When I started college, very few students had a “fancy” (one with a screen showing more than three lines) word processor let alone a personal computer. There were only two computer labs on campus – a Mac lab and a PC lab. By the time I graduated, several more had been added, with at least one per dorm (still only one Mac lab, though). Fast forward to present day, I not only have a work laptop I bring home every night, but a family laptop in the living room, desktop in a designated computer room, a machine in my brother’s room and various PC parts scattered throughout the spare room. This much of a change in only 13 years’ time.
But it is not just a change of possessions, it is a revolution of how I live my life – and not necessarily always a good one. In my early twenties, I just sang the wrong words to Even Flow without caring. Now, I immediately look-up the lyrics on my phone while stopped at a red light (I still cannot remember the correct words). Over a one day period, I decided to give up the Internet for personal use. In that time, I realized how truly addicted I was to looking up random information and the unnecessary importance to be in the know.
To start, I didn’t even make it 30 minutes into my day. I worried about not commenting back on a comment to a post I made about jewelry. I actually logged on at 5:30 a.m. to post a reply. Really, is it discourteous not to return a Facebook comment? I of course had to go without something else for a short period to make amends and serve my penance. Damn those e-mail alerts on FB activity! I almost panicked thinking that a future FB friend would find me bad-mannered if I did not immediately accept his friend request. Yet, I did refrain, but not after contemplating alternatives to accepting the request without actually logging in myself.
Over the course of this day, I lost track of how many times my first thought was “to look it up online.” More importantly, the bits of knowledge I could not live without were in themselves not important. Lyrics to a Disturbed song, American Idol contestant names, nutritional value of my Starbucks’ smoothie (long after I had ingested it). I was going to have to watch the news, on T.V., to see what was going on in the world rather than keying in a URL. And by news, I mean the Daily 10 on E!. Also, I had to listen to the same two CDs all day rather than streaming music. Oh the agony!
So what have I come away with after this? Well for one, I cannot get Kris Allen’s version of Heartless out of my head. Mainly, I questioned how something so not critical to my well being embodies such vital importance. There is plenty of important reasons for using the World Wide Web. I can pay my bills online, learn how to store my dahlia for the winter, keep in touch for family and friends, view the Heath Care Bill and more. But what I really learned, is that I use the Internet for frivolous time wasting. In essence, having everything in the world at my fingertips and a few clicks away has agitated and fed my ADHD.
Now if you excuse me, I need to look up Allen’s live performance of Kanye West’s hit on Youtube.
