I can go days without anyone phoning my mobile phone but it still seems a little strange not having it with me.
I realised a little while ago that I left my phone at home when I cycled in to work. It’s no big deal. It’ll be there when I get home this afternoon. It’s probably sitting next to my computer where I had it last night.
You might have heard stories of people becoming addicted to phones and other new technologies. Some people have panic attacks if they’re separated from their phones. I wonder how these people would cope with holidays to places that have no phone coverage. When I’ve cycled across Australia there’s about a week or so where there is no signal whatsoever and many other days where the coverage is very patchy. Strangely enough I manage to cope but it was interesting to see some of the team trying to come to terms with the fact that their phones wouldn’t work for long periods.
I suppose I have an advantage in the fact that I’m old enough to remember life before computers and mobile phones. I know that I was able to function without them in the past and can do so again when required. It’s nice to make use of new technology but I refuse to let it control me.
It’s good to be without certain things like mobile phones and computers every now and then just to see how dependant we’ve become on them.
What are you like when you’re separated from technology? Does life stop when your computer crashes. If the power goes out do you get a little anxious? If your internet connection goes down do you start suffering withdrawals?
It’d be great to get your perspective in the comments section of this post.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Phones – Technology – Computers
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I traveled your beautiful country twice, each time for months, in a car, and that was before mobile phones and often far from civilisation and hence signal. In the evenings we had an oil lamp.
I wrote a letter to my family once a month and made sure there was a public phone when it was somebody´s birthday.
There was (is?) a sign when you leave Cooper Pedy that says “Next emergency phone in 79 km” (or alike).
We didn´t need it. We had one emergency on all the trips and help was near in person.
Ok, so I have that age too, to remember times before cellphone and pc – and I still can do pretty well without it! 🙂
Really, panic attacks? Hard to believe for me…
The panic attacks sounds a bit extreme. I feel momentarily ticked off when I realise I’ve left my phone at work or at home but it doesn’t last long. I embrace the peace. As for the computer. For as much time as I’m at it, and as much as I like having one at home for various projects, I NEVER miss it when I’m on holidays or even just out and about. My cats on the other hand…
When we first moved to Kenya I suffered internet withdrawals. I had a very nice broadband connection back in Texas, but mostly here in Nakuru we have slower than dial up access. I suffered for a few months, but have now grown accustomed to it.
Well, none of the mobile phones I’ve ever owned have worked for long enough for me to become addicted to them. As far as the Internet is concerned, it’s just entertainment. I’ll get frustrated without it if I don’t have anything else to do, but other times it can be off for days and I wouldn’t care.
I could do without my phone, but not my computer! If our computer at home or work is down for even an hour, I get panicky. I think it comes from being in the stock industry for 7 years, when being connected every minute of the day was crucial.
I don’t care if I leave my mobile behind, but I usually end up taking my laptop if I go away anywhere. I probably am addicted to my computer, & sometimes the internet is my communication means with the outside world, but without it, life does go on:)
I don’t panic when I don’t have my phone but it does give me a sense of security and reassurance when I do have it. I know if my car breaks down, I can call someone but more importantly – if my needs me, or God forbid something happens to him, I can be reached.
LOL – I guess being over 40 does have its advantages, we used to rough back in the day didn’t we Rodney? No cells, ipods, or even COMPUTERS!!!
Even though I’m over 40 I’ve embraced the technological age: my work depends on my computer and I hate it if I can’t get to the computer at home when I want.
Here’s the dilemma for bloggers though: the longer you spend on your computer the less time you actually spend living your life; ergo you actually have fewer things to write about.
I actually was addicted to the internet for a while a couple of years ago to the point where it was affecting my work. I’ve pretty much gone in the opposite direction now, which is probably why i have been neglecting my blog and why my friends abuse me for not replying to their myspace messages! ?I own a very old computer that sits in the corner of my room, unplugged. I’ll update it eventually, but that’s at the end of a long list.?TBC