I truly enjoyed the following paragraph written in the New York Tims article, "The Joy of Quiet," by Pico Iyer:
"In barely one generation we’ve moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from them — often in order to make more time. The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. Like teenagers, we appear to have gone from knowing nothing about the world to knowing too much all but overnight."
I remember when AOL first became popular and we all had @AOL.com email addresses, internet messaged through AOL, and got our instant news updates through AOL. I remember on 9/11, the AOL welcome screen changed to reflect the tragedy. Now... We are instantly accessible through so many technological media forms that its impossible to have a moment to ourselves to think.
For example, I wanted some space from the guy I've been currently seeing. I ignored his multiple texts. Screened his multiple calls. Then avoided my laptop so he would not be able to contact me through Skype, Facebook messenger, or Gmail messenger. I just wanted to have some time to reflect on our relationship and consider the pros/cons. Instead he was able to see I was online, and active, and he concluded I was upset with him or purposely ignoring him. Then I decided to go for a run and brought my iTouch to listen to music... Unknowingly, I logged into Facebook messenger and began receiving messages from him during my run. So basically, I was surrounded by all the wonderful toys I love to communicate with and trapped by them.
Have you ever lost/broken your cell phone? Its the most unnerving experience. Until you get accustomed to it. Last semester a friend picked up my phone from the restaurant we ate at and took it home to McKinney with her (2 hours away from Ft Worth). It took a week for me to get it back. At first I felt disconnected and panicked. By day three, I was loving it. I had complete control of who contacted me and when. Thus I was able to control how my day was going. It was great!
I agree with this author when he discusses how what we consider breaking news has changed. We need periods of time without these devices. I believe everyone should have something to help them escape the technological world. Whether it be yoga, reading, family time, exercise, or any other form of quiet time. It seems quiet time has become a highly paid for commodity, as shown by the $2800/night hotel room/black cave.
With the recent SOPA and PIPA scare, consider the overall response of the American public. Protests and huge media attention have flooded the news channels with speakers protesting on behalf of Google and Wikipedia. Imagine the world without these sites. Information no longer at our fingertips. Technology is considered a vital aspect of daily life. People need to be able to disconnect when the time has come to separate business life from personal life.
