My name is Taco Oldenburger, and being curious and wanting to help, contribute and discuss with everything that’s going on is who I am. In Dutch you could call me a bemoeial, although that has a negative connotation.
I am partly politically active, by meddling in local affairs to help improve my city and village, to improve safety for children on the street. By enhancing biodiversity in public spaces. I am also a volunteer for the collective that wants to help parents and childres with growing up without a smartphone. Link to the Dutch site
I am a neo-luddite, I think we have a completely inhumane and abusive relationship with technology at the moment. Big tech has made us addicted to their platforms and machines, and by doing so has way to much influence over our thoughts, political systems and money. People are literally addicted to swiping TikTok reels and kids spend 6 hours a day on their phones. This needs to change! We should re-evaluate our relationship with technology. What tools bring us joy or usefullness, which ones are detremental to our wellbeing and the wellbeing of society at large. I’ve started a collective for like-minded people in The Netherlands and Groningen more locally.
I always feel that I am searching for a way that I can direct all my energy, ideas and drive in one usefull and positive direction. But perhaps that’s not even necessary, although I always feel that I could do more, that I want to contribute more. This blog, and the collective are my steps in a positive direction.
My day to day activities are watercoloring, reading, photography, gardening, baking bread and cycling when I have the energy. And most importantly I take care of my amazing but intense daughter. I deal with my chronic illness, which unfortunately takes a lot of energy and quite often prevents me from doing more than I can during the day. Which I am increasingly accepting of in a Buddist, Stoa kinda way. I worry less about the future, I don’t dwell on the past, I live now, and will enjoy the now.
