Comments on: Unplugged Night #2, and my rules http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules Daily affirmations of a word mercenary Fri, 16 May 2008 02:52:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Rosie Perera http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10168 Rosie Perera Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:37:49 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10168 Good for you! I turn off my computer once a week for a "technology Sabbath" (I'm not addicted to cell phone or DVDs so those don't need to go). Also, for the past three years, for the 40 days of Lent I have given up all "non-essential Internet use" which includes all the things that are time-wasters for me: Facebook, Scrabulous, blogging and reading others' blogs, surfing the news, random surfing to learn stuff, Anagrammy.com, etc. I can still buy plane tickets online if I need to, or look up a word online if I'm in the middle of writing an article or something. But nothing just for my own entertainment or to procrastinate. It's going pretty well so far this year, one week into it. By intentionally breaking the addiction once in a while, I move ever closer to Heidegger's ideal of "releasement towards technology" which is the state when I'll be able to take it or leave it, with no compulsion whatsoever. Good for you! I turn off my computer once a week for a “technology Sabbath” (I’m not addicted to cell phone or DVDs so those don’t need to go). Also, for the past three years, for the 40 days of Lent I have given up all “non-essential Internet use” which includes all the things that are time-wasters for me: Facebook, Scrabulous, blogging and reading others’ blogs, surfing the news, random surfing to learn stuff, Anagrammy.com, etc. I can still buy plane tickets online if I need to, or look up a word online if I’m in the middle of writing an article or something. But nothing just for my own entertainment or to procrastinate. It’s going pretty well so far this year, one week into it. By intentionally breaking the addiction once in a while, I move ever closer to Heidegger’s ideal of “releasement towards technology” which is the state when I’ll be able to take it or leave it, with no compulsion whatsoever.

]]> By: megan64 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10093 megan64 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:43:23 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10093 I unplugged last Sunday, and Monday I went through and cut a bunch of blogs from my daily reads tab. Now that I've done that I don't have the same desire to go on that I have. In fact this week I have been on far less than usual. It's freed up some much needed brain space and even though I'm only sitting when I read, I feel as if I'm moving slower now. Thanks for the great idea. Why did I not try this sooner, it feels good. I unplugged last Sunday, and Monday I went through and cut a bunch of blogs from my daily reads tab. Now that I’ve done that I don’t have the same desire to go on that I have. In fact this week I have been on far less than usual. It’s freed up some much needed brain space and even though I’m only sitting when I read, I feel as if I’m moving slower now. Thanks for the great idea. Why did I not try this sooner, it feels good.

]]> By: Leif Hansen http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10090 Leif Hansen Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:45:59 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10090 Thanks for continuing to share the stories Ariel. I just blogged about your project over on <a href="http://www.wonderosity.com/2008/02/08/52-nights-unplugged-an-inspiring-project-by-ariel-meadows/" rel="nofollow">wonderosity</a>. As I shared with folks at the workshop, I've been trying to do what I call a 'low tech sabbath' on sundays for the past few years. And what I've found, like you seem to have, is its the 'screen-based technologies' that are the ones that seem to suck me in and 'zombify' me. There are some obvious social/psychological factors to why many of us have 'screen addiction', yet I have a hunch that it goes deeper into some actual <a href="http://www.familyresource.com/lifestyles/mental-environment/television-opiate-of-the-masses" rel="nofollow">neurological factors</a> of watching the bright shiny lights and stories. I wrote a paper that was, in part, on those former issues, but haven't gather enough evidence yet on the latter. The link provided is an interesting read though. -Leif Thanks for continuing to share the stories Ariel. I just blogged about your project over on wonderosity.

As I shared with folks at the workshop, I’ve been trying to do what I call a ‘low tech sabbath’ on sundays for the past few years. And what I’ve found, like you seem to have, is its the ’screen-based technologies’ that are the ones that seem to suck me in and ‘zombify’ me.

There are some obvious social/psychological factors to why many of us have ’screen addiction’, yet I have a hunch that it goes deeper into some actual neurological factors of watching the bright shiny lights and stories. I wrote a paper that was, in part, on those former issues, but haven’t gather enough evidence yet on the latter. The link provided is an interesting read though.
-Leif

]]> By: kirsten http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10086 kirsten Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:31:50 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10086 I find as I get busier I take on (or make up) more projects. I think it helps me feel like I'm more likely to accomplish something, like if I have so many projects I'm bound to finish one of them and feel a sense of accomplishment. But then, not all of my projects involve being "plugged in." Unless you count my sewing machine. . . I find as I get busier I take on (or make up) more projects. I think it helps me feel like I’m more likely to accomplish something, like if I have so many projects I’m bound to finish one of them and feel a sense of accomplishment. But then, not all of my projects involve being “plugged in.” Unless you count my sewing machine. . .

]]> By: stef http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10081 stef Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:05:42 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2008/02/my-rules#comment-10081 Wow...I feel exactly the same with the constant need to be flitting between a zillion different things to feel like I'm being productive (even if I'm not.) I'd love to find a solution to help me relax. Maybe unplugging is the answer? I just might need to try...next week. :) Wow…I feel exactly the same with the constant need to be flitting between a zillion different things to feel like I’m being productive (even if I’m not.) I’d love to find a solution to help me relax. Maybe unplugging is the answer? I just might need to try…next week. :)

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