GIVE ME BACK MY TECHNOLOGY!

Friday at midnight was my last day of the Thoreau challenge. I have to say I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN! While at some points it was nice to just get away from facebook and all the time it consumed from me, not being able to use my phone was a hassle. I had so many texts and missed voicemails when I turned it back on. I also made the mistake of forgetting to tell my mother that I wouldn't have my phone. Let's just say she was pretty angry and thought that I had been completely ignoring her. I was glad that it was over for Saturday because me and my friends went to the Renaissance Fair so when I got lost and broke up with the group, having my phone to track them down in the mounds of people really helped. The first thing I did when the challenge was over besides turn on my phone was log onto facebook. It amazes me how much my notifications can build up when I don't check them.
I thought I would have more time to do homework if I wasn't constantly checking my phone or on the internet but instead I spent more time writing or talking with my friends. I'm just thankful that this wasn't a full on challenge where we had to completely get away from civilization, people, technology, etc. I would NOT of been able to handle that. Sure after a while I wouldn't mind not having a phone and internet, but being by myself would be the worst.
I did learn that technology can sometimes consume us. Even though I don't use it everyday for down time, I still use it enough that it can distract me from what I should be doing. I don't believe that I'll ever be trying this again, but at least I know that I can live without it and I'd eventually get use to the inconvenience. For those of you who haven't tried it yet, good luck, it's beyond annoying.

Big Brother? Like the TV show?

I think that Big Brother is just like Hitler; strong worded man with inspiring things to say, but used for all the wrong reasons. He’s basically on a power trip. Big Brother has a found a way to control people: fear, hate, anger, etc. This is done partially through the Two Minutes of Hate. To read about the people acting like vicious animals while watching violent images is disturbing. Even Winston seems to be ashamed of himself for joining in. But it’s odd to watch how his rage turns from Big Brother, to the girl with the brown hair and so on. Most of us wonder how these people can be so worked up, but it’s the simple fact that their lives are basically meaningless and with many limits. I feel like violence is the only way they can get pent up emotions out. This also seems to be the one time that they can even show emotion without the thought police in mind (that is if of course you show an emotion Big Brother and the Party wants you feel.) I’m pretty sure I would act out too if I had to keep a straight but cheery face all day, every second. As humans, we need to not only feel emotions but show them. It’s natural. In this world they are being severely suppressed.

I’ve heard a few people over the years say that we, too, have lost our privacy. They claim that through security cameras, GPS, credit card tracking, IP addresses, and so on, that they government can watch everything that we are doing. The biggest controversy about “invasion of privacy” is the debate over airline security after 9/11. You go through hours of checking, rechecking, security dogs, metal detectors and bag checks just to board a plane. I know that they have very good reason for it because they have probably stopped many terrorists from trying to take down planes or even drug dealers from smuggling things across borders. The question is whether they should be allowed to root through every inch of your belongings and strip search you just because they think you may have something. We need to find a middle ground with that. I understand that this makes people feel safer in a way, but there is still a growing fear that is being created. We are passing on this fear to our children that don’t quite understand that just because a person is Islamic doesn’t mean they are a terrorist. This relates to how the children in 1984 are taught through fear and ignorance in order to get them to watch others for the government.

Back on track though, I think even with things like this we still have way more privacy than Winston and everyone in his world. We can sit in a room with our thoughts and not have to worry about someone watching us at that moment or trying to cover up our expressions so we don’t “disappear”. I feel safe in my own head because I know that maybe a few people can tell what I’m thinking based on my expressions but even if they do I don’t have to worry about being killed over it. 

Thoreau Challenge Blog #2

I'm am highly disappointed in myself. If you noticed, my challenge started last Thursday, meaning that tomorrow should of been my last day, but I broke down a listened to a brand new CD from my favortie band that came out on Wednesday. As punishment, I am extending my challenge time till midnight tonight. I guess I didn't directly use technology because I got my room mate to play it for me on her computer so I could listen. But other than that, I haven't really been getting on the computer exceot for this class and work. The first two days were difficult because I just wanted to check facebook in my down time. I thought that maybe I would of gotten more work done because I wasn't constantly on the computer, but instead I've been writing...and not things that involve work. I really missed writing and I forgot how much better it made me feel to get things out on paper. I'm already a constantly list/task note taker that actually putting how I feel about all the crazy stuff in my life on paper feels great. Again, today will be my last day on this challenge, and why I'm ready to be done with it, I'm not completely anxious. I think the only thing I really want to do right now is listen to my cd and order some books off of amazon already. 11 hours, 15 minutes and counting. BRING IT ON!

"How Yew B Livin?!"

"Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry."-Thoreau

When you wake up in the morning, what's usually the first thing you do? Mine would be checking my phone or Facebook before I actually go get ready for the day. In between classes, at meals, hanging out with friends, before you go to bed at night; all the while texting or getting on the internet or playing a video game. We have been surrounded by modern technology for so long that we don't quite know how to function without it. I'm currently finding this out as I do the Thoreau challenge. Even before this though, whenever I would run out of minutes on my phone or not have internet connection, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I compared this to how Titus and his friends felt when their feeds were disconnected. But I think there's was as a greater level. Can you imagine seeing and hearing advertisements, shows, conversations right there in your brain everyday then just suddenly having it turned off? You find that you don't know what to do with yourself without it. It's hard to find enjoyment in other things that don't involve technology when you scarcely remember what it was like before. I have been working hard to try to find new things to do. We were asked the question "Would you be able to live like Thoreau did?" and I can honestly say no. Not souly because of the lack of technology, but more because of the lack of human interaction. I would probably start talking to myself after a while and find that I may not be the best company. Something like this though would show us what luxuary we live in with transportation, TV, cellphones, etc.

But when it comes to the stated quote above, I think about people who rely on new technological advances in order to think they are worth anything. In Feed, Titus and his friends are constantly buying new things and changing the way they look just to keep up with everyone else. I think we kind of do the same thing in our society, just at a slower pace. Even those that say that they don't give into consumerism do. It's hard not to. For example, in Feed, Violet's father can't get a job because he didn't have the feed. This is the same as our society today. Most likely you won't be able to get a job if you cannot be contacted on a phone or by email and if you can't work a computer. The same goes for what you wear. I lived in a small town where I graduated with a class of maybe 100. If you didn't dress like everyone else, you were immediantly outcasted. It's hard to be the odd man out, so most people just try to look the part that society desires them to be just so they can pretend that they are like everyone else. When I think of people that try to be "different" my mind immediantly goes to "hipsters". They claim to be different, innovative, and non conformists, but at the same time they look just like the next "hipster". Isn't that a form of conformity?
I honestly wonder what it would be like to live away from modern society and just embrace my thoughts without interruption, but then I admit to myself that I frankly would be bored. I think I might try it someday, just go somewhere quiet and lose myself in my own mind. Maybe I'll discover more about myself. Maybe I'll just go crazy. It's hard to tell, but I think that even if I never do that I can make an impact in this world because I think I know myself pretty well. Everyone will make an impact in the world no matter how small and even if it does involve technology.

Thoreau Challenge: Blog #1

So it's day two of the Thoreau Challenge for me and I feel so disconnected. I've only been using the computer for homework and at my job which makes it extremely tempting to type facebook into the search bar to just look at it for a few seconds. But I've been resisting the urge. I can live just fine without Facebook and I've noticed that I've had a lot more time to myself and homework wise which is wonderful at this point because I have so much to do that it makes my head spin. Although I can live without Facebook, having my phone off for this long is driving me crazy. Plus it seems to make my life a bit more difficult. I use my phone everyday so I can find out where my friends are to meet up with them or get information about where to meet my project group. But now I have to try to get their schedules and just guess where they would be when I want to see them. It's really annoying and makes me appriciate how technology helps me in that sense.
When it comes to having to go without playing video games, I feel like I have no way to unwind. My boyfriend and I play video games for at least an hour a day because it's something we both enjoy and can do together. I figured since I have to suffer, so does he, so I make him completely stay away from his Xbox when I'm there. This seems to be absolute torture for him considering thats all his does most days and I am at his place most of the day. I really need to try to find another way to relax from my busy day. I have been going to they gym for at least an hour or two a day, but not being able to watch TV or listen to music while I work out makes it harder for me to forget the fact taht I'm sweating like crazy and my muscles are burning. I now bring a book with me (which is also difficult when you're moving up and down on the eliptical). I'm sure this will get easier as it goes along, but it has made me realize how much I depend on technology every day. Frankly, I find it sad that I become so bored without it. I was actually glad that I had to do this blog today becaus that meant that I could distract myself and get a little bit of technology time in.
I keep telling myself that this will be worth it. So i'm hoping I learn something along the way.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

First off, I was highly offended by what Bauerlein said about our generation being “lazy and ignorant”. Frankly, I don’t find myself or my friends to be that way at all. Sure, we sometimes sit around and just play video games or make fun of each other, but I have highly intellectual conversations about politics and over various subjects with them almost every day. I will admit that there are some kids my age out there that don’t care about what is going on in the world and would rather drink all weekend then pay attention to the world around them, but not all of us are like that. I think every generation looks down on the generation following them and assumes they are all stupid. What people don’t realize is that over the years school curriculum changes and we learn different things. I think it is important to know about our rich history and other cultures, but should I memorize every piece of music that Mozart ever composed? Or be able to speak fluent Latin? Would that make me smarter in his eyes? I don’t think I should be required to know everything that you know, or your friends know, or your parents. We all have a specialization in some area of knowledge and I think that is what is best for society. I may know more about psychology than you, but you may know more about human anatomy. We can combine our knowledge and do great things. Just because we all don’t know everything there is to know in the world doesn’t mean we aren’t intelligent.

Bauerlein also stated that we are abusing the internet for social use rather than informational use. I’m pretty sure that I use the internet all the time to find out new things, not just to chat with my friends. Besides, so what if we use the internet for social interaction. We are human and socializing is a key need in our lives. We live in a busy world when we are in college where every second of our day is consumed by fifty million tasks we need to complete each week, along with work and other activities. The internet and cell phones help me keep connected with people using the little time I’m able to do so.

I think that Bauerlein needs to go out in the world and notice that there are many people from my generation that are intelligent and will change the world just like others in his generation. We may do it in a different way, but we will make a difference none the less. I’m confident in my intelligence and I don’t think that I should have to live up to standards like his by learning things that he may think are important. The problem is that the media loves to focus on those that mess up because it’s funny to us. It’s just like that interview with the pageant queen. That was quite a moronic response, but I’m positive that many of the other contestants are nothing like her and were able to clearly convey what they believe.

I do think that people need to take education more serious and try to become well rounded, but to say that we aren’t intelligent is offensive. People like him need to praise those of us that try to do well in life instead of focusing on those that can’t form a sentence. 

Blog #3: Going the Distance

The one thing that I definitely wanted to focus on in this blog is online friendships and relationships. Today, I heard my group discuss their opinions about online dating. Most of the comments made were geared towards the idea that you can’t fall in love online or keep an “honest” relationship. Honestly, I think that is complete bull. I have firsthand experience with an online relationship and I also know others who have experienced them too. There are many experiences that I can recall, but two particular ones always stick out in my mind. The first was a boy named Devin that I met my freshman year of high school on a site called Myyearbook. We would talk every day, he knew everything about me. I trusted him to keep my deepest darkest secrets and I knew that he would be there for me no matter what. After a few months we found out that he lived near my dad so I would spend my weekends up there. We hung out in “real life” and everything was the same. We still joked around and shared things no one else knew about us. It was one of the greatest friendships I’ve ever had. Before that friendship, I always felt completely alone and different, but he showed me that there is always going to be someone out there who is going to love you for whom you are. Unfortunately, he committed suicide before I entered 10^th grade, but I will always remember him fondly because he taught me so many things about myself. Friendships can be formed and kept. Especially because you know how to contact them whenever you want. I find that when I’m home for the summer, the only way I can talk to my friends from here is on the internet. It’s a necessity in my life for that very purpose. I also know how to balance my internet time and time spent with my, I guess you could say, “real” friends.

Another experience I’ve had was with an online relationship. I met Jamison on the same site and we talked everyday: on the site, AIM, phone, etc. We were together on and off for 4 years and we still talk to this day. Even though I still have yet to meet him face-to-face, I can honestly, truly say that at the time I was in love with him. I really do believe that you can find love online. Just because the person lives hundreds or thousands miles away, doesn’t mean you can’t care about them. Its true that you never really know someone until you live with them, but doesn’t that give me the right to say that you don’t really know your own boyfriend/girlfriend because maybe you don’t live with them. Distance is hard, but it’s possible as long as you both are willing to be honest and take time out of your day to make the other person feel that you really love them. Some people can’t handle it and that’s ok. But you can’t tear something down that you’ve never experienced. Besides, many of you could probably say that you have met at least one person online that you liked. It could be the guy that lived down the hall that you didn’t have the guts to talk to till you chatted on Facebook. To me, that is the same as the start (and notice I said START) of an online relationship. The only difference is that you are able to walk a few feet and see him when you do muster up the courage.

On the response sheet to Second Skin, there is a quote that reads “These computers on our desks are turning into portals to other realms of existence…realms that will one day be preferred to Earth.” Some people may prefer them completely to the real world. Maybe it’s easier to for them to talk to someone online because they are too shy face-to-face. But can you blame them. The documentary said that we have created a hostile world that judges people constantly. The internet provides an escape for the things you sometimes just can’t change. How is this any different from reading a book or going for a long run by yourself? I think that as long as you find balance in your life and don’t let the internet consume you, it’s a perfectly fine escape.

There’s also a quote from Culture Jam on page 60 that could people a perfectly good reason as to why they prefer the virtual world, “Even in good neighborhoods…women don’t jog alone after dusk. News agencies report that crime rates are falling, but no one feels safe.” You can apply this concept to the reason why some people prefer dating and friendships online. Say you make a friend on the internet that starts to get really annoying, constantly bugging you to talk to them, almost stalker-ish. There’s this neat little thing called the block button that you can use to make them “go away”. But if you have a real life boyfriend who begins to stalk you then you have to get a court order, move away, change your name, the whole shebang. I’m not saying that running away from your problems is always a good thing, but it’s helpful to know that if you do meet someone creepy online that there’s always ways to disappear in their world.

I think too many people jumped to conclusions when they were watching Second Skin because it showed the extreme side of the online world. Not everyone lets it consume their life. You just need to understand that even people that seem “normal” in your eyes could be having an online relationship or have a bunch of friends from all over the world that they’ve never met. The internet is not as bad as you think it is.