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.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.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?)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.That said, Library Extension is my favorite kind of technology and I'm happy to learn someone has made it.