January 18, 2011

New Year's Resolution: Spend Less Time on the Computer


If aliens landed on Earth they would assume that humans worship glowing screens.

Facebook as Religion


Over the holidays I saw a man walking through a mall in Boston, lovingly cradling his iPad, looking at the screen with reverence and love, oblivious to reality taking place around him.

I find this approach living troubling and distressing.  It's akin to reality TV - sitting and watching other people live their lives rather than having a life yourself.

Immaculate Connection

I know it is ironic to announce this on the web, but I have decided to spend less time in cyberspace.

I am looking forward to writing fewer blog posts and more letters, spending fewer lunch breaks in front of a screen and more outside, and embracing the here and now of physical reality rather than an untouchable cyber one.

4 comments :

Greg said...

Good resolution, John. Everything in moderation. Love the church sign. Where is that?

John Nordell said...

Thanks, Greg. Yes, Moderation, Balance - elusive yet important. The church is in Greenfield, MA Cheers.

Sabrina B. said...

I'm online a lot, but enjoy (and prefer) writing paper letters. I still prefer a paper book to the electronic version. I wander in the woods, attend concerts, play with my cats, cook, have good conversations with friends...

When I'm online, I'm still thinking critically -- agreeing or disagreeing, checking several sources, evaluating the validity of the information I find, debating issues with friends, etc.

I don't see being online as a replacement for any of these activities; it's an addition. And now that I'm 3000 miles away from my family, spending more time online is a way for me to remain in real-time (or almost real-time) contact with them -- is that bad because it involves a screen?

John Nordell said...

Sabrina -

Sounds like you have a good balance.

Screens are not necessarily bad. I just have concerns about how communication via the internet in some cases is supplanting actual human contact and what this means for our brains and society. I found the man walking through the mall devoted to his iPad, oblivious to the actual life around him creepy - though maybe he was following some sort of GPS for people walking. But such a GPS concept, to me, is ridiculous - ask somebody!

But I do question myself: does it make a difference if someone sits on a bus reading a book or a Kindle?

Thanks for your insights. -John