Let's talk about the Internet. Specifically, my dependence on it. My Internet service went down on March 18th and was down for three days roughly. That's not too bad, right? When I called it in they told me a tech would need to come out and the soonest was March 22nd. That 's a wee bit longer- about five days. Luckily I didn't have to wait five days. That's like an eternity in blogging. Even that little bit of time being down though clarified for me how dependent I am on the Internet.
First of all it happened on a weekend. I had just posted my Sunday Post (it was scheduled) and so I was completely unable to participate in that until I stopped by the library to link up and visit a few blogs. I had not scheduled my Monday post so that was missed, although I had my Tuesday and Wednesday posts teed up. But I was looking at being almost completely AWOL for five days, and without the library there would be no visiting. And that was driving me nuts. How could I not connect for- gulp- five days?? How did my life become so centered on the Internet? Should I be concerned? I mean I talk to some bloggers now more than I do most of my real life friends! Granted that's partly because we all live so far away, but still...
Not only that, but I use online streaming for most of my TV watching. Before I started blogging I never watched TV- like, literally never. Maybe an occasional game or something. But now I watch a ton of shows and often review them as well. Because of course. But no Internet = no Netflix, no Amazon streaming, no HBO Now. In other words, I missed Big Little Lies on Sunday, no Walking Dead, no Humans (I don't have cable so it all comes over the Internet). To make matters worse, no Twitter so I have no idea what's happening lol- no Goodreads (just when I was starting to use it more). So what do you think I did?
I read. A lot. Yes I did real life things- I went places, talked to family and friends, but all the stuff I do for fun - blogging, visiting blogs, watching- was gone. And it felt weird. And that makes me wonder- what did I do before blogging? Do I need to visit so many blogs on the Sunday Post? Do I have my priorities straight? Am I too dependent on the Internet? Yeah I probably am. And the sad part is- I don't really mind. I like blogging, I like talking books, I like talking to bookish friends. Now that I'm back on (I wrote this the day it came up) I'll probably fall back into my old ways. Have I learned anything? I think I have- I've learned that the Internet better not go down again lol.
Seriously though I did self- reflect and I know that three days wasn't really that bad. But in the meanwhile- it's good to be back.
I know exactly what you mean - I've become SO dependent on the internet over the past 5 years. This summer I had two months with no wi-fi and while I spent heaps of money on phone data, it also meant I read more. Since I've come home I've been watching much less TV (I'd binge watched SO MUCH TV over the past 2 years) and reading much more. It's hard to get used to it, but I'm so glad I'm back on track with my reading!
ReplyDeleteYes! It's terrible! lol and 2 months! Yikes. That's the only good thing though, is you get more reading time. :) And I know about binging, before I had Netflix I NEVER did that and now I've binged so many shows, it's not even funny.
DeleteI do like the internet but I could survive without it, even though I'd miss my blog and blogging friends! I basically use the internet all day for blogging and visiting a few favourite sites. I am on Twitter but I don't use it that much. I watch all my films and TV offline and I read more than I watch TV.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with being dependent on the internet for communication and entertainment purposes. Just pray than an apocalypse doesn't hit and wipe out all the power forever or we lose it all!
I'm not sure I could! Ha but a few days off reminded me how dependent I am. Same here w/ Twitter. I'm there but I don't use it a lot.
DeleteI know if there is an apocalypse I'm doomed!
I feel the same way. My dependence on internet knows no bounds. My phone, in particular has become an extended limb. It's great to take a break from time to time, but for someone like me, that's not going to be a feasible reality. Lol.
ReplyDeleteHa I know what you mean. So true.
DeleteHa! Yes, it throws everything out of whack when the Internet is down. I recently went through a stint where my router wasn't authenticating an IP address so we were without Internet for about 3 days. I finally you-tubed and read articles online (on my phone) in order to figure out how to fix it. I understand how desperate you can start getting! Reading is a great way to pass the time in that situation. I was in a huge reading slump at the time so the books I was trying to read weren't helping any. I started on a prisma drawing of Baby Groot instead and it passed the time well.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Nice that you were able to figure it out! There are so many things that can go wrong... and you're right, when you're in a slump that makes it even worse!
DeleteAt least you had 3 days to deal with... I only had hours and started wondering what the heck I did before the internet. LOL Oh I'll look up... no internet. I'll just check... no internet. I kept doing that in only under an hour. LOL
ReplyDeleteHa even a few hours is bad! And I did the same thing- I KNEW I was down but I'm used to getting on and I kept wanting to, and then oh yeah...
DeleteIt is a little disconcerting to think about how much of life is centered around the internet! Ours went down for a full 24 hours but we thought it was going to be 4 days and I was losing my mind! I could do some stuff on my phone but I didn't want to drain my data and it just isn't the same. Glad you're back up and running!
ReplyDeleteIt is! I can't really blog on my phone either, it just doesn't work for me, so I was dead in the water! But I feel for you guys too, even 24 hours is tough!
DeleteOh man, my computer crashed on me back in late September/early October, and I had NO alternate computer access other than my phone. Which also had a spotty connection. I went INSANE. Like, literally, my husband didn't know what to do with me. I actually think I went into a slump akin to depression. So bad! The time to reflect was good, but I did NOT need 3+ weeks of reflection, lol. SO I totally know what you mean :) Glad you have your internet working again!
ReplyDelete~ Michelle @ FaerieFits
Ha so true. It drives you nuts! And I'm not good with my phone, at least not that way. 3+ weeks would KILL me!!
DeleteWhoa, I don't think I would be able to live without Internet for five days. Though, to be fair, the Internet is how I earn money so it would be a huge blow to my pocketbook, not just my screen-addicted brain.
ReplyDeleteLast year I was super disciplined and got into the habit of going completely without Internet every weekend when I don't have to be online for work/blogging. I got so much reading done! I also noticed it helped my stress levels. The last few months I've fallen off the bandwagon, but I'm hoping to do something similar this summer when I'd rather be outside anyway.
Oh I was not happy. When they said 5 days I was like nooooo... lol. And yes if you work online absolutely that would be a problem.
DeleteI think that's a great idea to take weekends off. Especially in the summer when there's things t do... I should try that!
I think you're underestimating all of our dependence on the internet too because losing internet for three days sounds awful to me lol. I could barely even handle it when my computer broke last year and I had to use my kindle and phone for a while because it was nearly impossible to blog with those.
ReplyDeleteAnd the thing is, it seems like losing internet or something should be the perfect opportunity to get reading done or something, but instead when something happens I just end up stressing and not being able to focus on books. So I'm just a mess all around, haha.
Ha I think you're right. three days was rough, and I was dreading 5! Luckily that didn't happen.
DeleteAnd I agree, you'd think I'd get a ton of reading done (and I did to a certain extent) but yeah stressing over the internet being down did interfere w/ tha a bit. :)
Living without internet feels like being thrown back into the stone ages to be honest. Even though I grew up without internet now I use it for everything: geeking out to my favorite shows with internet trivia, cooking, television, communication, you name it - it can be found in a second. Unless you have no internet. In any case, sorry you didn't have any for three days but glad you're back :)
ReplyDeleteIt does! I use the internet for EVERYTHING. And thanks! :)
DeleteI know I could get more read without the internet and TV but I'm really not interested in giving up either so......
ReplyDeleteSame here! I like things just the way they are ha ha...
DeleteThoughtful post, Greg. I think as a society we ARE way too dependent on Internet, but at the same time, I don't think there's anything wrong with using the Internet (as we do for blogging or social media or "visiting" with friends) so long as we have a balance. Like Kate says (above comment), if we find a good way to limit our time (like taking weekends "off"), it does really help. I did this for a while too and it was really nice. :)
ReplyDeleteEither way, I too get frustrated when the Internet goes out. It's NOT cool. :D
Thank you. I agree- balance is the key. And even so- yes it IS frustrating when it goes off. :)
DeleteYou are preaching to the internet dependent here. There have been a few times in the past few years that my internet has gone down and every time it is awful. I think it is only now I would cope well and that's only because my new phone plan has plenty of data to spare so I will never be disconnected.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago me and a few friends rented out a house together for a weekend and it was in the middle of nowhere and absolutely stunning with nature and farms and small villages around it but the phone reception was shocking. I had basically no internet connection and my plans to stay caught up with blogs and things while I was away was swiftly scuppered. Turns out that it's very easy to enjoy yourself without the internet but the only way to remember that fact is to cut yourself off somehow.
I do often question what I did before blogging. It's something I've done for three years now and I have absolutely no clue what used to fill my hours. I think fanfiction may have taken up more time. As did TV but in the end I'm happy with how I spend my freetime now. Long live the internet!
It is amazing how dependent we get, and how irritating it is when it's not there even though I know that a few years back there wasn't even internet like now! And very good point- even when we're in nature it can be so tempting to stay connected, and if we can't that can be hard too! But you're right- it is worth it to unplug at times.
DeleteAnd yes- what did I do before?? I read more NOW (because blogging) so it wsn't that? But regardless, I'll second that lol- long live the internet!
I'm ridiculously dependent on the Internet and electronic devices in general. One time the cable guy didn't turn off the built-in router on the cable modem even though I had my own router, and it brought my Internet to less than dial-up modem speeds until I finally got a hold of someone in tech support who knew what they were doing. It was like 4 days of hell, lol.
ReplyDeleteI am too. Nods. That would be a rough 4 days!!
DeleteIt is SO true. I have often thought about that, what did I even DO before blogging? Because it seems like all my free time pretty much is directed toward it- or some variation of it, like you said, with different shows, Twitter, etc. I think it is harder these days to see people in person- everyone I know has moved, or I have lost touch with, etc, making most of my connections with friends long distance. It doesn't help that I went to college away from my home town, and then moved back here after, so of course those friends all stayed far away haha. But seriously, I feel like more and more I don't know what to do if I don't have internet. Reading is pretty much it- especially if the internet loss is for weather related reasons, because then you can't even run errands and such. I think if you are happy doing what you are doing, and it isn't like, becoming problematic in life, then it isn't really a bad thing to enjoy internet stuff. At least, that is what I will keep telling myself ;)
ReplyDeleteI know! So true. And same here- my friends and I are all scattered around, so we talk occasionally (and get together even less) and like I said, I talk to blogging friends more now than I do people I went all through school with! Internet has become SO important!
DeleteBut even WITH internet I still end up just doing more blogging! I used to post on Facebook all the time because friends were on there but now I never do... I hate Facebook! lol well not hate but you know... it's whatever. I think you're right though- as long as you have balance there is nothing wrong with being an internet addict. Er, maybe... :)
With everything in life, I think it's all about balance. I sometimes hate how dependent I am of the Internet -do I REALLY need to check Facebook every hour?- but that's usually when I should be doing something else, like reading or writing. Than other times, I have a lot of great conversations and read a lot of interesting things on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI think staying off the Internet every once in a while, even just one day a week, is good for my well-being.
Agree. Balance is key. It's a mixed bag- it can be troublesome if it takes up time needed for other things, but then again like you said- it's so useful. And keeping up with things and learning more about stuff- it's fabulous for that. So a double edged sword definitely.
DeleteI agree though, a good break once in a while is a good thing.
Oh my, I think I would pretty much react the same way when my internet would be down for a few days! On the one hand it kind of freaks me out, because I don't want to be addicted or dependant so much on something and there was a life before the internet... But on the other hand, the internet has become such a crucial part of my life nowadays, losing it completely, even for a few days, would make me feel rather lost.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe, it would be good not to feel the need to check Twitter constantly, because for me that's one of my biggest internet addictions :)
I know I would panic ...
ReplyDeleteWhen authors have a social media break it makes my skin crawl hahaha but I know it's something I should try!
Eep. There's DEFINITELY some big questions there. I'm SUPER dependant on the Internet, and not just for my hobbies like blogging - but for doing my job while I'm not right there in the office and for keeping in contact with my widely spread family. I also Google a lot - when you don't know the answer or you're wondering something, why not look it up? I'm not sure what I did before Google was so easily accessible!
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a responsibility and a heavy usage related to blogging and that's not a bad thing but I'm not sure if it's a truly good thing. Balance is probably the key, right?? All good things in moderation??
Ah, the addiction to the internet. We all have it. Despite my best efforts.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the blogging/visiting other blogs that I object to, it's my need to keep checking twitter/facebook. I'm trying my best to stop doing that. I've also stopped carrying my phone with me all the time now. Is it working? No of course not.
Nice to have you back online anyway :-)
Think it's just a sign of the times, we're rarely without access to the internet in some way these days!
ReplyDelete#ToTT
When my Kindke tablet died I had withdrawal, too. I also read a lot more in the five days I was without one. Yes, I still had my laptop, but it curtailed my time spent on the internet because my hip and shoulder were having none of spending more time in that sitting and typing position, after getting my IRL work done. Ha ha. One thing I noticed is that after getting back to things I have been spending way less time on Twitter. I think the extra time leftover from that has been spent on Goodreads. I think it has been a good trade off so far. My blogging and blogging side activities slow down in during spring and fall because I like being out and about, but in the hot part of summer and most of winter, I am a houseplant. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Greg, I know just how you feel! I think we all do. We're all too dependent on the Internet now. If, God forbid, a war broke out, and ALL Internet service went down, it would be VERY hard for most of us to take. We've gotten SO used to being able to blog, visit other blogs, exchange ideas, opinions, and book recs, we'd probably be crawling up the walls!
ReplyDeleteIn my case, I would feel VERY antsy, as my blog (I actually have two, but I don't have as much time as I'd like to dedicate to the other one) is my sole creative outlet, at this point in my life. It's so AWESOME to be able to write one's thoughts, and publish them online for all the world to read!! No literary agents, no submission letters, necessary! (I know, we're not writing fiction, but still.) Just write, tweak things a bit, hit "Publish", and BINGO! Your thoughts are being read, perhaps all the way in Outer Mongolia! What a RUSH....lol.
On the other hand, losing the Internet for at least two days would motivate all of us book bloggers to do what we originally LOVED to do -- READ. And that's what we did before we started blogging! Now we have a hard time balancing the blogging with the reading..... :(
Well, I'd like to thank you for writing such a TERRIFIC post, and expressing what many -- if not ALL -- of us book bloggers most likely feel -- we NEED the Internet!! Lol. And that can be a GOOD as well as a BAD thing!!
Have an AWESOME week!! <3 <3 :) :)
Well since your TV also went down with your internet, I think you should get a pass. I mean, that's the 2 main forms of household entertainment these days.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was working at this one job and my boss cut my internet access to my computer because she knew I was blogging during work-- and besides the fact that that pissed me off-- I was like, what if I spot a typo in my newest post on my phone and I'll have to wait until 6 PM to fix it!!! The horror!!
But I am one of those people who likes to pretend I'm NOT one of those phone/internet addicted people even though I totally AM. I lost my phone for one night and part of one day and felt SUPER panicky. I told myself that it was because my sons school might need to get ahold of me-- but really I just didn't like being without it. But I am NOT one of those people who plays on their phone when I'm out with friends and family in public. JUST NO TO THAT. If I'm out in real life, I put my freaking phone away and enjoy it. I don't even really take pictures anymore because I am so annoyed at people being too bust trying to document their lives and never actually living them.
Hahahaha this was a heartening read. Thank you for sharing:) I know what you mean - we're going camping this weekend and I'm SO EXCITED and also a little nervous about being out of reach for a few days...anyway, thanks for your positive take on it:)
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