Just Turn The @$!# Thing Off
from the happy-productive-citizen dept
It has never been entirely clear why unplugging is so difficult for some people, or why some allow technology to disrupt their personal relationships. Forbes offers up yet another report on married couples whose love life is suffering thanks in part to their technology and e-mail infatuation. Therapists argue that a constant digital umblical to the office creates more work and increases stress, frequently leaving couples either too busy or too tired to have sex. We've been seeing these reports for years now, and it seems like people just aren't getting any better at putting down the crackberry. Of course it isn't the technology or constant connectivity that's causing the problems -- it's just that many people can't let go of stress and/or distraction. Or they feel that they must stay connected to show dedication at work, even if what they're discussing via e-mail at three in the afternoon on a Saturday isn't all that important. While some people's answer is to ignore technology entirely, the answer for techno-junkies has more to do with learning to relax, than learning how to master the off button.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Work is not the problem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
see how many relationships (and jobs and schooling) has been ruined from MMO games, such as World of Warcraft. now that's a true threat.
Ooooo, new Hellgate: London pics... *run off*
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
As I figured
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: As I figured
How does being on the Web on MLK day indicate Anti-Black sentiment?
Crazy Talk...
pfffffffffft
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dreams
My take on this is: If you significant other can't convince you to let go and relax, maybe it's time to find a new significant other.
Then again, I'm a cynic sometimes.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Dreams
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Dreams
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Take your own advice
Say the Guy who posted this at 2:37AM in the morning. Nice one Karl
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Take your own advice
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
it's not that they can't let go
1.) not calling a client back for 2 days after he left me a message on the 4th of july (the next day was one of my vacation days)
2.) Not answering a client's call on a sunday.
3.) not fixing a client's website problem the same day, even though we were physically moving our office and had no internet.
Again, it's not that we can't unplug... it's that sometimes we're not allowed to. I've since changed jobs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: it's not that they can't let go
I must say, as I read your post, I kept thinking, "Flush those idiots, you're better than that," and then you proved that you are. Thanks for hanging on long enough to have a cautionary tale to share.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Need better tech?
Maybe what we need is not better tech but rather better training for tech bosses. Too many bosses who have never been techies demand things that are electronically impossible.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Need better tech?
=============
Maybe what we need is not better tech but rather better training for tech bosses. Too many bosses who have never been techies demand things that are electronically impossible.
=============
Good point, Jim. My boss is one (maybe two) of those who don't understand the limits of technology (or human effort for that matter) When I get something don, he wants it right away. If I tell him I want time for testing, he doesn't give it to me, but he is the first one to drag me down to the end-users desk to point at a runtime error :-P
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Just Turn The @$!# Thing Off
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Survival instinct
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Good bosses
I'm fortunate in that I have a great boss. She has even forced he business users we support to contact her when I'm vacation. I think she does this because most won't call her because they know things can wait until I get back. I also make it a point to go somewhere I can't connect. Tent/primative camping in a national forest is normally a good choice. There are lots of places cell phones won't work, so any connectivity isn't possible. Bummer. :-)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Insecurity and Tech
My theory is that people in this acountry are afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. It has nothing to do with work ethic and everything to do with insecurity. When you're alone with your thoughts, you may start second-guessing your choices and your entire way of life and that scares people.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cannot let Go
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
maybe its them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not only that....
My theory is that people in this acountry are afraid to be alone with their own thoughts.
================
It's not only afraid to be with their thoughts but it's a fear of silence in general. I know a lot of people that can't stand to not have something said or playing or anything for even a couple minutes.
Though, I'll admit that there are times where I don't feel like getting off the computer, usually after an extremely stress filled day and I need to zone out for a couple hours while playing games.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The most fun I ever had in New York was during the
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
beware of thinking
If technology ceases to be an enabling slave and becomes your master, dump it. If any person ceases to be good for your physical and spititual wellbeing by enslaving you through a technological proxy, dump them. If you find yourself unable to break that bond then you are a slave and an addict.
"My theory is that people in this acountry are afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. It has nothing to do with work ethic and everything to do with insecurity.
I like this Ill Duce guy already ;)
Maybe not "insecurity", you already said the word in the first part, it is fear. Douglas Adams explained this thus: "If humans don't keep exercising their jaws, their brains start working". Many people are extrememly uncomfortable with that sensation, the sensation of thought. If original ideas start uncontrollably popping into their heads they panic. Some people quite lose it, they start to think they are schizophrenic or that God is talking to them, or that aliens or the CIA are beaming messages into their heads.
Now, I have to find another post to reply to or the saucer people will start making me do things again....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
**KARLSPRECHT ALERT**
We are at FUD-CON 5.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]