Let’s be honest for a second. When was the last time you went more than an hour without checking your phone? If you’re anything like me, the answer is probably… well, let's just say it’s been a while. Our phones are our lifelines, our offices, our social hubs. They connect us to everything, all the time.
But what if that constant connection is actually a problem?
It’s a thought that’s been nagging at a lot of us, but it’s being voiced by one of the most unusual critics of Big Tech I’ve ever come across: a puppet. Yes, a literal puppet. His name is Gowanus, and he’s got some strong opinions about our digital lives. I was listening to WIRED’s The Big Interview podcast this week, and senior culture editor Manisha Krishnan had a fascinating chat with him. And I’ve got to tell you, the things this felt-and-fabric Luddite had to say really hit home.
So, What’s the Deal with This Anti-Tech Puppet?
First things first, let's clear this up. Gowanus is the creation of comedian Connor Ratliff, and he’s become a sort of mascot for the digitally exhausted. He’s a “Luddite,” which is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but it basically means he’s deeply skeptical of new technology and its impact on our lives.
He’s not just some grumpy character yelling at clouds, though. He represents that quiet voice in the back of our heads that wonders if we’ve gone too far. The one that asks if we really need to document every meal, reply to every email instantly, or spend our evenings scrolling through the curated lives of strangers.
In his conversation with Manisha Krishnan, Gowanus laid out a simple, almost radical philosophy: maybe we should just… stop. Stop letting our phones dictate our moods, our schedules, and our connections. Maybe we should look up and see what’s actually around us.
The Case for “Eschewing Big Tech”
One of the big ideas they talked about was "eschewing Big Tech." That sounds a little intense, right? Like you have to delete all your accounts and go live in a cabin. But that’s not really what it’s about.
Think of it like this: your brain is a computer with a limited amount of RAM. Every notification, every email, every ping, every new post in your feed—it’s another tab opening up. Pretty soon, your system starts to slow down. You feel sluggish, distracted, and overwhelmed. You can’t focus on the one thing that’s right in front of you because 50 other tabs are demanding your attention.
Big Tech companies designed it this way. Their entire business model is built on capturing and holding our attention. The infinite scroll, the little red notification bubbles, the algorithm that knows exactly what to show you next to keep you hooked. It’s a brilliant design, but it’s not necessarily designed for our well-being.
Eschewing Big Tech isn’t about throwing your iPhone in a river. It’s about taking back control. It’s about deciding when you want to engage, not when an app tells you to. It's about closing some of those mental tabs so you have the brainpower for the things that actually matter.
The Radical Act of Just… Going Outside
So what’s the alternative? According to Gowanus, it’s ridiculously simple: go outside.
When you’re constantly online, your world shrinks to the size of your screen. Your reality is filtered through algorithms and other people’s opinions. Going outside—without your phone as a crutch—is like hitting a reset button.
You notice the weather. You hear birds. You see the faces of people walking by. You’re forced to be present in the physical world, not the digital one. It sounds so basic, but in our hyper-connected age, it’s become a revolutionary act.
This isn’t about shaming anyone for enjoying technology. I love a good Netflix binge as much as the next person. But the conversation on the podcast was a great reminder that there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t require a login or a password. It’s about balance. It’s about remembering that we’re physical beings who need sunlight and fresh air, not just Wi-Fi and battery life.
Let’s Talk About Dating Apps and Digital Rejection
This was the part of the conversation that I think will resonate with a lot of people. They dove into the world of modern dating and how technology has completely changed the game, especially when it comes to rejection.
Getting rejected has always been a part of life. But getting rejected on a dating app feels… different. Colder.
Think about it. You’re not a person; you’re a profile. A collection of curated photos and a witty bio. A left swipe is a split-second dismissal. A message left on “read” is a silent, ambiguous rejection that can leave you wondering what you did wrong. It’s called “ghosting,” and it’s become a standard, if brutal, part of the digital dating experience.
The puppet’s point, and it’s a good one, is that technology has removed the humanity from a deeply human process. There’s no nuance, no shared experience, just a cold, hard algorithm. It gamifies our search for connection, turning potential partners into disposable cards in a deck. It can be incredibly demoralizing.
Again, the message isn't to swear off dating apps forever. For many, they’re an essential tool. But it’s a call to be aware of how they’re affecting us. It’s a prompt to remember that behind every profile is a real person, and maybe, just maybe, we should try to treat them that way.
Ultimately, listening to a puppet talk about the perils of modern technology was both absurd and profoundly insightful. You don't have to agree with everything Gowanus says to appreciate the core of his message.
It’s a simple plea to be more intentional. To ask ourselves if our tools are serving us, or if we’ve become servants to our tools. You don’t need to smash your smartphone. But maybe, just for a little while today, you could put it in another room and see what happens. You might be surprised by what you find when you finally look up.
