I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#1

Post by Braasch » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 5:26 PM UTC

I'm leaving the Internet for a year
theverge.com

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#2

Post by graeme » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 5:59 PM UTC

That's a fascinating experiment. I just tried 30 days without the internet (at home). But I still used it in cafes, whereas Paul is disconnecting completely.

I think he's going to find many little points of friction that he wasn't expecting. So many non-internet exchanges now end with "sure, send me an email" or "Sure, just go to our website and..." The infrastructure to serve non-web users still exists, but it's fading.

I personally decided to go back to the internet. I'm doing an online course with Udacity; cafe bandwidth didn't cut it.

If I were just doing writing, I actually would go without a home internet connection. It's a much more productive system if your work doesn't require access. But my work now does, and there was too much friction.

If I were doing technology writing, like Paul...well, I'd love to know how this turns out.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#3

Post by crusso » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:02 PM UTC

Maybe he should ditch electricity and plumbing too? I mean, if you're going to figure out how this one technology has infested your soul, why not go all the way?

I'm sure there are some Amish* communities that would take you in and let you hammer some nails while you get back to your non-technological inner being.

* That's always what they seem to do in movies to the point of being a cliche.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#4

Post by ctdonath » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:06 PM UTC

I spent 20 years without Internet. I'll give it up when you pry my unlimited-3G iPad from my cold dead fingers. (Until then, I'll be figuring out how to have it surgically implanted.)

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#5

Post by Cushman » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:09 PM UTC

crusso wrote: post #3

Maybe he should ditch electricity and plumbing too? I mean, if you're going to figure out how this one technology has infested your soul, why not go all the way? I'm sure there are some Amish* communities that would take you in and let you hammer some nails while you get back to your non-technological inner being. * That's always what they seem to do in movies to the point of being a cliche.

Is this a serious suggestion? It reads like you're mocking him, which is pretty uncalled for, but I can't be sure.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#6

Post by graeme » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:13 PM UTC

crusso wrote: post #3

Maybe he should ditch electricity and plumbing too? I mean, if you're going to figure out how this one technology has infested your soul, why not go all the way? I'm sure there are some Amish* communities that would take you in and let you hammer some nails while you get back to your non-technological inner being. * That's always what they seem to do in movies to the point of being a cliche.

The internet is pretty distinct. It changes how we think and perceive the world.

Electricity is very impactful. But most things that it provides had analogues, at least for the middle to upper classes. Servants fulfilled the role that appliances now play. Horses provided fast enough transport, because the scale of cities were smaller, etc.

All analogies will break down somewhere, but most modern electrical conveniences have fairly close analogues in the past. But nothing seems like the internet.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#7

Post by tptacek » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:14 PM UTC

It's been done before:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/offline/features/2010/lif...

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#8

Post by crusso » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:15 PM UTC

Cushman wrote: post #5

crusso wrote: post #3

Maybe he should ditch electricity and plumbing too? I mean, if you're going to figure out how this one technology has infested your soul, why not go all the way? I'm sure there are some Amish* communities that would take you in and let you hammer some nails while you get back to your non-technological inner being. * That's always what they seem to do in movies to the point of being a cliche.

Is this a serious suggestion? It reads like you're mocking him, which is pretty uncalled for, but I can't be sure.

I wouldn't call it serious or mocking, rather I'd call it whimsical speculation designed to generate conversation. I find your attempt to suppress my whimsical speculation designed to generate conversation to be pretty uncalled for.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#9

Post by MattGrommes » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:16 PM UTC

Sheesh, what a pain in the ass this will be. Not paying bills online, not making plans over email, etc., etc. The idea of not letting "the Internet" into unknown corners of your life is fine but I do the same thing by _paying attention_. This reminds of the regular Information Overload articles that get written about how the writer has too much stuff to pay attention to. When I read those I always think "you're doing it wrong". Control your technology, don't let your technology control you.

Re: I'm leaving the Internet for a year

#10

Post by civilian » Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 6:16 PM UTC

Cushman wrote: post #5

crusso wrote: post #3

Maybe he should ditch electricity and plumbing too? I mean, if you're going to figure out how this one technology has infested your soul, why not go all the way? I'm sure there are some Amish* communities that would take you in and let you hammer some nails while you get back to your non-technological inner being. * That's always what they seem to do in movies to the point of being a cliche.

Is this a serious suggestion? It reads like you're mocking him, which is pretty uncalled for, but I can't be sure.

Can't it be both? Paul should seriously abandon these other technological changes. It'll make his year much more of an experience!

Meanwhile, we'll be laughing about it.