Use System Mute

When you're in a call on a platform which also shows mute status¹, I mean.

If you're muted, it means away or busy. If that's true, then by all means, use the visible platform mute.

But if you just need to sneeze or eat some chips, there's no need to send that social signal. It can actually be confusing, people will think you are away when you aren't.

Many platforms also have some form of Push-to-Talk, where you only speak when pressing a button, but it's inconsistently implemented and is a bit overkill for occasionally sneezing.

If you use operating system mute, hardware mute, or otherwise disable mic input, it always works everywhere.

Don't send fake signals.

There are more elegant ways of communicating.

- Rew

Nightly Notes

No, this one isn't really about the mute button, but I have not yet figured out how to talk about signaling generally, so you get the ultra narrow scope instead.

My brain weirdness is showing again, isn't it.

Sorry.

...

Wait, wasn't that the point of writing these?

There's something weird about social dynamics which make them terrifying to discuss. Even to acknowledge.

Probably because it's almost impossible to talk about social dynamics without being in the context of one, but there's more than that. It feels more judgemental and high stakes than other topics.

And it is higher stakes, it involves other people, it has the potential to impact others more. But writing which is read about anything is going to impact other people.

Contradiction.

When I started brainstorming these posts I grouped them into physical, mental, and technology. Physical and mental should be obvious, technology I consider special because it's a weird overlap of changing how you interact with a physical device which largely exists as a mental tool.

Technology is also where I differ the most from others.

I had this post under technology, but now I'm realizing it's a social topic.

Why didn't I even think to include social?

I don't want to put myself in the productivity corner, is counting toilet paper refills even productive? The productivity space comes out of the self-help space, which is self-centered. How to work with others well is a secondary concern, only for after you work out your problems.

That isn't a natural default, that's the Western default. There are ways of thinking about improving which focus on building up and relying on a community, with yourself only happening to be the part you control.

In the factual, non-judgemental sense, I am self-centered.

• I think about myself and how the things I do impact myself, often.
• I chose a format which is about advice, or at least information which may be useful, but the reflection segment of this post is longer than the advice.²
• I write this series for myself.
• I have a core belief that you cannot sustainably do anything if you do not do it for yourself.

This is my default mode of existence.

When it comes to others, I work from "do no harm", not "do more good". I wish to signal less, and I know not how.

I know people who are the other way, and I love them for it. The world needs people like them.

But sometimes they scare me.

- Rew