Having to abstain from all internet use for a 24 hour period was very hard for me at first. Not because I am addicted to the internet or anything, but because I am taking five courses online. I usually spend a good amount of time on the internet, especially on blackboard or checking my email, so it was a strange feeling to not be able to do any of my school work for a day.
Not being able to use the internet didn’t drastically affect my ability to communicate. I was able to use my cell phone and send text messages or make phone calls as I usually do. Although I do email people occasionally, I don’t think it is the most effective means of communication. I prefer to use the telephone because in my opinion, it is actually much faster and easier than waiting for someone to reply to an email. If you think about it, people nowadays are much more likely to have their cell phone next to them than they are to be sitting at a computer at the exact time you need to get in touch with them.
Other things that I usually do on the internet include checking the newspaper, checking the weather report, or going on social networking sites such as Myspace or Facebook. Not being able to do these things didn’t really impact me. The only impact that it had was that there are certain people who I only talk to on Myspace or Facebook, so I wasn’t able to communicate with these people for the 24 hour period, but it wasn’t a big deal to me.
Instead of going on the internet to do my school work, I was able to spend the day with my 3 month old son. I was able to take him to the beach and to the zoo. It was really nice to be able to enjoy one of my last few days in Hawaii by getting some sunshine, and I’m glad I was able to devote a full day’s worth of attention to my son, instead of having to take some time away from him to do my school work. It is interesting because in this week’s reading from Postman, he says that technology has created an ideology that speed and efficiency are the most desirable traits in any aspect of life. However, after completing the 24 hour abstinence period, I found it more enjoyable to be able to just slow down and enjoy the simpler things in life, such as spending time with my son. I almost wished I didn’t have to return to online classes again the next day!
Although I really enjoyed having a “day off” from the internet, it made me realize how different my life would be without the internet. I have been taking online classes since the beginning of this school year so that I can stay at home to take care of my son and continue my education at the same time. However, if the internet did not exist, then I would not be able to do this. I would either have to take a break from school to take care of my son, or find child care for him so that I could attend classes. To me, it seems like a lose-lose situation.
This experience has made appreciate the internet much more than I did before. I think that people tend to take the internet, and technology as a whole for that matter, for granted. However, not being able to use this technology for a whole day really makes you appreciate how convenient the internet makes life.
Well, you know that in Hawaii everything is laid back. My dad was so excited when they paved a freeway from his side of the island to the other. The speed limit was 50 mph. Wow, that’s fast (sarcasm.)
My family is from Maui so I communicate with them via email or cell phone. My cousins are the ones with the internet connection, the rest have phones or use snail mail. My aunt is almost 90 years old and she got her first cell phone last year because she can’t walk to the phone fast enough. She just keeps the phone next to her. So it is possible to still communicate without the internet. And as you learned, it’s nice to have a “day off” from surfing the net to go out and surf the ocean.
And yes, you don’t know what you got until it’s gone. Without the internet permanently would not be the end of the world but it would be very inconvenient as online classes are my only way of “attending” classes today.
I agree with Erica. At times the internet can consume peoples time all day. I think that we rely on technology, because it makes it easier for people to commuicate across the world. The only time im on the internet is to check email or taking this online course. When staying away from the net for 24 hours, I also spent time with my two kids. I had a great time with the family and it made me not worry about whats online. I also agree with just enjoying the simpler things in life. I think that using the net can be very time friendly with having families. It helps parents work on their degree online while with the family. I apreciate the fact that having a online course keeps me connected with my family, which make me spend good quality time at home. Postman was correct about the ideology of technology, speed and efficent are good traits, but having a time off from technology can be very good.