So I told myself -- OMG! no more facebook, no emails, no stupid games like 'farmtown', 'typing maniac' or 'how well do you know kurdapya' to name a few. No more posting of funny pictures to let people know how creatively crazy I can be sometimes . So! what am I going to do?
Then I thought about those times, when the computer was not yet in existence. As I sat and pondered, I realized that there will be things my children and the generation to follow, will never ever experience such as we had "during my time".
I am then reminded of my telephone days, when I had to dial the numbers by putting my finger through a hole and sliding it till the stopper, then releasing my finger from the hole, sending the dial back to its original position. And repeating the whole process until we got the right phone numbers.
When I get a busy signal, the loudness of its TOOOOT....TOOOT...TOOOT....TOOOOT reverberated in my ear, but listening closely, voices would come out in between those toots like so: "Hellooo?'TOOOOT what's your number." TOOOT "call me up, TOOOT, my number isTOOOT nineTOOOT three fourTOOOT fiveTOOOT eight - -" and the message is repeated a zillion times over until someone says "okay!" Then you'd know someone has communicated a message. And I was one of those phone loonies with no better thing to do.
Normally, I would do the calling because my parents were strict and didn't want their scrutiny of anonymous whakos ringing the house. Besides, it would spoil the fun of adventure. The quality of my phone pal's voice and his diction would depend on how much information I would give. Aliases or giving my neighbor's profile was often what I communicated. Only after the 'eyeball' experience would the revelation of my identity be known. And mind you, I would always bring my neighbor for that 'meet'. If my phone pal was cute and worthy of my friendship, then I would identify myself as the perpetrator, otherwise, there would be two innocent people who have no idea what hit them .
Party lines will be a thing of the past. Ever had those screaming moments when you wanted to use the phone but the other end of the line wouldn't budge? I've had many of those 'hanging up the phone" incidents and those screaming curse bouts with such party lines. What a pain in the neck!
And then there were those term paper assignments that you typed on an Olympus which felt like playing drums with your fingers . I'd spend many reams of paper and rolls of ink ribbon just so I could finish one measly thesis to graduate College. We erased with strips of white paper and later on white liquid eraser. We'd spend hours and hours in the library just for a few morsels of information.
Technology has indeed revolutionized all these by its introduction of the computer. Internet, Word Processors, Skypes, emails and whatever it can to make life more convenient and entertaining for all.
My computer is like my best friend. Never complaining, keeping me company in times of boredom and loneliness. It has reconnected me to the outside world and has made my life easier and less costly. I'm never at a loss of something to do when I have my computer.
Then there was facebook. At first I thought of it like one of those click and forget sites. Like the ones which are really for bored surfers. I already had my own blogspot and was posting pictures in Multiply that I didn't need any of them. I thought that was enough global socializing and networking plus the tons of emails I get, but facebook was all these combined. And hooking up with friends is just but the meat in the bone.
Every morning when I wake up, I'd turn on my computer and check on facebook. With a cup of coffee by the side, I would scroll down to check on a friend's sharings. Sometimes I would look up friends from my friends site and add them to my list. During the day, I would make several trips to my computer and check on facebook. And just before I hit the sack, facebook was like my good night prayer. I was having so much fun that I was hooked to the site. Before long, I realized I was a facebook addict. Playing the games, chatting with friends, posting notes and pictures. Everything was just plain entertaining.
For awhile I hated myself and even tried to psychologize what facebook does. First, I realized I had too much time to waste so I go to facebook. Second, I am a sucker for information back home and miss getting in touch with friends. Third, I am a passive receptacle for whatever news, articles and gossip that goes around. And of course, I also want to share my silliness and be recognized for it AND I don't mind the redundancy even if it bores me to death.
So, when I was going for that yearly vacation to the Hamptons without a computer , I panicked like a drug crazed maniac going into rehabilitation. I had no time and money to buy a new computer, so I resigned myself to being BORED! But, miracles of miracles, I went for 2 weeks without real prolonged global communication. Relying only on a friend's computer, I would borrow it for no more than 15 minutes a day just to check emails and reply if necessary. Other than that I would go about my ways of enjoying my holiday of reading, swimming and simply unwinding.
Slowly, I became more relaxed as the only screen I was exposed to during those days was sunscreen ..The hours I spend in facebook, multiply or other sources of computer entertainment no longer obsessed me. I am back to where I once was before facebook.
Last weekend, after my rendezvous with my high school friends at a Manhattan restaurant, I proceeded to an apple store and bought myself a MacBook Pro . I am still honeymooning with Mac, getting to know its features . I have disciplined myself only as needed lest I am mesmerized again. While I use my computer for catching up on overdue assignments, revived numerous projects and surfed my researches, I have not totally abandoned the importance of networking with friends, and I do chat on occasions. But then I have learned to limit the use of my computer and use it as my slave rather than it mastering me.
I have been rehabilitated....I have been restored...
I am now at peace...OR AM I?
The apple employee who helped me get my computer. They also give free tutorials on the mac, and they're just as good looking like this guy...so mas inspired gyud...
No comments:
Post a Comment