You know that for months I've been attacking the way in which technology has been stealing minutes (read 'hours') from my life. I've been committed to maximizing the benefits while minimizing the intrusion that blogs, social networking and virtual community in my own life. I've blogged about personal browsers and filters that I've employed on my computer (and now on my cell phone). I've blogged about techniques I've employed, like re-categorizing folks in my virtual/social circles and even--gasp!--de-friending people. And while I think that I'm presently in control of it all, I realize that I teeter on the precipice. The animal is ferocious.
(I plan to keep sharing about my strategies, what works for me and what doesn't, as I go.)
At the same time, I observe. I watch those I live with, those I'm close to, and those who Facebook calls my "friends." I'm concerned. I watch the frequency of posts, the ridiculous nature of posts, and the time consumed and I scratch my head. It's especially concerning when I think I know a little more about the broader situation--a friend of mine in Florida, for instance, has been out of work for months and yet apparently has hours a day to be taking quizzes and playing games on Facebook. He's an expert in Mafia Wars and Farmville but last I checked those activities don't pay the bills.
The pastor in me is concerned also. I have seen an upturn in marital difficulties related to the internet in the last few years. I'm not just talking about pornography--I'm talking about husbands and wives who are seeing a decline in intimacy and closeness in their relationship for their involvements in internet contact, be it Facebook or Classmates.com or whatever. Not to mention the time spent.
Here is an article I found thought provoking. Give it a read. Take the addiction test if you want. I did. I'll tell you my score in a later post. What's yours? What do you think? What, if any, strategies are you employing to maximize and minimize? Or is this all a bunch of hooey in your opinion?
I got a 24!
20 - 49 points: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage
I used to be a lot worse when I was in college at BBC, usually I would do it to avoid homework. But I am far too busy and have too much to do to be online all day. Places to go, people to see.... haha :-)
Posted by: amanda | December 09, 2009 at 02:04 PM
I scored a 22. But I'm well aware of the way the internet and social networking tries to rob me of precious time--so i'm taking pro-active steps.
More to come.
Posted by: Darin | December 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM