Is it just me, or has TRUE quiet become VERY rare? I feel that there are screens EVERYWHERE.
Everywhere we go, something’s calling for our attention, a screen lighting up, a message waiting to be read, a notification that can’t wait. I mean, a church I went to used these HUGE screens for all the songs & readings. I remeber that we used to have missalettes but now they have been replaced by screens.
Sometimes, I feel like taking a step back from all of it feels almost rebellious. Yet, every time we do, there’s that familiar sense of relief, as if our minds finally get a chance to breathe.
We recently explored this topic on our blog:
The majority of us on here are Kompakt userers, but even then I feel some of us (based on the questions) would like MORE connection from this phone than it currently provides.
I get it, modern life has become technology-dependant BUT- Do you wish you could unplug more often? What’s the biggest barrier that keeps you from unplugging more than you already do?
One problem is that very few can step back and really assess the merits of all of this connectedness. Are all of those calls really very important - how many can you remember the next day, or even the next hour? What did you do with all of the information you were searching for - was any of it actually actionable, or was it just distraction to wile away the time?
I spoke to my neighbor about cell phones and his kids (2 high school girls), and he said - how could the family possibly get by without cell phones. I replied - how did you get by for the first 30 years of your life? Answer, unstated, was - just fine.
Humans are addictive animals, and it is easy to get started and never stop. Alcohol, smokes, excessive food, high tech to make you feel special and important.
Someone once told me I was technically incompetent because I did not have a cell phone. Reply - every 5 year old on Main Street has has a ‘smart phone’, just like you. The access to a world of factoids does not equate to understanding or competence.
I think most people just don’t want to disconnect. It is hard and uncomfortable initially and you have to be aware and motivated enough to get over some kind of hump… and feel like there is a benefit to disconnecting to justify taking on this transition. So they just say they can’t disconnect. I also think it is easy to get used to a distracted state.
I would like to unplug more. Ideally I’d be off screens/the internet at least one day a week. It would take some serious effort on my part to do this because I do like to go on the internet to read during ‘down time’. Now it’s a habit and it’s too easy. I heard recently for a real digital detox, you need to be away from screens at least 3 days. I’d like to try that at some point, for some real quiet.
Most people cant see why they should disconnect, they have fallen for the the hype that their life wont be worth living, without an app and internet link for everything, and the the shiny pebble sold to them by the marketing departments.