I spent some time yesterday deleting every social media account I can recall ever having. That’s not really a big deal when you consider I haven’t expended much energy in that direction in a long time. Deleting those accounts was mostly symbolic and for my own benefit. It was about unplugging and rejecting the endless online systems promoted as ways to “share” with others, but which eventually demand your soul.

Those acts of deletion weren’t limited to social media. I also removed a lot of software on various computers, tablets, and even my phone. These included APRS, N1MM, WSJT, VARA, VARA-FM, VarAC, and a few others. I kept my logging software, for now, but it will eventually be removed too. I kept TQSL so I can still sign log files for upload to Logbook of the World though I’m considering dumping it too. My attitude concerning it has been undergoing rapid evolution as has my opinion about the value (to me) of ARRL awards.

I think it’s worth noting I postal mailed a short stack of paper QSL cards this week in response to those recently received. First “batch” of paper cards I’ve toted to the post office since 2015. I seem to be coming around to the notion that some things are better the old-fashioned way.

Hams are an inventive lot, always looking to enhance the game of radio. Often those efforts involve tying one-hand behind our back to up the ante and make things more challenging. For instance, my QRP friends enjoy lowering their power, purposely putting themselves at some disadvantage. I get that, especially as I now consider purging the computer entirely from my radio shack.

Of course that can be done, I spent the first decade of my ham radio life before personal computers even existed and I don’t recall it being a particularly dark or difficult to navigate period of time.