Let's Make Amazon into a Dumb Pipe
I think this article is predicated on the belief that we should make it really easy to consume things. Creative works, perhaps yes, but manufactured objects? I may not agree. With consumerism as the prevailing cultural narrative, a lot of people are biased toward buying stuff that they don't need.<p>Maybe it's good to counteract that bias by accepting a bit of extra friction in the shopping process. Make space for a modicum of contemplation prior to making an impulse purchase.<p>Here's a tip, sign out of amazon.com. They obscure the button but it's there! Set a complex password and put it somewhere that needs to be manually copy-pasted into the login prompt. You just added a minute of friction to your next purchase. You can also delete saved payment cards so that you need to type them in again. (Also, start a habit of comparison shopping online. What if it's cheaper/faster to buy on eBay? Local big box store?)<p>Often, when accepting this friction, I'll decide that I don't actually need something. That decision is usually a win for both the climate and my bank account. Less plastic junk in the world.<p>That said, Library Extension is my favorite kind of technology and I'm happy to learn someone has made it.