The social media algorithms were definitely much different in 2014. They tended to promote links to outside articles and trending topics, even if those links were to BuzzFeed listicles. In 2015/16 they had all changed to trying to keep people engaged on the original site, so they started pushing rage bait that would get people arguing in the comments.
In 2014, everybody was talking about what color that dress was. In 2015, Breitbart was like the number 3 most popular shared "news" site on Facebook.
I did when I was trying out CBT and meds using specific questionnaires and charting the results. It was super helpful to figure out what worked and what didn't and have data to back that up.
Rofl probably most people too busy just getting by, like surviving. But I write to relax instead of TV or video games usually, so I get pretty wild with it.
I've got a super subjective "emotional compass" doodle that I can quickly scratch out in the margins.
I do wish I'd started sooner, but doubt I'd have had the patience/headspace for this stuff before middle age perspective came a knocking
There's not a lot of metrics (the potential of getting better healthcare being the exception), that aren't objectively worse globally. I'd be curious what your diary says to that..
I mean it's super self centered, so it comes out mostly as guilt or gratefulness or a stirring like I should be doing more for my community. Pandemic onward it kinda went into overdrive.
Like nowadays I have multiple homeless encampments within 15 minutes walking distance, which was absolutely not the case pre-pandemic.
Global infant mortality and maternal mortality (going down)
The reality is, most of the world by many metrics is getting better over time. There are things that threaten this (climate change and increasing authorititarianism) and it has slowed, but overall we are still generally positive trajectory wise. In fact, I would say that in most metrics that matter, we are improving.
I think it's a matter of scale, back in 2014 they were scumbags with a thin veneer of "decency" that veneer got sandblasted off and now there's only a bag of hate left.
Make 2014 the guy that 2024 remembers, thinking about the depressed 2024 guy thinking about the happy 2014 guy, and that's me. I knew I was in probably the best part of my life while it was happening and enjoyed it while I could. Not that I didn't have suicidal thoughts then too but it was definitely the most fun. More 2015-16 though.