Disconnect
How did we arrive at this point? What possibly could be so important? We did without it for so many years. I know I grew up without it yet I am one of “them” too. Who is them? Well you are part of them too ya know. “Them” are those among us that just feel the need to be connected all the time. I’m not talking about the heart connectedness we have, but the need to be technologically tethered, or as I like to call it: the electronic leash.
The University of Maryland conducted a recent study where they asked 200 students to disconnect for just one day. For 24 hours, they were asked to shut down all media devices. That meant no texting, emailing, Facebooking, or anything to do with being tethered. It was no surprise to me, but after less than 24 hrs, there were signs of withdrawal, anxiety, and cravings similar to those with alcohol or drug addiction.
I am tethered more than is really required. I have three computers at home and all are connected. Why does one person need three computers at home when there is only one person living there? I have the Crackberry that’s on my hip like a growth the majority of the time. The funny part about me is that my Crackberry is 100% for personal use. It has zero to do with work or anything else. Y’all have seen my posts of walking in the park and updating Facebook or being out on the Harley and giving updates from the road. Short of a shower, there are not too many times you will find me without the Crackberry within reach. Even then, I change the alert to audible so I can hear it in the shower. It does indeed sleep on my night stand, but I at least set it to phone only so it’s not going off all night with texts and emails. I’m my own worst enemy.
I think back about growing up with just a landline at the house, a record player and five channels on the television. If someone called and I was home, I talked to them. If not, I just called them when I got a chance. Back then there was just no sense of urgency to get that phone call, text message, email or FB update. I’ll be the first to admit I just like knowing what is going on with the people in my life. Do I need to know it all, absolutely not? Short of an emergency, there is really no reason I need to be technologically tethered the way I am.
If you want to see how bad it has become, watch the people around you the next time you are out. You can be chatting it up, but if someone gets an alert of an incoming call or message, everyone one grabs their respective electronic leash and starts checking. It’s like we are just waiting for the opening to check their device. I know as I do it. I also know that if I am in the middle of a conversation and someone does it to me, I totally lose interest in the conversation and typically stop talking. It’s just rude yet we all do it.
How did we arrive at this point? How we got here is immaterial. The real question is where we go moving forward. I know I need to just put the Crackberry down. There’s really no need for me to take it to the park when I walk or to the gym. I need to just to the 24 hour challenge and take off the electronic leash for a day. Who’s with me?
Rodney
How did we arrive at this point? What possibly could be so important? We did without it for so many years. I know I grew up without it yet I am one of “them” too. Who is them? Well you are part of them too ya know. “Them” are those among us that just feel the need to be connected all the time. I’m not talking about the heart connectedness we have, but the need to be technologically tethered, or as I like to call it: the electronic leash.
The University of Maryland conducted a recent study where they asked 200 students to disconnect for just one day. For 24 hours, they were asked to shut down all media devices. That meant no texting, emailing, Facebooking, or anything to do with being tethered. It was no surprise to me, but after less than 24 hrs, there were signs of withdrawal, anxiety, and cravings similar to those with alcohol or drug addiction.
I am tethered more than is really required. I have three computers at home and all are connected. Why does one person need three computers at home when there is only one person living there? I have the Crackberry that’s on my hip like a growth the majority of the time. The funny part about me is that my Crackberry is 100% for personal use. It has zero to do with work or anything else. Y’all have seen my posts of walking in the park and updating Facebook or being out on the Harley and giving updates from the road. Short of a shower, there are not too many times you will find me without the Crackberry within reach. Even then, I change the alert to audible so I can hear it in the shower. It does indeed sleep on my night stand, but I at least set it to phone only so it’s not going off all night with texts and emails. I’m my own worst enemy.
I think back about growing up with just a landline at the house, a record player and five channels on the television. If someone called and I was home, I talked to them. If not, I just called them when I got a chance. Back then there was just no sense of urgency to get that phone call, text message, email or FB update. I’ll be the first to admit I just like knowing what is going on with the people in my life. Do I need to know it all, absolutely not? Short of an emergency, there is really no reason I need to be technologically tethered the way I am.
If you want to see how bad it has become, watch the people around you the next time you are out. You can be chatting it up, but if someone gets an alert of an incoming call or message, everyone one grabs their respective electronic leash and starts checking. It’s like we are just waiting for the opening to check their device. I know as I do it. I also know that if I am in the middle of a conversation and someone does it to me, I totally lose interest in the conversation and typically stop talking. It’s just rude yet we all do it.
How did we arrive at this point? How we got here is immaterial. The real question is where we go moving forward. I know I need to just put the Crackberry down. There’s really no need for me to take it to the park when I walk or to the gym. I need to just to the 24 hour challenge and take off the electronic leash for a day. Who’s with me?
Rodney
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