For quite some time I didn't actually notice that this was yours L.B., must have been the lack of coffee.L.B. Jeffries said:
Still, brilliant work and I'd fully recommend a break from the net for a bit. Does wonders for your soul.
193: Out of the Internet and Into the Wild
- Thread starter L.B. Jeffries
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Still, brilliant work and I'd fully recommend a break from the net for a bit. Does wonders for your soul.
This is nothing. I once went an entire week without electricity, which was much more interesting. Maybe I should do an article on that...
Ace Article, and one that hits close to home.
I often feel the same way as you do. The internet gives us this pedestal to stand on and be noticed, and after we are eventually recognised we can begin to crave that sort of attention. My routine has evolved into turn on computer, check mail, check to see if anyone's quoted me, and then check threads I'm made for any comments. Nine times out of ten I won't have any of these. But I keep doing it.
It can be such a dispiriting cycle sometimes, but I think it's worth it.
I often feel the same way as you do. The internet gives us this pedestal to stand on and be noticed, and after we are eventually recognised we can begin to crave that sort of attention. My routine has evolved into turn on computer, check mail, check to see if anyone's quoted me, and then check threads I'm made for any comments. Nine times out of ten I won't have any of these. But I keep doing it.
It can be such a dispiriting cycle sometimes, but I think it's worth it.
Ha, I was pretty addicted to the internet, but then I moved to my dad's in early June of 2008 and didn't have internet for about 3 months, maybe 4. And when I moved to my mom's in Vermont, which is where I am now, the fastest internet speed I have is dial-up speed.
During the 3 months without internet, and that includes Xbox Live, PSN, Steam and all other internet games, and the past 7 months with dial up speed I learned that there are more important things in life.
During the 3 months without internet, and that includes Xbox Live, PSN, Steam and all other internet games, and the past 7 months with dial up speed I learned that there are more important things in life.
I agree... I think cellphones are a little harder to detox from now that the net is on there too. I tried detoxing from both the computer AND the cellphone. You feel really lonely for awhile, but you get used to it... made me appreciate reading a LOT more.xmetatr0nx said:
You know, I actually had a sad night where I texted every random person I could think of when I got particularly bored. I dunno...one thing at a time, right?xmetatr0nx said:
I must learn how to do that myself... Sometimes I wonder how much time exactly I lose sitting around doing nothing useful on the net. And I often find that I'm too bored to do anything that I actually like or look forward to doing -- gaming included, not to mention other productive activities -- while I'm on it, even if it means not moving from my chair. It is alarming. Very interesting and thoughtful article, congratulations!insectoid said:
I used to be horribly addicted to FFXI a couple years back and when things hit the fan with my GF I moved out into the city with a friend and for about a year and two months I didn't have internet access at home or any form of Television services. Surprisingly I had an amazing time, I hadn't been that active in ages, felt really good. Slightly miss those days, I certainly love having net access but don't really care if I were to lose it.
I know exactly the feeling the article is talking about.
That said, I don't think it's really a bad thing, just neutral. There's nothing that makes it inherently worse in any way other than gut reaction against the new and strange. We've all seen columnists complain about 'modern kids, always plugged in to the rap music, gives them the brain damage' and so on. We're changing into a society based more around the constant exchange of information. Perhaps things become less private, mentally 'busier', with less focus on stopping and thinking. But at the same time, we become more connected, we can process vast amounts of information on all subjects across the world, leaping from one to the next.
I wouldn't say we should praise or condemn progress based on whether it's 'good' or not - it's just people deciding what they want to do with their lives, as they have the right to. I love spending an hour on the internet simply absorbing others' opinions. A day and I start to feel drained as hell. Perhaps we're starting to lean towards forming a general consensus within our groups of choice rather than thinking quietly by ourselves. But that's [del]just like the Geth and therefore awesome[/del] not a threat, just a different way of doing things - not one without problems if it goes too far, but not bad either.
That said, I don't think it's really a bad thing, just neutral. There's nothing that makes it inherently worse in any way other than gut reaction against the new and strange. We've all seen columnists complain about 'modern kids, always plugged in to the rap music, gives them the brain damage' and so on. We're changing into a society based more around the constant exchange of information. Perhaps things become less private, mentally 'busier', with less focus on stopping and thinking. But at the same time, we become more connected, we can process vast amounts of information on all subjects across the world, leaping from one to the next.
I wouldn't say we should praise or condemn progress based on whether it's 'good' or not - it's just people deciding what they want to do with their lives, as they have the right to. I love spending an hour on the internet simply absorbing others' opinions. A day and I start to feel drained as hell. Perhaps we're starting to lean towards forming a general consensus within our groups of choice rather than thinking quietly by ourselves. But that's [del]just like the Geth and therefore awesome[/del] not a threat, just a different way of doing things - not one without problems if it goes too far, but not bad either.