Step Away From The Computer.
Case in point as to why this blog is titled “A Slight Delay”: Some time back, I had the idea to do a “Turn Off Your Computer Day.” Turns out, they beat me to it.
They, in this case, are Michael Taylor, Denis Bystrov and Ashutosh Rajekar. Since anyone who advocates a less plugged-in life usually gets pegged as a Luddite, it should be noted that Messrs. Taylor, Bystrov and Rajekar’s professions both heavily involve computing. What they’re suggesting isn’t the eradication of computers and all that goes with them; rather, they’d like people to realize that there is a world beyond the one of Warcraft, or of Messenger, MP3 downloads, blog surfing, or any of the hundreds of other timekillers that exist on our desktops and online.
The event started in 2007 (I had the idea longer ago than that, but they took the initiative to actually do something with theirs, so I really can’t/don’t begrudge them). While there was some enthusiastic support, there were also a fair number of detractors, a sampling of which can be found here.
I think it’s ironic, not to mention worrisome, that a technology that’s supposed to foster communication and “interaction” (a misleading buzzword if ever there was one) has resulted in an atomization of society–or at least of the segments that can afford the technology and the time–and a fragmentation of social life. Others have made this point earlier and better (for instance, see the essay and book titled “Bowling Alone,” by Robert Putnam), but it bears repeating: we stand to lose nothing by turning off, and turning our attention closer to home. Your computer won’t miss you.
Tags: computers, Shutdown Day, social networks, social software, society