“you look like a cat, yet… WHAT ARE YOU?”
(via ktrololol)
And Now Something A Little Different..
It just occurred to me just how much technology is a big part of my life. Sure I don’t have the shiny iPads or the new, improved Macs or the big screen plasma TVS. But what I am equipped with, I use daily - even, I think, a little too much.
I used to read a lot more than I used to. Barnes & Nobles was one of my favorite places in the world and I would beg my mother to take me there whenever we could. I loved the smell of books, the smell of the shop and the feel of the pieces of paper between my finger tips.
I haven’t read (more like, read through more than three chapters) of a book in more than a year - two years maybe! And it’s horrifying to me of how much time has went by since. I’ll get that sudden urge, read for a couple of days and then put it down, doing something completely different.
I used to knit. I was in the middle of knitting during a “NO TECHNOLOGY” hiatus and I loved it. I stopped when I got back on the computer. I don’t even know where my yarn and needle are anymore.
I used to exercise more and do Pilates and yoga. I’ve finally gotten back in the groove, but mostly just to exercise. Never to do it for fun.
A day in the life - I wake up in the morning and shut off my alarm - which is programmed in my cellphone. I get up, sit down on the couch and open up my laptop to check Facebook, E-mail and a quick view of tumblr. I’ve even switched to Comcast and Yahoo to check the daily news (since I don’t read a newspaper anymore.) I go through my day, come back home and turn on the TV. I grab a snack, find a channel that I like with one of my favorite shows and open my laptop to do exactly what I did that morning. EXCEPT, I do it for a long period of time. And not only that, but I have cellphone on me and am constantly texting people.
Something like this picture above -but with the TV going on in the background too.
Enter Alex. He smiles, we say hello, give each other kisses and ask about each others days. He gets a snack or takes a shower, comes back into the living room, sits down and turns on his computer. Now he is checking his E-Mail, ESPN and finally goes onto his newfound love (haha) The Old Republic game. He puts his headset on and is completely engrossed in the game.
Now picture our sitting arrangement. Alex at his computer, headset on and eyes on the screen while his fingers are moving quickly across the keyboard and pounding the mouse. Across from him is me - on the computer (FACEBOOK, TUMBLR, SIMS), texting and looking up occasionally at the TV when something interesting pops up. By the way, he’s texting too - either a family member, an old friend or coercing some of his internet buddies to play TOR with him.
We are aware that we are both in the room, but barely speak a word. Oh there is the occasional “HONEEYY, what are you doing?” or “HONEEYY, I miss you.” or “Hey I got a funny story today ..” and then we go back in silence doing our own thing. And this has been our routine since we’ve moved in together. Almost every single day. When we go out, we each have our phones. And what are we doing half of the time? Checking our phones, or texting someone or eyes glued to the TV, but when in discussion - will make eye contact and talk - but then eyes back on the TV.
Of course we like the comfortable silence and that’s probably why I’ve never noticed it before. When I see all of this in words, my stomach drops a little of how “far apart” we are. Nothing about our relationship is different, except maybe the fact that technology is getting in the middle of us. And not just us, but even my friendships.
You see these pictures and you feel that same stomach drop I feel, or maybe you don’t. You see just how silly it looks, right? How silly how, in a way, you’re ignoring the person next to you. Someone who wants to spend time with you and every couple of minutes you pick up your phone. He’s done it. I’ve done it. My friends have done it. We’ve all done it.
I come over to spend time with my parents. I sit with my dad, watching TV and what do I do? I’m texting. I’m texting Alex, whom I live with, instead of giving dad 100% of my attention. It makes me sick now thinking about that. Now I realize, when it’s done to me, how that makes him feel. Or makes a friend feel. Or makes Alex feel.
How a friend is talking to you and as they’re in mid sentence, you pick up your phone and just quickly send a text with “I don’t want them to think I’m ignoring them. Okay I said goodbye, what were you saying?”
There will be hours where we are so quiet.. we’re so engrossed in something on the computer or the TV or video games. That if one of us tries to talk to each other, the other (him or I) respond slightly irritated that our concentration is now broken.
Sure, we’ve been texting non stop every day since he gave me his phone number. I have texted during another conversation in person. I’ve done it at school. I’ve done it at my parent’s house. His grandparent’s house. My extended family’s house. My friend’s house. And so has he. And so have you.
We’ve all done it. Maybe the experts talking about technology is right; saying that all of these cellphones and laptops and blahblahblah are getting in the middle of couples/relationships/families.
“Who are you texting?”
“What’re you writing a novel?”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Huh?”
“I still can’t hear you.”
“Are you seriously texting while we’re out?”
“Don’t you ever put those things down?”
I’m sure everyone has heard those or at least one of those. Or something very similar to.
Have you ever been in a room where people are having a conversation .. and then suddenly it goes silent. You look up from your cellphone after you sent a text and you notice that everyone else in the room has a phone in their hand too. Sending a text. Checking an email. Looking at facebook.
THIS -
Fun party.
I’m cutting this off before it gets in the way my relationship with my future husband. With my friends. With my own family. There is no way I am going to be looking like that picture above. It’s just so silly. TV will be cut off tremendously. Laptop time is going to be cut off quite a bit. I go out, I will not check my cellphone unless called for emergencies. It’s rude having to text when you should be paying attention to the person you are with. I’ve realized that now.
If it’s hard to do that - text when no one is around. Text when you’re in the bathroom - tell them you’re busy right now and get back to them later. That person you’re out with deserves your time and it hurts their feelings when you’re looking down at a screen rather than their eyes.
I’m going to read more.
I’m going to be more productive with my time than just sit on my behind and scroll mindlessly through the internet.
I’m over this. It’s time for a good change. 2012 is going to be a good year and - better late than never- it starts now.
It’s possible to live without technology - at least try it by using it less… IT’S TOO TIME CONSUMING. I feel like a freakin’ robot sometimes and that I’m numb to the rest of the world. I’m living, but not really LIVING!!
It’s time to REALLY live. Do daring things. Try new things. Step away from the phone. The TV. Pick up a newspaper. Pick up a book. Take up a hobby. Knit. Dance. Do Yoga. Write. Sing. Start running. Draw. Paint. Do something challenging for your brain! Your body! Anything!
The question is …
Who is brave enough to do the challenge with me? Can you let it go?
