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chrishansenhomeI have completed one full day of not looking at Facebook and Twitter. I am hoping to last for a month.
The reaction when I put this in my Facebook status was varied. Some friends said "I wish I could do that…I really need to." Others said, "I hope that whatever situation you're in works out OK." Most just wished me well. No one was snarky, and no one hinted that perhaps I might be a bit crazy.
I made my decision the day before, while passing one of my bookcases. I have a shedload of books. I also don't have much filing space. So papers tend to get placed on top of the books in bookcases. Not only papers: other books, computer peripherals, you name it. So my study looks like a cross between the Library of Congress and an electronic recycling center.
As I passed the bookcase, I heard a slithering sound behind me. I turned and saw a pile of papers on the floor. They had indeed slithered out of the bookcase. I swore, gathered them up and put them back in the bookcase, and then had a thought. "If I weren't so involved with the time suck of Facebook and Twitter, I might have time to straighten this room and the living room out."
And Picard said, "Make it so."
I made my excuses on Facebook and Twitter, and logged out of both on my computer, my iPhone, and my iPad. It was easy as pie.
I deleted all my unviewed YouTube videos, but some arrived today that I wanted to watch, so I'm not including YouTube in this. I will be ruthless in deleting videos I don't want to watch.
So now what will I do with the time I'm not spending on Facebook and Twitter, you ask.
I am going to clean up my study, discard books, and make room for the books I have stacked on the floor. I shall tidy up the living room. I may even tidy up the storeroom upstairs.
I did find it hard this evening not to be able to share some things with social media. The Rhodes Bros made a video of their coming-out to their father over the phone. That's not something I'd recommend, but it worked for them. Go watch it. Have tissues handy. I would normally post this in a status on FB. Can't do that.
It's a funny feeling to know that there is all this stuff out there that you aren't looking at now and to which you can't contribute. When I was a kid I was into listening to shortwave radio stations and far-away medium-wave (AM) stations. I was transfixed by the thought that the electrons from all these stations were continuously around me, passing above, below and through me.
I feel that at the moment Facebook and Twitter are fizzing away, above, below, around, and through me with statuses, cat pictures, dog videos, and lists of 25 things you can do while standing on your head. I'm missing all that. As I had a meeting this noon I didn't even make a start on the study. But tomorrow, I can. And all these electrons will be whizzing around and I won't miss a damned thing.
I'll post updates here at the end of my workdays. Just not on FB or Twitter.
The reaction when I put this in my Facebook status was varied. Some friends said "I wish I could do that…I really need to." Others said, "I hope that whatever situation you're in works out OK." Most just wished me well. No one was snarky, and no one hinted that perhaps I might be a bit crazy.
I made my decision the day before, while passing one of my bookcases. I have a shedload of books. I also don't have much filing space. So papers tend to get placed on top of the books in bookcases. Not only papers: other books, computer peripherals, you name it. So my study looks like a cross between the Library of Congress and an electronic recycling center.
As I passed the bookcase, I heard a slithering sound behind me. I turned and saw a pile of papers on the floor. They had indeed slithered out of the bookcase. I swore, gathered them up and put them back in the bookcase, and then had a thought. "If I weren't so involved with the time suck of Facebook and Twitter, I might have time to straighten this room and the living room out."
And Picard said, "Make it so."
I made my excuses on Facebook and Twitter, and logged out of both on my computer, my iPhone, and my iPad. It was easy as pie.
I deleted all my unviewed YouTube videos, but some arrived today that I wanted to watch, so I'm not including YouTube in this. I will be ruthless in deleting videos I don't want to watch.
So now what will I do with the time I'm not spending on Facebook and Twitter, you ask.
I am going to clean up my study, discard books, and make room for the books I have stacked on the floor. I shall tidy up the living room. I may even tidy up the storeroom upstairs.
I did find it hard this evening not to be able to share some things with social media. The Rhodes Bros made a video of their coming-out to their father over the phone. That's not something I'd recommend, but it worked for them. Go watch it. Have tissues handy. I would normally post this in a status on FB. Can't do that.
It's a funny feeling to know that there is all this stuff out there that you aren't looking at now and to which you can't contribute. When I was a kid I was into listening to shortwave radio stations and far-away medium-wave (AM) stations. I was transfixed by the thought that the electrons from all these stations were continuously around me, passing above, below and through me.
I feel that at the moment Facebook and Twitter are fizzing away, above, below, around, and through me with statuses, cat pictures, dog videos, and lists of 25 things you can do while standing on your head. I'm missing all that. As I had a meeting this noon I didn't even make a start on the study. But tomorrow, I can. And all these electrons will be whizzing around and I won't miss a damned thing.
I'll post updates here at the end of my workdays. Just not on FB or Twitter.
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no subject
Date: 2015-01-15 03:50 am (UTC)I myself was addicted to Tumlbr for many months; hence my absence from here.
But I finally got to the point where I realized I was allowing myself to be manipulated by that media, and I am on it far less now.
Result: I'm getting my apartment organized now, and it's beginning to show.
I've thrown out a lot of old papers, and given away or thrown out things I no longer need.
It feels good.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-15 09:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-15 09:23 am (UTC)I could probably give up some more, but it would be difficult at this point, as I've already given up the ones that were relatively easy to do so.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-15 09:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-23 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-23 10:23 pm (UTC)So it's been really good for me, and at the end of the month, I might just extend it to the end of February and deem it "Facebook Free February (with half of January)".
The problem is that people who are very invested in Facebook think that if someone is leaving FB, even for a little while, that the someone is in some sort of trouble. I've gotten one email from a worried friend in this vein. I'm not in trouble. I just need a break. I'm enjoying the hell out of the break. It's like finding two free hours each and every day.
BTW, I hope that you get a new job soon. I've been in your situation and I feel for you. I'll light a candle at church on Sunday.