We got into a big sidebar discussion on the podcast tonight (will be published tomorrow some time) about being connected all of the time, and how much is too much. (Sidebar to the sidebar, because I know Diana will laugh... "I would!")
The discussion came first out of the purpose behind Twitter. Then we drifted into Blackberries and iPhones and Mike eventually got us to the brilliant point that just as our culture is high consumption with material goods, so it goes with information. I think there is definitely some truth to that.
But what drives that desire? I admit times when I'd leave my IM on at all times, or frantically check e-mail constantly, but for the most part I only did that when I was single. I think I've regressed a little by checking Facebook more frequently, but part of that comes out of the recent rush of many college friends suddenly getting on. I just want to catch up with them.
What I still don't get is the people who need to have their e-mail pushed to them at all times, or have Twitter send text messages outlining in 140 characters or less that so and so just took a dump. How much information is really that critical that we need it immediately?
I consume a lot of information. My window to most of it is Google Reader, where I subscribe to a dozen personal blogs, a dozen tech blogs and sites, a half-dozen news sites and about 20 programming blogs. Not counting the MSDN master feed, there are about 300 new entries posted per day. But given all of that data, I still consume it when I feel like it. Knowing the latest post from icanhascheezburger is not that critical.
The best moments in life are still those when I wake wake up next to Diana, or I'm having dinner with a friend, or even sitting in the hot tub alone watching the sky for shooting stars. These moments are far too great to be interrupted with constant data. I can't be the only one who feels that way.
The radical culture change that the Internet has brought on is fascinating to me. It certainly has changed my life, working in businesses that didn't exist prior to its establishment in the mainstream. I'm not yet convinced that life is better or worse for it; only different.
I think too much attention gets placed on whether the access provided through technology is "good" or "bad". The technology is not the issue at all. It's what people do with it.
It's really not that much different than the alcohol discussions you get so passionate about. Alcohol itself is not a bad thing...the abuse of alcohol by people is the issue.
Comparing receiving emails on your Blackberry to waking up next to a loved one is a bizarre comparison. You don't have to be interrupted during those special times so long as you choose not to be.
But receiving emails or going online while you wait for your clothes to finish up at the laundromat, or when you are stuck in a traffic jam on your way home from work...there's nothing wrong with that.
You're not the only one.
My most favorite place in this world is still at my Grandpa's farm in Illinois and my favorite thing is camping with my family for a week or two each year (like I have for 23 years of my life). Why? Because technology really isn't in the picture. No matter how important you are, the world can survive for a week without you. As much as I love technology, it's great to take a break from it every now and then.
I have a friend who receives email constantly, and I imagine as I move up in the professional world I will be more and more surrounded be people who HAVE to stay connected all of the time (as it is, everyone in the hospital carries a pager/phone that they have to answer and they go off while clinicians are lecturing). What annoys me about it is when she stops talking to me, and looks down at her blackberry and reads an email. Seriously, you couldn't wait twenty seconds to look at that? When it leads to a disconnect between us as human beings, that's when it bothers me.
Exactly. The thing is, though, that's a general civility issue. You have to wonder if said person wouldn't also stop talking to you when someone she perceives to be more "important" walks up, or for any other reason.
I'm not saying that I don't think there are "information addiction" problems out there. It just seems to me that at the root of them are character and civility issues rather than access issues.
* turns to the masses* Please people, practice your technology responsibly! ;)
Having been connected via electronic leash for all too many of my years working in the financial and insurance industries I must say I have gone quite the other way and intentionally remain disconnected for much of my time these days. Like Jeff and Kara, I also live for, seek out and enjoy the special moments we all should have to step away from the daily chaos. This past weekend during a stop at our local library, I sat with my grandson, listening to glorious music from the strings of a harp while we sipped hot chocolate and watched the snowflakes fall just outside the windows. It was a special moment, interestingly disconnected while in a forum designed to connect!
The ability to access information today is marvelous, however the "need" will vary as it always has from individual to individual. I "needed" to be connected during much of my working career, but no longer. As with any technological advance, it is indeed how we use it that is important. Carrie says it best .. 'practice you technology responsibly!'
When I see the mail man walk up to my house I go check my mail. Is anyone going to criticize me for that? The mail was essentially "pushed" to my house much like my email is "pushed" to my phone. If I am not there to receive it, it will wait just like my Twitter or RSS feeds will.
I don't think any of us are unique in wanting to get away from it all now and then, but some people they have no desire to get away from it like we do. I don't see why that's a problem as long as it's not affecting their ability to function.
As for Twitter. I define it as a passive chat room. A lot of my friends are on Twitter and I keep in touch with them with it. A lot of people live in other cities and we all talk together like we still see each other every day. When we get together it's like we were never apart. In many ways, Twitter and Facebook has kept relationships that would have died active and strong.
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