I got pretty well hammered, maybe justifiably, in the comments yesterday on the post about the evils of Facebook and Twitter. I got more when I got home and talked to my family about it. I was sticking to my guns, but then the mail came and it had a FREE T-SHIRT from something Christian signed up for on Hobomodo. Wearable free stuff. It does not get any better than that. I was wavering a little, but then Ruthie knocked me back to my senses with a quote from an Henry David Thoreau. He said, “We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.” What a great quote. Ruthie got the quote from a book titled Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman. So I thought I was back where I started, but with a new great book that I have to read (or preferably get on CD via inter-library loan at the Holly Springs Library)–thanks, Ruthie. After I gave it a little more thought, though, I realized that I would not have had any of these thoughts if it would not have been for time spent on the internet. Well, at least it did not happen on Facebook or Twitter.
[laughing] You can’t argue with free wearable stuff.
While I have much respect for Postman, and from what I’ve heard of him he has great insights, I do question his assumption that different parts of the world have “nothing important to communicate.” I think that is highly flawed. Sure, the “globalization” of things may not be the best, but a broader view of the world is a very good thing. Beyond this, just one example, I’ve often heard that Jesus came at a great time because the Roman Roads were in place and so it ended up being easier to travel and spread the Gospel. Connection across the world can be a wonderful thing…
Granted, it can also be a complete waste of time–especially tools that are misused simple to be “with it” (I’m looking at you, Twitter).
~Luke
Your preaching to the converted on the connection to the world thing. We talk to Grandma in Mexico via Skype, write the blog so they can know what is going on, talk missionaries in Haiti and Poland, etc., etc. I guess there were a bunch of good things that went down those Roman roads along with the bad.
On another note, I surely hope I figure out that Twitter thing someday.
How timely! We lost our internet connection a week ago due to an electrical storm and lightening strike. Today it has been restored (duh, obviously!) I found the week to be much like (I imagine) withdrawal from any addictive substance to be. First the lack of internet was all I thought about (and complained about) then I tried escapism (hello old box of Louis L’Amour books.) But, very interestingly, I found myself thinking more clearly and having TONS of extra time on my hands. We have even been on time every where we’ve gone this week! I’m not ready to go totally offline, but this week has been a HUGE eye opener to me.
Ruthie
Hi Luke, it was actually Henry David Thoreau who made that comment, not Neil, although he quoted it in his book.
And Audrey – haha about the withdrawl….yes, the computer, and all that comes with it, can be addicting. I check email and this blog usually in the morning as well as do all of my banking online. I have to turn off the computer so that I have to think twice about getting back on it. I also have every computer password protected so that the kids can’t just get on whenever they feel like it…they have to ask and I do have to heavily monitor their use and time on it.
HAHA twice to you Audrey. It sounds like it was a pretty good exercise to be without a computer for a few days. Maybe our computer should “break” for a few days! I think you have a very good thing going there Ruthie with the controls you have put in place. I need to revisit all this again this summer and figure out what is helpful, what is not, and especially what is dangerous (given our kids changing ages) going forward.
And we don’t even Facebook or Twitter!