Thoughts on Computer Use
I realized recently that I am not a huge fan of computers and the internet. I recognize their importance in the world at large, and why other people (including many close friends) choose to use them a lot. So don't think by this that I am bashing computers and the internet in general or judging others' choices when it comes to this....I am simply explaining my personal preferences. Those being that I have come to the realization that I was much happier in various ways back in high school and before that when I didn't personally have a computer, and the one computer I had regular access to (my dad's work computer, which I used primarily for word-processing for school) did not have internet.
Granted, my life as a whole has become far more complex than it was then. Complexity tends to require more advanced/complex ways of organizing and managing time and life in general. I couldn't reasonably go back now to having basic word processing being the only computer feature I regularly use and still stay on top of things; my lifestyle has just changed too much for that, and a lot of that change is beyond my control and simply results of growing older and thus having more responsibilities. College alone often requires the use of the internet and excel and powerpoint. I have also found LiveJournal and Facebook to be the simplest and most efficient ways to keep in touch with long-distance friends and organize local social events on a large-group scale. (By that I mean that, while I could easily keep in touch and arrange get-togethers with individual friends via phones or snail mail, it is very difficult to do these things with groups in those ways because I would then have to contact each member of the group separately. While possible I suppose, I simply don't have that kind of time on my hands.)
The bottom line is that I am going to begin gradually reducing my reliance on computers and the internet. Ultimately, when I graduate college and no longer absolutely NEED convenient access to word processing and the internet, I would like to not own one and go to the local public library to check email and social networking sites. My hope is that this will cause me to start doing other things that bring me more joy in the time I would've spent on the computer (things like making art, talking to friends in person or on the phone or by writing letters, reading, going to concerts and other events, exercizing and spending time outdoors). I am going to do this by eliminating certain websites and modes of communication from my life entirely, and by reducing the amount of time I spend doing other things online I deem necessary to my life (Google, LJ and Facebook come to mind) to only when actually necessary. I want these sites to be used simply as tools for making other aspects of my life easier, rather than as pure recreation in themselves.
Essentially, I want to only go online if I have a specific end goal in mind (homework, contacting someone I know in real life about something in particular such as organizing a social event, job or apartment searching etc). One thing I am going to do is delete my AIM account, as I rarely if ever use it anyway, and could easily do without. AIM will be replaced by Skype since Skype is closer to in-person communication, which I find more enjoyable and easier. Besides that, I have yet to figure out which programs/websites would be easily dispensable from my life, which are absolutely necessary to continue to use as I have been, and which are necessary but could be limited/reduced. This change is a work in progress and will happen gradually.
I am informing you all of this so you know that I will be communicating with you in different ways than I have been. Again, I'm not sure as of yet what changes exactly will take place, aside from that I will be replacing AIM with Skype and spending more time on the phone and perhaps making more of an effort to make social plans with people when I already have them in my presence. Say for instance, if we get together on a Saturday, at the end of the day saying "hey, are you free next Saturday, wanna go see this movie?", instead of just leaving and waiting until later to contact about future plans. I will be making a big effort to ensure that reducing my internet and computer useage will not reduce my time spent connecting with people, even long-distance friends, since I value connection and community as one of (if not THE) most important aspect of my life. Communication will simply be in different forms. Perhaps I will start sending people (particularly long-distance people) hand-written letters and care packages, which is something I used to do but haven't had time for lately in part because I waste too much time online.
On that note, please comment with your street address if you want me to have it and I don't already. Also collecting Skype addresses and phone #'s (again, if I don't have it already or if you're unsure). Comments screened for privacy.
On a final note, I know adding something (Skype) while trying to reduce net/computer useage may seem odd. I guess the easiest way to explain it is I am trying to reduce useage on the whole by changing my focus (which partially means replacing things that are likely to be purely time-wasters, such as AIM, with things that are likely to be more practical and useful to me). Another thing I'm doing along similar lines is deleting Facebook applications and groups and excess LJ communities, and (theoretically, at least) "replacing" those with LinkedIn.
Please respect these choices of mine, knowing that I have very deeply-rooted and personal reasons for them (not all of which I am elaborating on here), and try to communicate important things to me in person or on the phone when it seems possible. I will continue to rely rather heavily on the Facebook events feature though (one of the things I deem "necessary" to my lifestyle), so there is no need to inform me over the phone of Facebook events you have invited me to. I will continue to update people on other exceptions and details on my internet useage as I figure it out, since this is something that will effect others too so communication about it seems important.
Toodles and <3!
~Nikki~
Granted, my life as a whole has become far more complex than it was then. Complexity tends to require more advanced/complex ways of organizing and managing time and life in general. I couldn't reasonably go back now to having basic word processing being the only computer feature I regularly use and still stay on top of things; my lifestyle has just changed too much for that, and a lot of that change is beyond my control and simply results of growing older and thus having more responsibilities. College alone often requires the use of the internet and excel and powerpoint. I have also found LiveJournal and Facebook to be the simplest and most efficient ways to keep in touch with long-distance friends and organize local social events on a large-group scale. (By that I mean that, while I could easily keep in touch and arrange get-togethers with individual friends via phones or snail mail, it is very difficult to do these things with groups in those ways because I would then have to contact each member of the group separately. While possible I suppose, I simply don't have that kind of time on my hands.)
The bottom line is that I am going to begin gradually reducing my reliance on computers and the internet. Ultimately, when I graduate college and no longer absolutely NEED convenient access to word processing and the internet, I would like to not own one and go to the local public library to check email and social networking sites. My hope is that this will cause me to start doing other things that bring me more joy in the time I would've spent on the computer (things like making art, talking to friends in person or on the phone or by writing letters, reading, going to concerts and other events, exercizing and spending time outdoors). I am going to do this by eliminating certain websites and modes of communication from my life entirely, and by reducing the amount of time I spend doing other things online I deem necessary to my life (Google, LJ and Facebook come to mind) to only when actually necessary. I want these sites to be used simply as tools for making other aspects of my life easier, rather than as pure recreation in themselves.
Essentially, I want to only go online if I have a specific end goal in mind (homework, contacting someone I know in real life about something in particular such as organizing a social event, job or apartment searching etc). One thing I am going to do is delete my AIM account, as I rarely if ever use it anyway, and could easily do without. AIM will be replaced by Skype since Skype is closer to in-person communication, which I find more enjoyable and easier. Besides that, I have yet to figure out which programs/websites would be easily dispensable from my life, which are absolutely necessary to continue to use as I have been, and which are necessary but could be limited/reduced. This change is a work in progress and will happen gradually.
I am informing you all of this so you know that I will be communicating with you in different ways than I have been. Again, I'm not sure as of yet what changes exactly will take place, aside from that I will be replacing AIM with Skype and spending more time on the phone and perhaps making more of an effort to make social plans with people when I already have them in my presence. Say for instance, if we get together on a Saturday, at the end of the day saying "hey, are you free next Saturday, wanna go see this movie?", instead of just leaving and waiting until later to contact about future plans. I will be making a big effort to ensure that reducing my internet and computer useage will not reduce my time spent connecting with people, even long-distance friends, since I value connection and community as one of (if not THE) most important aspect of my life. Communication will simply be in different forms. Perhaps I will start sending people (particularly long-distance people) hand-written letters and care packages, which is something I used to do but haven't had time for lately in part because I waste too much time online.
On that note, please comment with your street address if you want me to have it and I don't already. Also collecting Skype addresses and phone #'s (again, if I don't have it already or if you're unsure). Comments screened for privacy.
On a final note, I know adding something (Skype) while trying to reduce net/computer useage may seem odd. I guess the easiest way to explain it is I am trying to reduce useage on the whole by changing my focus (which partially means replacing things that are likely to be purely time-wasters, such as AIM, with things that are likely to be more practical and useful to me). Another thing I'm doing along similar lines is deleting Facebook applications and groups and excess LJ communities, and (theoretically, at least) "replacing" those with LinkedIn.
Please respect these choices of mine, knowing that I have very deeply-rooted and personal reasons for them (not all of which I am elaborating on here), and try to communicate important things to me in person or on the phone when it seems possible. I will continue to rely rather heavily on the Facebook events feature though (one of the things I deem "necessary" to my lifestyle), so there is no need to inform me over the phone of Facebook events you have invited me to. I will continue to update people on other exceptions and details on my internet useage as I figure it out, since this is something that will effect others too so communication about it seems important.
Toodles and <3!
~Nikki~