A Challenge: Don't watch, just do
What I say here, I wish to be reflected in the real world, not the virtual one. I want to communicate life values and not just facts about nature.
The internet is often glorified as resourceful medium that provides an infinite amount of immediate information. It is often said to advance people's understanding of the world, but providing information about the world is not nearly the same as experiencing it.
For many people, especially teenagers, the internet can be a tremendous distraction. The constant availability of information comes at the cost of a constant source for entertainment and enjoyment.
For many people, especially teenagers, the internet can be a tremendous distraction. The constant availability of information comes at the cost of a constant source for entertainment and enjoyment.
For this reason, I believe it is very important to remember the two-dimentionality of the Internet: it is something we watch, not experience. We praise and commend computer companies for producing higher resolution displays and making the web more realistic, while we should be praising reality itself!
In the near future, the world renowned company Google will even be releasing augmented reality glasses. Glasses that will supplement/virtualize the everyday experience of commuting to work or going to the library.
So what does this mean? What we are progressing towards in technology is a changed or improved reality in the first place. Therefore the best source of entertainment, enjoyment, information, and life experiences is right outside your door not on the computer screen. It's in the air, the earth, the stars, the sky. Why waste time on the internet when all it does is hinder your opportunity to have meaningful life experiences?
I'm not saying don't use the Internet at all. It is can be a tremendous beneficial resource. After all, it is what I'm communicating these ideas through. But if what it provides is abused, its benefits are far outweighed by the potential cost of what you're missing out on outside of the house.
With this theme, here is a talk by Polar Explorer Ben Saunders that has impacted the way I look at the world. It is called "Why Bother Leaving the House?"
I hope it has a similar impact on you. This is my call to live life! Enjoy :)
to simply
LIVE LIFE>>
I agree completely Joe. Every day we see younger and younger children swept away into the bowels of the Internet, forced to make a decision between happiness and utter breakdown. I don't know about you, but I find more and more people saying they know about something when in fact they've just heard about it on the Internet. So how do you reccommend going about non-Internet entertainment, especially for the incompetents who are always entranced by the Internet?
ReplyDelete-Seth
That's very funny Seth. But on a more serious note, I would log off, go outside, and stare at a tree for five minutes. Then be transcendent.
ReplyDelete-Joe
That is some very profound thinking Joe. I would have to agree with you when you say that the Internet can hinder the ability of a person to have a meaningful life experience. But there are exceptions to that general rule. For instance, ask Manti Te'o if he has ever had a meaningful life experience over the Internet; I am sure you will get an interesting answer. And the "incompetents" that Seth refers to can come up with things like this after hearing about Te'o's meaningful life experience over the Internet:
ReplyDeletehttp://goo.gl/8KNn7
-Aniket
Joe, what you said about the internet is very wise. I agree that internet is often abused by young children and teenagers. In addition to that, I also think that adults are becoming more dependent on these social networking sites as well. They seem to be obsessed with following in their children's footsteps and keeping up what they are doing on the Internet. I know from personal experience that often times my mom is using the internet more than me. That ks for sharing your opinion, I agree!
ReplyDeleteThat is very true Felicia. Procrastination is a national epidemic not tailored to a specific gender or age-group. The hard truth is that using the internet as an escape is not good for your mental health, can play on your morales, and prevent you from doing things that are worth your while. A waisted second is a waisted opportunity, either now or later in life. I urge you and anyone who reads this to use the internet as it was intended to be used: a resource. Having real experiences rather than virtual ones is rewarding in both the moment and later in life.
ReplyDelete