First off lets look at Google+.
1. I am here in a purely social capacity, I have no requirement to be connected 24/7. It occurred to me on my drive home, the Google+ stream is evil. Joking aside, it's almost like a fruit machine, spin the stream, we have a winner. The more you circle the more chance of winning, i.e. finding something interesting or to tickle your fancy.
And here's the rub... IT WILL STILL BE THERE LATER. I suddenly realized that, which is a little odd for a chap who persists data for a living.
So what am I going to do, GTFO that's what. It was getting to the point of, ooh let me finish a task at work so I can spin the stream. WTF a little red box, that must be important. I had better stop what I'm doing and check it! Now I am being a little unfair on myself, purely because that's how Amy and I can keep in touch during the day, with the vagaries of corporate IT policy blocking on firewalls it has proven a reliable method. When I come home and I'm sitting having dinner or having a delightful conversation, is there any real need? I don't think so. I wrote a comment a couple of days ago on a thread along the lines of "I've lived in my house for 3 years but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I step foot in my neighbors house" I mean really??? When I was a kid we were in and out and through all the houses on my street, I knew everyone, even the cranky old bugger who didn't cut his grass or open his curtains. This is why I need to unplug a little. Find some balance in my Internet use. I can have all these virtual friends,but I can't make the effort to cross the street for a cup of coffee. Maybe this is what's wrong with society as a whole, community spirit is gone. Well starting now, and late is better than never I'm making some changes!
Ok, and to those who I follow intently, Amy in particular, I'm not plusfucking, I'm just catching up.
Next up.... The dreaded smartphone.
This thing is a curse, I mean it! First a little back story....
I have a fabulous fiancee in Amy, we met on Google+, fell in love unequivocally, and will be getting married on 07/27, a year to the day we met. She lives 400 miles away from me across a long ass state called PA. We rely on the Internet for all of our daily communication. Interestingly enough she is very good at putting the phone down, though I suspect her obsession with Google+ runs a little deeper :P
Right now you're wondering where the curse is I bet. Can someone explain to me why I obsessively check it all the time through the day. It sits on my desk at work, whispering slide to unlock trying to corrupt my current thought process.
HELLO! IT HAS A RINGER. THE FUCKING THING WILL BEEP WHEN IT REQUIRES SOME ATTENTION.
So knowing that why do I find it continually in my hand, it's like it's almost surgically attached. I don't need to continually fondle you, you electronic Jezebel!
The answer for this one is right in front of me too, my work blackberry goes on the mantelpiece when I get home, once Amy moves, Jezebel has a new home too.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is so much going on right in front of us, yet that's not good enough, we insist that more interesting things are happening in a place that consists of electrons whizzing back and forth.
So with my exorcism complete I intend to unplug more often and focus on what is at hand, what I can touch, I hope some of you will too.
No comments:
Post a Comment