I've been thinking about this for a while, the idea that *maybe* I'm too addicted to my personal electronic devices and the communities I enjoy with them (oh, how I heart Twitter).
In fairness, I do need to be plugged in for work: I wouldn't be able to make a living without the internet, email, and I could even make a case for Twitter being a "must-have." However, the other night after a particularly busy day of Twitter flurry, I asked the kidlet if she wanted to build a "hashtag" with her blocks. I meant to say "tower", because that's a fave game of ours right now (build it so she can immediately knock it down). If you don't know what a hashtag is, don't worry. It won't really change your life that much. But in case you want to know, check it out here.
The truth is my Blackberry is never far from my fingers, my laptop is open frequently, I tweet a lot, visit facebook occasionally, and love chatting with the online communities I'm a part of, including on this blog. I wonder what I might do (accomplish) if I unplugged for a bit. Say after 6pm every night I went electronics "dark." I could read my book (and not on our i.Pad, maybe a real, page-turning book?) I could write the novel I hope to finish one day. I could chat with the hubby (who would also need to put down his new i.Phone4 and stop playing some game called "Angry Birds"). I could clean out junk drawers, or pull out my painting supplies (art, not walls). I could chat on the *gasp* phone with a friend or family member. These are all things I enjoy. So it makes sense to spend more time doing them. But I also get a lot of enjoyment from what I can do with my BB, my laptop, our i.Pad, and all the social media stuff I do.
So therein lies my dilemma. Should I feel guilty for all the time I spend "plugged in"? I don't like feeling guilty. But sometimes I do. Like right now - as I'm writing this blog post, my BB is beside me flashing its teasing red light announcing a new email/tweet/text, and the kidlet is eating her breakfast. So I'm going to stop here, and go spend some face to face time with her.
But I am curious - how plugged in are you? Too much? Not enough?
4 comments:
well - i am plugged in a lot but DO go "unplugged" (within reason as i check email frequently on my Iphone when I have Tayleigh. Since I see her so little I find it unforgivable if i was on anything electronic.
Should you feel guilty? Maybe!!?!! It is amazing a feeling to turn the page of a "real" book, its nice to talk to Sara on occasion (who's BB is ALWAYS in her hand!!) and its very cool to paint, though for me its my camera.
However, if your electronic "addiction" interferes with spending time with Addie and Adam and him spending time with Addie and you than YES, you should definitely feel guilty!!
Family first - BB, Twitter, FB etc etc etc way way
last!!!
(at least that is MY humble opinion!!) :-)
hi! i found you by, believe it or not, googling if it is possible overfeed a breastfed baby. i have a really large five month old and am worried i am comforting him too much with feedings. then i sort of got pulled into your blog..i love baby stories! anyway, i used to be much more plugged in than i am now with BBs and all sorts of social media accounts. but it created so much noise in my life and i just wanted to enjoy people and experiences for what they are. i have a very old school cell phone, only a desktop, and nothing more! and i feel just fine! for someone that was so into being plugged in, this doesn't change my life except i have less non relevant things to think about each day.
As a SAHM of three under three. I am very plugged in. Blackberry is always in my pocket, laptop is always on, we have two laptops in fact, an iPod touch with wifi...etc. Do I feel guilty? No. I only use my devices when the kids are either happily playing on their own for a few minutes, so I'll check FB, maybe post to a few friends pages. When the kids eat lunch I might be on the lap top. I carry my phone mainly for safety. The kids locked me out of the house during the summer, I almost had to call my hubby home from work! And when I rammed my foot into our ottoman and broke my toe I was too far from a phone but had my cell! Any ways, I would like to point out again, as a mom of three under three, I DON'T GET OUT much. If at all during the week. So my devices are my only way to be in touch with the world.
I do make sure not to spend too much time on them when my kids are awake. I have three hours a day to myself and I'm most likely online either working, or emailing and catching up with other mom's just like me. I think I might go crazy if I weren't plugged in some days.
That being said, there are days when I don't turn anything on, just to I can have some time to myself. Read a book, I refuse to read a book any other way! I will cry the day there are no longer actual books in the world. I hope I don't live long enough to see that happen!
So I guess as long as you feel you are not a complete device and internet junkie you are probably doing alright!
I'm very plugged in but there are times when I put it all aside and am just "there" For the record, this moment isn't one of them.
Post a Comment