[forgotmypw3]

It's thinking like this that led me down the path of rejecting money/currency for the most part. Every dollar I spent is a vote for producing more of whatever I'm buying, directly correlated with habitat loss (for humans included) and animal deaths. And each transaction is like a curtain from behind which the finished product appears, handed to you with no information about its origin.

[skybrian]

Yes, finished products abstract away how they were made. But that's why we have labels. Also, taxing the inputs if they're harmful.

Politics can change the rules, having impact that individual purchase decisions can't, because we don't have the information.

[TheGallopedHigh]

What does this even mean? By ones existence one precludes other life. Where does one draw the line on what one can eat/use?

I sometimes feel these statements are made without much critical thinking. I’m open to be proved wrong.

[stekern]

That's an interesting perspective. How does such an approach play out in practice?

[forgotmypw3]

The freeganism link in sibling comment provides a pretty good overview.

In my case, I live outdoors more than half the time, sometimes couchsurfing.

I obtain food primarily from waste.

My electronics are hand-me-downs.

For getting around, I ride with people going my way or walk. I am a careful driver, and sometimes I help drive as contribution. Sometimes I ride trains and buses, which cost minimal money.

I pay a few hundred a year for domains and hosting.

Occasionally, people offer me money. I used to not accept it, but now I just do my best to limit its use to the above.

If I go to a coffee shop, I typically do not buy a coffee. If I sit at a fast food place, I don't buy anything.

I do not feel that I owe anything to anyone just for occupying space.

I do, however, place some properly logoed cups (reused) on my table, and I pick up any trash on the floors, and fix the chairs, and sometimes wipe the tables with abandoned napkins.

It seems kind of silly sometimes, but it's a system that's working well for me now.

I like to visit libraries, though hours are typically limited.

It has taken me about 5 years to transition to this life from full-time job, apartment, and cat.

I had previous camping experience, and a relatively low regard for social norms. I am a man, which obviously helps with safety. But women do it too.

This practice has helped me develop my meditation practice, write more code I can be proud of, and travel without worry about where I'm going to stay when I get there.

Because my past jobs contributed to selling soft drinks, securities, oil, etc., I think that my "environmental karma" is much better. I also have the time to stop and pick up the trash everywhere I go, a practice I find to be both enjoyable and great "natural" exercise.

[kbos87]

I’m honestly curious and not trying to be contrarian - what does your code produce if not more consumption in some way?

[forgotmypw3]

Well, it is not producing much at the moment, and it is consuming electricity and resources to run.

I am hoping that it will produce a better way for people to talk and connect, as well as provably reliable information store.

[Forbo]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism