1) Abstinence: Students must abstain from the internet...ALL internet interaction for one 24 hour period. You cannot use email, check Blackboard, see the sports scores, research, or do anything else on the internet, this includes your phone if you have email access there. If you fall off the wagon, you have to start all over again. WHAT HAPPENS? You should blog about your period of abstinence. How does it affect your ability to communicate? How does it affect how you spend your time? What do you do to replace your time on the internet? These and other questions should be discussed in your blog. Due June 29th.
The internet is an integral part of my life. I use it at work constantly ( I am IT professional) and use computers and other internet related technology (phones, ipod, apple tv) on a daily basis. Unplugging from the internet required preparation and disruption to my normal routines. The only possible days I could abstain from the internet were on the weekend, as internet use is mandatory during weekdays. The date I chose was Sunday the 27th.
What I did on Sunday
Woke up at around 8 am, and I took an extra long shower. I then read a bit of homework for other classes. at 9 I went with my wife and mother in law to dim sum. This lasted until around 11:30. Afterwards I went to the gym for around 1 hour, and then back home to shower and clean up. I prepared some leftovers for lunch, and then set about doing a bunch of errands and chores. I reorganized a few messy shelves, dropped a pair of shoes off for repair, went out to buy ink for my printer, and did some shopping for dinner. My wife and I cooked a fairly lengthy meal, and then we relaxed and watched a movie before bed.
How it affected communication
The abstinence had both a positive and negative effect on my communication. There was increased communication with the people immediately around me (my wife my mother in law etc), while there was decreased communication with my colleagues, friends, and family. This is predictable since I use email, skype, MSN and facebook as primary means of communications with friends and family (I live overseas and phone calls are not practical for long distance).
How it affected my time
I wouldn't say I had an excess of time, but rather a reallocation of where I spent my time. Especially in the morning, I nearly always head to my computer and spend 15 minutes checking various sites, updating myself on the news and so on. It was difficult to abstain from this. The thought crossed my mind to switch on the TV and watch bloomberg or something, but I generally avoid watching TV at all costs (although I do enjoy movies).
What I replaced my (internet) time with
An extra long shower, a leisurely lunch with mother in law and wife, and running a bunch of errands that needed doing.
Postman states that the internet (and past technologies like telephony and writing) have fundamentally altered the way people communicate. This weeks exercise could not have proven this fact more true. It is clear that my life is intrinsically bound to the internet, and without it my life would undergo drastic changes. Indeed, my job and livelihood are tied to the internet, and I would not be able to make a living in the manner I do without it!
