# Hello, I'm Mike. This is my blog. Written content is a place where I find more peace. I find it easier to write down ideas than write a script, fire up the camera, and make a YouTube video. Therefore, I'm going to writing for a bit. I'm even going to experiment with the idea of making short-form videos for YouTube that can stand on their own, content wise, and also be embedded here. Yes, it's one big page with a constant stream of thoughts. I'll think about organising this later on if I need to. # Thoughts Things that pop into my mind that I then write down here as quickly as possible. ## Text Based Conversations They're bad. They're bad for actually conveying the correct message. They're bad for nuisance and tone. They're bad because they lack all the finer details a voice conversation offers. The worst thing you can do is have a text based conversation. This is especially true when there is a breakdown in understanding. I blame tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack, as they've enabled and even based their entire business model on providing convenience and instant communication. They're designed to make people accessible all day, everyday, instantly. These tools aren't revolutionising the way we communicate, they're destroying it. Their only real value is in their ability to enable video communications, and that's how you should be using them 90% of the time. On a larger level, I also blame businesses for allowing these kinds of communication practices to occur. I love a bit of remote working, for sure, but text based communications should be limited via social contracts. We should be designing our (remote/digital) environments to encourage the best kind of communication possible, which is never solely text based and absolutely involves hearing people's voices and seeing their faces (that being said, please can we kill the fully open office space?) On a much broader level, I also blame the way society is _allowing_ a shift towards a future of instant, always-on gratification. Everything is available immediately. You can have it right now... but at what cost, and to whom? Eventually, the cost will be everything and the impact will be to everyone. This way of living then permeates our way of working, a nasty cycle. If you need to talk to someone, book in a meeting and have a voice call. Better yet, have a video call. Even better again, sit beside them and "tag team" the issue live, together, as people. # Computer Systems I use several operating systems to achieve a wide range of tasks. ## Linux I use Linux on servers. I don't use it on the desktop anymore. ## FreeBSD I use FreeBSD on servers, ideally more than I do Linux, as and when I can. ## Macs I use Apple Macs and Apple hardware for most of my computing needs. I recently moved from a CachyOS Linux desktop to a Mac Studio for several reasons (reasons I don't have to justify to you, dear reader.) # Gaming I limit the amount of games I play, and I go as far as limiting my self to a handful of desktop games. I like games that require you to build up progress over a long period of time, like the MMO. I mainly play EVE Online and Final Fantasy 14. # Japanese I am a student of the Japanese language. I like Japanese culture and Japan itself, as a country.