Question: Do you experience technology overload?

[Mayberry4Tide]

I realize the irony in posting about this issue, but I find it more and more difficult to setup a system to deal with the fast paced changes in the world of technology. I've actually tried to simplify things to only find that the environment will not accept that as an option. Classes mandate checking email, work mandates checking email, family and friends take offense if you don't monitor facebook for weeks at a time, you have to sort through tons of online databases for research, people want to text you every minute, sending pics all the time, not to mention your personal interests such as this and the many other sites you like to visit all pulling for your time. I've used technology to try and make my usage more efficient with some success, however, it seems that once you create room by consolidating or becoming more efficient in one thing. there is a change or something new right there waiting to step into that void. Do you ever feel like you would like to go back to a time without the internet? Why or why not? Also, what are some tips you use to deal with this issue?

Thanks for your responses,

Roll Tide

 

[cbi1972]

I realize the irony in posting about this issue, but I find it more and more difficult to setup a system to deal with the fast paced changes in the world of technology. I've actually tried to simplify things to only find that the environment will not accept that as an option. Classes mandate checking email, work mandates checking email, family and friends take offense if you don't monitor facebook for weeks at a time, you have to sort through tons of online databases for research, people want to text you every minute, sending pics all the time, not to mention your personal interests such as this and the many other sites you like to visit all pulling for your time. I've used technology to try and make my usage more efficient with some success, however, it seems that once you create room by consolidating or becoming more efficient in one thing. there is a change or something new right there waiting to step into that void. Do you ever feel like you would like to go back to a time without the internet? Why or why not? Also, what are some tips you use to deal with this issue?

Thanks for your responses,

Roll Tide

I own a cell phone for my convenience, not for the convenience of those who want to reach me. If I don't answer, leave a message. They say "What if there is an emergency?" I say, "Pretend it is 1980."

I tell them I don't monitor facebook like they do, and if it were important, they would try harder to communicate.

Ignore texting, or disable it.

The availability of the Internet for finding out things is invaluable to me, so I would not like to go back to the days before it existed. I don't feel the social pressure of using technology that comes so automatically to many others, and I refuse to accept it as an electronic "leash"

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

Every one of things you mentioned can all be done from one device.. A cell phone. I think its pretty cool

 

[SavannahDare]

When my laptop crashed a few months ago, I was without easy internet access for a week and it was WONDERFUL. I felt so much more RELAXED.

I still had my iPhone to get emails and check TideFans and facebook, but I did so far less often. Again, it was WONDERFUL.

So, here's what I do:
Because of my moderating responsibilities, I do hop on Tidefans numerous times a day, even if just for a few minutes. I check facebook, quickly, probably 4 or 5 times daily. I do not surf the net much at all. I do read a little news first thing in the morning and last thing before bed at night. Other than that, I can count the number of websites I look at daily on one hand.

I check email only a couple of times daily.

My phone gets turned off at night. If someone dies in the middle of the night, I have no desire to know about it til the light of day. I can't do anything about it in the middle of the night, so why should I have my sleep disturbed? When my children are older and driving about, they will have a curfew and once they are in my home, the phone will go off. I do not answer my house phone after 7pm, period.

My children are nearly 10 and 12. All their friends already have cell phones. Mine do not, and they will not until they truly have a NEED for one. Therefore, I don't have to monitor their phones. They do not have facebook pages like all their friends either. Therefore, I don't have to monitor their facebook pages. My older daughter has a laptop and I go through her history once a week or so.

I enjoy and hate technology. I actively fight against it at every opportunity.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

I'm not very High-tech. Got a cellphone and a puter with a like button that doesn't work.

 

[It's On A Slab]

Getting rid of my TV a couple years ago was the single-most liberating thing I've ever done.

 

[bamanut_aj]

 

[OK_BamaFan]

My children are nearly 10 and 12. All their friends already have cell phones. Mine do not, and they will not until they truly have a NEED for one. Therefore, I don't have to monitor their phones. They do not have facebook pages like all their friends either.

When my 10-year old niece got a new iPhone for Christmas (because everyone else was getting one, you know...) I couldn't believe it. When I found out she not only had her own Facebook page but that it was public to boot I nearly lost my mind. Makes me sad that she's so wrapped up in her phone & electronics that an intense game of hide & seek is lost on her. She'll be a grown up soon enough!

 

[Bama Reb]

It's a matter of control. You can't let other people control your life, nor can you allow yourself to be sucked into every new bit of technology that comes along. If you do, you'll find yourself so engrossed in each that you'll never really accomplish anything of significant importance.

I think you should relegate each task or activity to a particular daily time frame. Check your email at a certain time of the day or night, or both. Keep your participation in social networking sites to a minimum. Just 'chatting' with friends and relatives can eat up hours of your day. Those hours could and should be put to a better and more productive use.
Concentrate the majority of your day in your job, your studies or whatever is, or at least should be, at the forefront of your life.