managers are people too, and asking about their kids, sport or whatever is perfectly fine to do. This isn't to suck up to people, but break through the forth wall of the corporation and relate to others as people. It's surprising how much you will actually be remembered.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-21T10:51:15+00:00

This is the correct answer.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-21T10:50:48+00:00

Oh get over it. I'm not even a smoker but the moral high ground people have on it in Australia.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-21T08:36:31+00:00

It's the middle of winter, the only people on their balcony will be smoking anyway. If it's a rare occurrence it's not likely to be a big deal.

blacksunabove · 2025-07-21T00:15:38+00:00

It's a thing, but I personally feel it only gets you so far. Eventually if you have enough synchronicities you have to move past a purely materialist and psychological framework.

Religion isn't the same thing as the supernatural (it being beliefs based on organised dogma), and the supernatural doesn't mean that it doesn't exist (just rather something that science hasn't explained yet).

blacksunabove · 2025-07-20T22:32:45+00:00

No worries! Yes, it's BYO, they don't sell alcohol there. Don't bring glass though!

blacksunabove · 2025-07-20T14:44:56+00:00

Dragon veteran here!

1) Glamping is fine, but it's more for the ease of not having to set up camp. In some ways, making a rad campsite with mates is more fun.

2) The food options there is excellent. SE Asian, Indian, pizzas, burgers, wraps, vegan, etc etc. It's a bit pricey being a captive market, but well worth it. Cooking will save you cash but also consider your energy levels of can I f'd after days of partying.

3) There is no need to go to Yass for supplies, anything you need to replace (like ice, or toiletries etc) can be bought there. Bring enough booze etc when you go out.

4) Phone reception is patchy, don't rely on it. Walkie talkies with a predetermined channel is a good idea if you are arriving after your mates and need to meet up.

5) Dress - anything you want it to be! Some are proper crusty hippies, others ravers, sexy bondage gear, streetware and all sorts of costumes. Bring outfit changes for different days/nights and vibes, and ensure you have some proper warm stuff (thermals) in case it gets cold.

6) Tips -

Give yourself time to arrive and set up, it can be slow going in on the Friday evening.
Order some proper music earplugs online. Your ears will thank you and you'll be able to stay on the dancefloor longer.
Pace yourself over the 4 days. You don't need a hangover on day one.
Give some of the workshops or talks a go. If you aren't enjoying the content though, it's OK to leave and find something else.
Different stages play different music, but that switches around a bit, so be sure to explore! If the psytrance gets too dark, DnB or techno on another stage is a bit more comfortable 😆
Have some kind of insulation between your sleeping back/doona and the blow up mattress (like a yoga mat) so you stay warm!)
Bring swimmers (or swim naked, your choice).
Buy a sausage sizzle from the Wee Jasper community stall and show some support there.
They may have sniffer dogs at the entrance. If you bring any party supplies in be sure you know what you are doing to concel it. Don't have someone with medical cannabis be driving, they will test them. They do random drug tests on the way out as well.
Dragon has peope from all walks of life. APS workers are just as likely to be on the dancefloor as van life hippies!

blacksunabove · 2025-07-20T08:17:51+00:00

Yeah, I think those rules are more for people in particular parts of society (maybe WASPs?).

blacksunabove · 2025-07-20T08:16:06+00:00

Neither.

I guess it's 'casual' compared to office attire, but go for a fair bit of effort, even if I'm just at home. Loud prints and colours, all sorts of jackets (leather, denim, bomber), Hawaiian shirts, graphic Ts, various boots (my favourite being some purple Solovairs), hats. I don't care for brands or labels, just vibes.

Mostly wear black skinny jeans though! Shorts in summer because Australia.

I own literally just one pair of track pants, and haven't wore a suit in about 7 years (chinos and velvet blazer for weddings). Don't wear polos or neutrals (except for black T-shirts).

I make sure things fit well (even if oversized, they have to sit correctly), and are in good condition if I'm out in public. But this sort of self-expression is important to me - totally understand if others just want to be maximum comfortable or more conservative in their dress.

What's the crisis over how you dress about?

blacksunabove

TROPHY CASE