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Health & Fitness

Unplugged

A recent lapse in my internet/cable service made me realize that I might be a technology junkie!

I've been known to get on my soapbox about society’s technology addiction. It particularly bothers me when I see technology being peddled to the youngest of children, often with the goal of “educational” enrichment. Now I am even more convinced that our addiction needs to be tamed.

I came home around 10 the other night to find that my cable was out. The power was on in the house, so I was surprised when I couldn’t access any channels on the television. I still wasn’t overly concerned, because my family room remote control can be a little fussy sometimes. However, with a sense of impending doom, I called the technical assistance number on the screen. The man who answered walked me through the troubleshooting tips, but to no avail.

I ventured outside with a flashlight to see if the line might be compromised somehow and compromised it was. It was lying across the lawn, neatly sliced in half. My mind was racing. If the whole neighborhood were down, they might send a truck out at night to investigate, but I would never expect them to do so for just one person. I went back into the house to report the problem and hopefully get on the repair schedule for the next day. I was warned that my time frame would be anywhere from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.! Knowing I had lots of things to accomplish at home, I decided I could survive being house-bound and accepted the appointment.

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At that point, the true gravity of the situation hit me. The internet would be down as well! I still had my cell phone for communication with the outside world, but what was I going to do until bedtime? Read? I love to read magazines and the occasional novel, but much of my reading is done online.

It was already 11 p.m., so I could have gone to bed, but I have trained myself to fall asleep with the television humming in the background. I fell asleep to a movie on the DVD player, but it was a poor substitute for my normal programming.

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The next day I found out how dependent I really am on my electronic arsenal. On a typical morning I fire up the computer before heating water for coffee. I check my email and the status of any items I have listed on Ebay. I’m embarrassed to admit that all of this usually happens against the backdrop of HGTV blaring in the next room. In the absence of my routine, I had to turn my attention to other things like laundry, cleaning, bill paying, project finishing, and organizing. It is clear that I could accomplish twice as much in a day without the distraction of my online world.

Although I had accepted that I was in this for the long haul, I was thrilled when the Verizon truck pulled into my driveway around 9:30a.m. I ran out to greet him before he had even opened his door, with a loud “You’re here!” His smile suggested that he hears that a lot. We commiserated about going without our electronic conveniences and then he got to work. After several hours I was back in business and I thanked him profusely.

As he drove away, I reflected on my 12 or so “unplugged” hours. I even researched technology addiction (online, of course!) and found a great article entitled "How To Tell If You Are Addicted to Technology," by Clara Moskowitz.

The most important point I took away from the article was that changes need to be made when "our all-consuming relationships with technology" get "in the way of more important relationships—with people." 

I concluded that I can’t complain about society’s electronic addiction without making some changes of my own and I believe such changes are a goal worth pursuing!

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