Assignment #1 (2008)
Posted by: heritage47 on: May 4, 2008
All right, my friends, the weekend came and went. How did you do? Did you successfully turn off the specified technologies for the whole weekend? If not, why not? How did you break down? What was your reasoning or excuse each time? If you were successful, what was it like? What differences did you notice between the first weekend of the technology turnoff and your typical weekend? What did you do when you felt the impulse to turn on this or that prohibited technology? What did you like about the weekend? What was frustrating? What reactions did you get from family and friends?
In addition to answering the appertaining questions above, all of you should answer this: What do you think everyday life would be like if these technologies never existed?
(Remember, to comment, just leave your first name, the first letter of your last name, and your period number: JohnD7. Skip the email or website fields, and then write your comment. Have at it.)
47 Responses to "Assignment #1 (2008)"
May 5, 2008 at 12:46 am
Well, this weekend didn’t go perfectly.
I’ve been really good with the internet,texting-which I don’t have, and mp3/ipod-as I have recently misplaced my music device, but the TV is a slightly different story. I was doing good Friday night- probably because I was at the Cops Fighting Cancer boxing match, but Saturday I broke with the news- it wasn’t even anything that exciting- I just wanted to know what the weather was going to be like for my brother’s soccer game that morning. And the worst part was after watching for ten minutes I realized, huh, I’m pretty sure a) I should not be watching TV, and b) I really could have looked this up in the paper and known if the wind was in fact coming before 8 minutes of commercials paraded across the screen.
That has been my biggest moment of static-mindedness.
After I realized that this had actually started I was like “meh, I’ll just go find something else to do.” and that usually involved avoiding rooms with televisions.
I felt like I had more time this weekend, even though I was out more and had more to do that usual.
I have definitely become more aware of the stupid mindless,drooling, Homer Simpson-esque expression acquired while watching the “boob-tube.” That alone makes me shutter and laugh.
My family was like – well more power to you, but you won’t make it all 10 days!!!
I think that if these technologies never existed everyday life would be much more productive and over all enjoyable. Think about it- watching the news on an average day and there are about 50 car accidents, 2 murders, 80 bagillion cases of other felonies, and who knows how many more other crimes, faces of criminals, or missing children.
The radio has the ability to broadcast this information much more efficiently- and it plays some sweet music!
Well, see you tomorrow D!
May 5, 2008 at 1:23 am
So far so good, excluding watching uno movie for History. I figured since it was a class assignment that it didn’t count.
It was a super slow weekend. Compared to most, it felt like it went on and on and on. Not in a bad way, though. Not bad at all, actually. Just… I dunno. It felt like the world stoped or something.
I spent more time with frirends and my mother, and somehow still managed to finish a book and a half. Most weekends I go without seeing many people (I get enough of dealing with them durring the week) but pretty much all day Saturday was hanging out with Manda and my parents. Which is odd. That never happens.
As far as resisting said technology went, it wasn’t terribly difficult. The most frustrateing part was not being able to check my email. I’d been expecting a reply from a friend who lives a good three hours away. I’m going to call him later tonight instead, but even still.
My parents all are for the whole no technology thing. They’re all excited that you managed to get me off of the computer. Which is probably healthy, but still.
Hum… if said technology never existed, well, methinks the world wouldn’t have changed overmuch from the times when it did not in fact exist. The world would be more family oriented(maybe), and people would be much closer to those in the immediate vicinity. Long distant relationships of any sort would be much more difficult. Still viable, but there’s something to be said for hearing someones voice (not exactly relevant) or for instanteous comunication. Providing you have enough to talk about to support such constant chat.
A comment that my Dad made seems kinda relevent to this. As kids, they spent a heck of a lot more time away from home. My dad at least spent more time playing baseball in the park than at home. Probably because there was less to do inside.
I think, maybe, that the world as a whole would have remained more innocent. Our parent’s morals, which are now seen as excessivly stiff, would probably be much closer to our hearts, since we would not have quite as much influence from friends, or even from people whom we’ve never met.
There would definately be something to be said about the lack of internet crimes, such as phishing or things such as internet porn.
I dunno though. It’s all speculation. I think that technology is so ingrained with our generation that we really don’t know what it’s like to live without it. I for one am drawing most of those conclusions from my memories of extended power outages and from pure logic. You couldn’t ask a current teenager what life without technology would be like and get an entirely plausible answer. It’s just too far out of our range of experiance.
Oh! While I’m thinking about it, would a digital cammera be okay to use? I’ll try and remember to ask in person, but there’s no garuntees as to me remembering it durring the one hour of class.
I think that is all I have to say. I have to give Luis a call, and then I intend to try and finish that last half of book I have waiting. It’s really quite a cute story. I say cute, because I’m not sure how else to describe a book about a mouse named Hermux and his pet ladybug. Oh, and his crush Linka Perflinger. What a heck of a last name. Kind of a change from what I normaly read. Which usually includes some sort of end of the world type disastor. Or maybe some evil warlock thingamajig. And I’m starting to ramble…
I’m off. See yall tomarrow, I suppose.
May 5, 2008 at 2:07 am
I wasn’t successful in the tech turnoff. i found that i naturally turned on my ipod and the tv. without even noticing. when i wasn’t watching tv i found myself slightly bored and want to watch if nothing else was going on.
May 5, 2008 at 2:23 am
It was extremely hard to turn go without the technology I use that is so integrated into my everyday life. Saturday I was playing Ultimate Frisbee from 8-4 so it was easy to go without technology. But when I got home I fell into my usual pattern without noticing; my dad was watching t.v. and I sat down and watched with him as I told him about the Technology Turn off. I didn’t even realize I was watching T.V.
I think if I were to go completely without technology I would have a lot more free time. However the use of that free time would very, I would most likely sit around doing nothing. It could be used, however, to be a lot more efficient. My time could be used to do laundry, study for AP tests, find a job, etc.
May 5, 2008 at 3:38 am
When this was assigned, I had little faith that I’d be able to go without these technologies that have made my life so comfortable. Some were much easier to go without than others.
I don’t have any video game stuff at my house…so the “no video games” rule was pretty much solved for me. TV and movies weren’t that hard to go without because I don’t watch that much TV as it is, so it wasn’t that big of a change. I haven’t watched a single minute since Thursday. 
I surprised myself by sticking to the rule restricting iPod use! I still listened to music, but haven’t had headphones in since Thursday night. This was one of the rules that I thought would be impossible for me to follow but it wasn’t that bad.
The hardest things for me to go without were the internet and texting, and I’ll admit to cheating quite a bit on both of these things. I realized that I have a need to be constantly in touch with the outside world, for even the most unimportant reasons. (Wondering where someone is getting their hair done for prom, for example) I tried to limit my texting and time on Facebook but I never realized my dependency on these things to help me keep in touch with friends. Why can’t I just call them? Texting just seems more convenient, and Facebook is such an easy way to keep in touch with everybody. Those seem like poor excuses, and as the technology turnoff continues I hope that going without these two things become easier.
This weekend, however, instead of watching a movie, I played piano for the first time in almost two years. It was fun, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. I went running without my iPod, which I thought would be really tough but it didn’t suck as bad as I thought it would. I think that giving up certain technologies COMPLETELY will be very hard for me, but so far limiting the amount of time I spend using these technologies has actually been kind of nice.
May 5, 2008 at 5:07 am
i was moderately successful in the tech turn off for this weekend. big surprise, i didnt play with my game boy, i accidentally looked on Facebook with out thinking while researching. i also had a show i couldnt miss so i broke for that. No movies or txts, all my friends kept sayings, “why are u calling i just txted you.” but so far id rather be watching tv than not watching tv because i still think freely and stay active, but what ever
May 5, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Well, I made it through the weekend, though it seems using the computer for the assignments somewhat defies the purpose…
I was able to go the entire weekend without technology, and did not break down once. It was a lot different from my normal weekend, where I tend to play games on my consoles. Rather than break, I went to the bookstore and stocked up on novels. I read and completed “Chopin’s Funeral,” “American Gods,” and “Fight Club.” I think if the technologies we had today never existed, it would have been easier to go the weekend without the instant gratification we have become so used to in everyday life.
Without technology as a distraction, I was able to catch up on reading that I had not been able to do yet. Many books I had waiting were finally completed. I put on some Classical piano on my stereo, and lounged on my bed reading. After I finished the biography on composer Frederyk Chopin, I read Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods.” I completed the long novel of 600 pages in about 9 hours. I also began and completed Chuck Paluhinik’s novel “Fight Club” in approximately three hours… I am Joe’s obscure Fight Club reference.
Many people I know don;t believe I’ll make it the ten days, but I will show them.
May 5, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I did all right. At night, I broke down. During the day, it was easy. But the night–man, that killed me. Txt msg-ing! I mean really. What, my friends text and I am supposed to just sit there and drool? Come on.
The world would be different for sure without these technologies. It would be simpler. I mean, you wouldn’t have to worry about leaving your phone or anyone trying to reach you, etc. Just grab your wallet and go.
May 5, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I was surprised, I actually did pretty good. Of course, I had to work a lot, so I didn;t have much time to spend with these technologies. And when I got home I was tired and just went to bed.
I missed baseball though. At least I slept more. Shoot, I even went running for a little bit, and played baseball on Sunday morning too.
Without these technologies, I think we wouldn’t be as close. Txting, for instance, really keeps me in touch with my friends–much more than my father was in touch with his friends when he was my age, I bet.
May 5, 2008 at 5:01 pm
So starting this technology turn off I knew I would have difficulty. See my family likes to watch like NASCAR and baseball together so I was unable to join them when they turned the tv on. I was lucky this weekend, however, for I was lucky enough to go out to our lake property with my family. We dont have a tv out there and all we have to do is enjoy ourselves. Coming home however became difficult for I have two research papers to work on. With turning on the computer I automatically want to turn on the tv for background noise. So it was difficult but I found that I was able to concentrate harder on my work and get a lot more done. My parents made it really difficult by watching tv and leaving them on. I must admit I did turn my head for a second.
If these technologies didnt ever exist we would be in a pretty blank world. The world would not be so advanced and we would still be searching for better ways to spend our money and time. The US dollar would be worth less then it is now. On the other hand, families would be closer and neighbors would be friendlier. Wars would probably less deadly because without these technologies the nuclear and hydrogen bomb would not exist. So my point is that without these technologies people would be friendlier but we would also not be so advanced.
May 5, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I was surprised: I actually did it, the whole weekend. Family spent more quality time together as an effect. We played games on Saturday night instead of our usual Saturday night movie. When I felt the impulse to turn on TV or whatever, I went running instead. I ran a lot this weekend.
Without these technologies, I think people would have much better relationships with each other. Technologies tend to put up walls between people. Video games and TV keep people from interacting.
May 5, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I was not very successful in the tech turnoff. Im so used to putting my ipod in and playing video games and it feels really strange to change my habits. I broke down at night because that is usually when I just chill and watch tv. I was fine during the day because I hung out with friends and played basketball. I got very frustrated because it was hard to find stuff to do. When my friends came over, they wanted to play video games but I had to explain to them that I couldn’t.
If this technology never existed, I think people wound not be as close as they are now days. There would be no cell phones, text messaging or internet, which are big sources of communication. I think that families would be a lot closer because you would have more time to spend with them. Without these technologies, things would probably be a lot nicer but our world would not be as advanced.
May 5, 2008 at 9:25 pm
its been easy so far reading has been a passion of mine so i read a few books, i also worked a little on a sci fi book and that was really fun. my friends said i couldn’t do it but im looking forward to proving them wrong.
i think that things would be simpler without these technology’s, we have no real reason to text our friends if we can simply go hang out with them, so it would be more sociable without these technology’s. but i find them useful in many ways, would you take away a vehicle from a man simply because he grows stronger without it?
May 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I was able to do this technology turn off over the weekend. My family and I don’t really watch much tv, so this part wasn’t a hard thing to leave. At times I felt like wanting to watch a movie, but I was able to keep away from it. I was also able to leave my ipod and let it sit there over the weekend. Texting and the internet was no problem as well. I had an outing with my youth group on Saturday and we had a lot of fun. My family and I also went to the park on Sunday and we had fun there. I had a nice weekend. I spent time with my family like always, but I was able to go out with my youth group and have lots of fun.
I think that technology does play a big part in our world today for many people. Many depend on it and use it all the time. I think families would be closer to each other and have better relationships without all this technology, but the world would be less advanced as it is now if technology was not present.
May 6, 2008 at 12:12 am
Unfortunately I was unable to go the whole weekend without these technologies. I had a basketball tournament this weekend so i felt the need to listen to my ipod in order to get relaxed and focused. Other than that I did pretty well because I was not home at all so i didnt even get a chance to watch tv but it was a little weird calling everybody and not using txt messaging.
Without these technologies I think that everyone would have a couple of friends they would be really close with. I know that this is the case for many people anyway with the technology but with texting and what not anybody can talk to a wide range of people rather than like my mom was saying when she was growing up she a two or three friends that she talked to everyday and hung out with everyday because they spoke directly to each other whether it be in class or after school but didnt get to know many other people.
May 6, 2008 at 12:39 am
This weekend went alright, and I was mostly successful. I don’t have text messaging, so that’s no problem, and I never play video games because I think they’re boring, so that is also no problem. Also, turning off the computer except for school assignments was not that major of a deal because the only thing besides homework that I do on the computer is facebook, which is not that often. So really the only difficulties I had was with watching TV/movies and listening to my mp3. I’ve only failed once so far, and that was Saturday night when my whole family was watching TV–I watched with them because I had already finished reading a book and didn’t feel the need to start another one. I initially tried to get any member of the family that I could to go outside and play some frisbee with me, but none of them felt the need to do anything but watch TV. I was pretty frustrated because none of them wanted to do anything, so I gave in to pressure and watched TV with them. However, not all is lost because I was back on track on Sunday–we had to go to family celebrations, for birthdays and whatnot. This past weekend was not all that different, except for a little less TV, but my parents already control the amount of TV that I can watch to about three hours per day–so it’s not all that difficult to stop completely. I have noticed that I get a lot more homework and other things done that I need to do right away so that is definitely helpful.
If these technologies didn’t exist then I think people would have tons more time to hang with family and friends. People would be outside more often and maybe even less in their cars or other pollutants. I also don’t think as many people would be so lazy (like Americans according to other countries!!) or as remote in their attitudes. I think everyone would be more understanding towards others–like in car accidents people wouldn’t get so mad at the other person–because they would be more in touch with each other. Its kinda like small towns where everyone knows each other, everyone would get to know one another in neighborhoods. Parks would become more prevalent and people in general would be more fit and healthy! All in all I think without these technologies people would be more friendly and understanding towards one another, and a little sun never hurt anyone!
May 6, 2008 at 12:53 am
I did all right this weekend. I’m grounded so not using technology is really really hard. When ever I had a moment where I was doing absolutely nothing I would instinctively take out my phone and open a txt msg. I put it away after I noticed what I was doing but still–it was rather strange. My friends and family think it’s an interesting assignment but I’m not if it’s interesting good or interesting bad. Either way I’ve done well so far.
If these technologies never existed then I think that our society would be a better one; families would be closer, communities would be safer. I don’t know, I just think that going back to how things use to be would make things better in our communities.
May 6, 2008 at 1:12 am
This weekend I did ok with the whole Tech turnoff thing. I found it semi-difficult for some things and others were no problem to ignore. Such as the video games, text, headphones and TV, I had no trouble in staying away from them. Video games, well I don’t have any; text, I actually noticed that since I got unlimited a while ago I don’t use it as much as I could. I would just rather talk on the phone or see that person… in person. Instead of listening to my iPod by headphones, i normally just listen in my car, which you said was ok! TV, again, not much of a problem seeing as there’s nothing too interesting on anyways.
Movies, on the other hand, were a bit harder to stay away from. See, I was really sick all weekend and when I get sick I tend to lay in bed and watch movies, and yes I did fall asleep during most of them but I did watch bits and pieces of each.
So all in all not too bad!
May 6, 2008 at 3:15 am
For the technology turnoff, I find the hardest things to go without are texting and my ipod. TV and the internet weren’t as big of a problem at all, though it was hard to resist watching the new episode of Desperate Housewives. As for texting, I gave in on the first day which I admit is way pathetic. I would make excuses to text like “I don’t really care about this assignment” or “this is pointless.” However, these excuses made me realize how addicted our society is to technology because we know subconsciously that we cannot live without them. I also realized how often I use my ipod, like when I’m completing homework, and getting ready in the morning. During the time I haven’t used it, I’ve almost felt something major was missing, like I was almost lonely. In order to distract myself
from technology, I baked brownies when Desperate Housewives was on. Unfortunately, chocolate and carmel brownies are probably worse for me than technology is. Oh well I tried!
May 6, 2008 at 4:21 am
Hey!
I have to confess I did watch a movie on Friday. But after that I did do pretty well with the tech turn off. It was weird to call people right after I got a text from them. Most of the people that I called sounded shocked and seemed like they didn’t really know what to do. It was pretty funny!! It was weird that after work when I went to relax on the couch it was with a pad and paper instead of the remote. I did get a lot of writing done though! The only thing that annoys me about that is that now when this tech turnoff is over I have to go and type everything that I’ve hand written! My parents were shocked. They thought something was wrong lol. I think the most difficult part of the whole tech turn off was doing this blog. Turning on my lap top opened up a whole world of entertainment and communication to me. It seemed silly that the only reason I even got to turn it on was to blog about how I was depriving myself of these electronic luxuries. It was even worse when my home page (aol.com) popped up and I couldn’t click on the button so temptingly named “mail”. Instead of clicking on that wonderful button that could possibly hold e-mails from family or new pictures of my baby cousin I had to move my mouse up to the address bar! I have to admit that I typed in myspace.com and facebook.com before typing heritage47.wordpress.com. But you’ll be happy to know that the only address I pressed “enter” after was this one. Are you satisfied? You made this project in one of the most tempting places possible! The internet has thousands of distractions and temptations all of which are running through my head at this very moment. I’m trying very hard to focus on this blog but in actuality I’m thinking about how many of my friends are online and sickly addictive games that I can’t play and the movies that I can’t watch instantly on netfix.com. I could go on and on with reasons why making us blog on a website is cruel and unusual punishment during this tech turn off but I fear the longer I stay on the internet the more tempted I’ll be.
So I’ll make this last part quick. If these technologies never existed I don’t think that it would be a major inconvenience. Don’t get me wrong I rely a lot on these technologies but if they never existed in the first place I would be used to not having them. It’s like asking a person who has been blind from birth if he misses his eye sight. But since I grew up with this technology I’m used to having the advantage of using it. Since I was raised in such a way it’s difficult to let go of these advantages.
May 6, 2008 at 4:38 am
Sooo… This tech turn off is pretty easy, I really don’t spend much time on video games as I use to, There is nothing on T.V. worth watching anymore, movies are easy because well.. I have the movie! so that means i can watch whenever i want! I don’t need to watch it right now because I have so much to do anyways. I mean, I go to school, come home and usually nap until 5:30, get up go to my Dojo, train, come home eat, and crash out again. I mean I have Kendo Nationals coming up this July and I go every night training three different martial arts from 6-9:30 so i rarely get to actually sit and be still for more than 5 mins now-a-days.
Texting is easy too, yes i am good enough that i don’t even have to look at my phone in order to see what i am saying doing a text message, which is sad, but i prefer to talk on the phone over texting any day! none of my friends have had any trouble with me doing this either because they usually just call anyways so its pretty easy.
I just think that if you value yourself to the point to where you don’t want to seem like a machine then do yourself a favor, pick up a book, go outside, go run, get out and do something! I am actually glad that we are doing this because its so funny to see other people’s reactions. I mean i love hearing how people get upset because some didn’t answer this text “yo wat r u doin? lol” ugh… internet speak is soo stupid.. i mean have you ever said “lol” out loud to yourself? try it, it sounds ridiculous… we don’t talk that way so why should we express our laughing through a stupid word that sounds like “lawl” when you say it out loud to yourself ><
May 6, 2008 at 4:55 am
I have to admit.. that going through the entire weekend without the technologies I have come used to being with was much more difficult than I thought. I made the most rediculous excuses to watch a movie or get on the enternet. I even tried convincing myself that I could watch Kite Runner with my mom because there was a book about it so it had to be educational.
However, I was successful in going the entire weekend without text messaging or listening to my ipod. I have more free time and didnt rely so heavily on responding to texts or carrying on meaningless conversations for hours.
I have to think that the weekend was difficult with no TV because I was somewhat bored and looking for something to do. However, during the week I think it will be much easier to focus on other things to do throughout the day.
Hopefully, this week will be a success!
May 6, 2008 at 4:57 am
Well, the tech turnoff wasn’t that bad. I usually don’t watch that much TV, and I’ve been tyring to watch less anyways, so it was nice to have an extra incentive not to.
I pretty much played music all weekend instead (big change). I got to jam at this new art gallery downtown with some kids i had never met before, which was sweet. I also did the usual jam session with Colin and Bryan, which can most definately occupy enough time to help ween me off of technology.
I did find myself tempted to peak every once in a while though, when one of my family members was already watching something. It’s like a magnet for your eyes when you walk in the room, “what’s playin’ on the magic box today?”. I gave in a few times, but only for seconds at a time.
My dad was surprised at first, but then explained how he thought it was a great thing. This wasn’t surprising, considering hes been trying to tell me my whole life about the evils of television. I only started understanding what he was really talking about the last few years, and now i’m glad he used to put so many restrictions on television time.
As for texting, I think its stupid anyways, and already tend to just call people who text me. I’m not a big fan of typing on those little keys, it’s so much easier just to talk to the person. I guess that whole trend is dying out though.
Listening to my iPod is probably one aspect of this whole “diet for my mind” thing that is going to be a little tricky. I don’t really think it’s that bad to begin with, music is a lot better with headphones, and I usually only use them when i’m alone. But hey, maybe i’ll learn somthin’.
Playing video games is something that I usually only do in small bursts, so luckily enough I’m not in the middle of one of those bursts right now.
On a more serious note: Technology is power, so when you consider how technology affects humanity, consider our interaction with power. While some abuse power, some do great things with it, so if technology was removed from our lives we would simply have less good and less bad of everything. Of course, that is extremely simplified, but I think it’s true in many respects.
I can at least be sure that it’s a good thing to free ouselves from certain technologies for a few days. It gives us a clearer idea about what kind of power we’re really dealing with here, and who’s not gonna appreciate a little perspective huh. We’ll see.
May 6, 2008 at 5:14 am
Basically i failed. Over the weekend i didnt watch tv, which wasnt hard. I didnt play any video games although, the first thing my dad did this weekend was go out and purchase a Wii. As tempting as my ipod was i managed to not use it either. my big failure was texting and i watched half of a movie.
i broke down with the text messaging sunday morning because i was volunteering at the hospital and they wont let you talk on the phone and my friend texted me to see if she should drive down from ft. collins or wait till next weekend. So i texted her back and then firgured i had already failed so i might as well text other people. I also watched part of a movie on saturday night. I was invited to a movie night with friends i hadnt seen in a while so i went and ended up falling asleep anyway.
The weekend is really the only time i ever get to watch tv so it was a little different. I just completely avoided the room with the tv. there were only a couple hours on sunday that i missed sitting and staring at the tv for entertainment. but i got some reading in and learned a new card game my mom has been trying to force me to play for months.
I got more sleep then normal this weekend. And i got no support from family or friends. they all just laughed and pointed out that i had failed at it when they texted me.
i think life would be different but if these technologies werent something we had grown up with it wouldnt be anything we missed.
May 6, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Over the weekend I was not completely successful with the turn off. I did stay off the computer and kept away from my MP3 player, which i felt proud of. I did get kinda sick over the weekend and could not sleep, so to help me I watched television. I also texted my work too.
It is very hard for me to give up all of this in one day so i plan on slowly cutting things out and hopefully I will not be so dependent like usual.
May 7, 2008 at 12:55 am
i successfully did everything we weren’t supposed to do. After school before i could even notice that i was playing a video game, i was texting my friends to come join us. Later on i was stuck watchin a movie. the next morning was spent watchin a couple hours of the tube. In car rides my friends would constantly hand me their ipods and tell me to pick a song. Basically its not goin all that well. I think we as a human race might be better off if the technologies ever existed.
May 7, 2008 at 12:55 am
This weekend was so hard. I found myself watching tv or listening to my iPod and then about twenty minutes in remembering that I wasn’t supposed to. It’s so natural to just start using technology without giving it a second thought. The only thing I was really good about was the internet. I didn’t go on at all. I was very proud of myself for that.
I can’t really imagine how life would be without technology. I know that when I can’t use it I read more and am more productive. I wish that I hadn’t been so easily distracted this weekend so that I could have accomplished more. It seems to me that technology is good and bad. In many ways, technology is the best thing that has ever happened to the world. The internet is a great resource and helps with communication. Same goes for cell phones too! Without these things we would be less informed and we’d still be using horse and carriages to deliver mail. I have to admit thought that there are time that TV takes over our lives. I could never say that a world without technology would be a better one though.
May 7, 2008 at 2:18 am
This weekend was definitely a lot different and it made me realize how much I do rely on technology every day. I had to try to come up with things to do during down time and it turns out when I told my Dad about it I suddenly had more chores to do around the house. I think it is for sure going to get harder as the days pass but hopefully i can stick it out the 10 days.
If technology like we have and use today never existed I fell as though people would become more remote and less involoved with others just because our main sources of communication would not exist. Thinking about this makes me picture a family just sitting in their house, the kids are by themselves playing with toys and the parents are reading without speaking and they show no emotion.
It is going to be very interesting to see what life is like without the supposed “necessities” of life that we use daily.
May 7, 2008 at 2:55 am
Sorry this is a day late but… The only thing that i had trouble with was texting and the TV. I found myself just going into the living room and sitting down without thinking what was doing and not really even noticing that i was watching TV for awhile. Each time i did this though i tried to find something that i could go do outside, or just read, but we all know it was usually not readin for me.
As for texting i found that it is the only way i communicate with my friends. I rarely call them or do anything other than text them. This made it really hard for me to stop texting and i probably did not try very hard to stop texting this weekend.
I beleive very strongly that a society without technology would be a more fit and healthier society, but i personally would not like to live in that kind of society. With the lifestyle i have created during my life i have become very accustomed to technology and i like it. Just like in Brave New World they think that everything that they have is normal and i think that everything that i have is normal…
May 7, 2008 at 3:54 am
I kept forgetting that it was tech turnoff week… So I guess you could say I have not been religously following what we were supposed to be doing. I would correct myself for whatever I did wrong such as recieving a text and actually answering it and then realizing I also had to text someone else. Mid-text I would realize it and tell myself that I needed to break the habit. But now that it has been a few days I have ajusted and gotten more used to not having technology. I am glad I have gotten a taste of the way people in several countries live because I want to work to stop the over usage of resources and other wasteful behavior that our country has. Do I completely think we should get rid of technology? NO! Not because I am completely addicted but because I think it betters the world. But I would like to take a positive stand in the ridiculous behavior of the US.
May 7, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I found that this first weekend was made easier in relation to the turnoff because I traveled to Fort Collins for its duration. It was difficult not using technology for directions or info, but was almost easier just using other people. I feel as though I’m more susceptable to media and technology while sitting around at home, so if I stay active, this assignment should show no challenge.
May 7, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Hey everyone, I did pretty good over the weekend. I went bowling on Saturday. It was hard to resist watching TV/movies for me only when other people were watching. I explained the assignment to my mom, and she just tried to get me to watch TV anyway! Whenever I felt like turning on the TV, etc. I just told myself that it would be best to follow the assignment. I know I will get more out of it this way. I like that my weekend wasn’t just lost by a waste of time.
Overall, I think everyday life would be better with these technologies. They just seem to be distractions from the important things going on in my life.
May 7, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I meant to say that everyday life would not be better with these technologies.
May 7, 2008 at 6:55 pm
This weekend I wasnt able preform the task 100%, Id say i did aboout 50%. I usually dont watch TV on a regular basis, yet this weekend was prob the most consumption. Ha ha sorry bout that Mr. D, I blame my brother who just got back from college and is a lazy butt. lol However, the times passed without tech felt good, like it was being done for a good cause, and it is…. our brains. In the mean time. I think that live without these tech devices would be amazing. Imagine how much smater and fit everyone in the world would be. We would all be nicer because we would like ourselves more and the world would be really appreciated. As for the telephone, I fully support that invention, but I really do get annoyed by text messages all the time.
May 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
The first weekend wasn’t too tough as I was at work for most of it. I did, however, start watching a hockey game without even realizing that it was tech turnoff week. Once I remembered, it wasn’t hard for me to just shut it off, though.
The hardest thing for me was not texting. Not because I can’t stand not doing it, but because when I receive a text, I just naturally read it and respond. It’s almost like my brain is on auto-pilot.
May 7, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Technologies impair our relationships.
We have become so accustomed to always being connected and someone always being there that we have lost the true essence of what a relationship is–we’ve lost the aspect of what life is. Passion, love, trust, a real bond, a real experience.
The aspect of family is growing apart. My parents and their parents knew everything about one another. Where they were going, what the wished and desired–everything. Now I don’t think my parents know anything really. I mean as teenagers we desire our independence and wish to cut the cord early on, but then I feel we don’t learn all the lessons we should and don’t grow up in a healthy way. We just take what we want and leave behind the morals and wisdom of past generations. It’s repulsive really.
Also with txt msging and Myspaceing–and whatever else; what are we doing then merely talking through an object with no tone, no depth, no passion. How many times have we fought or flirted through these devices? Too many a time! Where’s the passion? Where’s the guts to actually bring your self to call some person and tell them voice to voice–face to face what’s going on and how you are feeling. In a way it seems that we are trying to avoid these “weak” emotions in case the outcome comes out bleak. Protecting our self from anything unpleasant. But what is life with out unhappiness and disappointment once and a while?! If everything was good all the time would you truely be content? You got your way all the time would you be happy? NO! You would be bored out of your mind, ironically just like we are bored without technologies.
I think we are the weakest generation. More then likely many people would argue that this is false. That our advancement is so extraordinary and should be so admired. But really what have we gained? Where’s the excitement in watching people on TV jump off cliffs and get in scandalous situations? It’s not YOU who is doing it. It’s THEM! You are watching and talking and “communicating” with everyone around you about these people who are guess what! Just people. And who are actually living life as apposed to watching it.
And I think that technologies have pushed us into this way of “life”. Molded us into these robots who are so afraid of the simplest emotion; afraid of trying something new and not succeeding; afraid of risks. Afraid of really living and really connecting with people in an honest enriching way.
Our society is afraid.
May 8, 2008 at 1:22 am
So I did well with staying away from the ipod, internet, and movies but tv and text messaging are my weaknesses. This weekend I kept busy watching the Staff/Student basketball game and my little brother and sister’s soccer games and going to my friends birthday party so I did pretty good about watching a lot of tv. I was with Brandon for most of the weekend so I was good about texting too cause he’s pretty much the only person I text. I also had a basketball game on Sunday so that kept me active, but I had to watch my shows that night so that kinda killed me. I really don’t think I did too bad because we had nice weather all weekend, but I guess we’ll see how this week goes…
May 8, 2008 at 3:25 am
I had no difficulty with the turnoff during this weekend because I worked and had no time for technology. Whenever I usually get home from working, i would lay on my bed and turn on the tv but instead I just went straight to sleep. I love my music so i had problems with not being able to turn on my computer or my ipod. Music helps me with my stress and calms me down so hopefully i can find a new hobby.
May 8, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I failed like five minutes after class, haha. I didn’t even noticed it until collin told me that we weren’t supppose to use our ipods. well i just can’t go on without my ipod when im bored, especially when its all quite.
May 8, 2008 at 4:26 pm
well our technologies sort of help improve our relationships that are close by but when we have family like in another country. In my case, like mexico. You tend to lose touch with them if we didn’t have things like long- distance calling or email and such.
May 8, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I’m having trouble following this technology turnoff because my life is consumed with school and working around 25 hours. Therefore when I get home from work or school, I am physically and emotionally drained, and technology, especially watching t.v. becomes mindless theraputic relief. When I watch t.v. I don’t have to think about anything if I don’t want to and I can procrastinate any stress I’m feeling. When I’m exhausted from school or work I don’t want to have to think. Now that I write this out clearly, it’s a little scary because it definately reminds me of Brave New World and the use of Soma. Perhaps I just need to find a really absorbing book to read.
May 9, 2008 at 3:21 am
ever notice how much you dont appreciate things until they are gone? well, thats how i feel without having my ipod. one or two days i can handle no problem, but having to go to drawing class and listen to Mr. Alman’s music from before i was born, or the grinch song? when its 75 degrees outside? no thanks.. ide much rather blast something into my ears that doesnt distract me on how terrible the song is while im trying to draw. anyway, i didnt realize how much i love having all of my music right there at my finger tips. its so convenient…it makes me wonder though. what other things have i been taking for granted?
May 9, 2008 at 5:03 am
Weill i’m suprised i actually tried to do this. I mean here i am with single digit days left in highschool, haha yeah!!! 08, and yet i’m still listening and doing what a teacher asks…….what?! haha, but you know this isnt really that bad. Video games and ipod were easy. But t.v. wasn’t. Im not addicted, I don’t need to watch it to fall asleep or anything like that, but I just find myself watching it. And then i get bored and finally do something. But when i finally did turn it off i found myself having a lot more fun and being alot more productive. I get out and stay out or i start doing things to better myself, like start training when before sometimes i would be “too tired”, or clean my car, or show my little sister and brother how to fight,which by the way wasn’t a great idea haha, or just get out and have fun. I like this tech turnoff things are alot more interesting then before, even when no one can do anything, now i find something to do where ever im at. I really think that if some technologies were never made we would ultimately be better off. More active and healthy, maybe even nicer because we wouldn’t be mad our ipod broke, or the power is out etc.
May 9, 2008 at 1:50 pm
not gonna lie i failed haha that friday i was texting and not even realize that we werent supposed to my bad i’m gonna try harder
May 12, 2008 at 12:37 am
The first weekend was definitely not easy. It was hard to focus on it, especially when I was with my friends. The worst was the texting. I would totally forget and then realize halfway through a conversation that I wasn’t supposed to be texting! it’s not so hard to stay away from TV because I don’t watch too much TV anyway. I think the week would be easier to get through because I’m more focused on school and dance, but the weekend with friends seems near impossible!
May 12, 2008 at 4:16 am
I know I am just now barely commenting this now but that friday I definitely was unfortunately unsuccessful as I had suspected. :-/ This whole things crazy to me, which in a way is a little embarrassing haha its ridiculous how this project shows how people rely on technology and machines, not only for work but also for boredom. I do not have a difficult time with the tv part because I never am home or have time to watch it but the texting part will be an issue for me…..and my boyfriend wont like it too much either hahaha but hey il work on it until i am successful
Leave a Reply
Current Project
Heritage Tech Turnoff April 2009
May 4, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Well i made it no problem. I don’t even know why this is an assignment that i felt like doing. Usually teachers tell you to do this kind of thing and i’d just blow it off. Maybe its just something to do. either way.
Only major difference for me is going to bed i have music on instead of my tv. I don’t have a cell phone, so no problem there. All my classes are full of presentations now, so now use for mp3 player. almost all of my friends don’t use any of the technology we are turning off anyways, so that’s been no different. I don’t even think anyones realized i’m doing this assignment yet. Tomorrow though i’m getting surgery on my foot, and it may effect my mobility. if it does, then i’ll start to have a problem with this because i’ll be stuck inside.
And if this technology never existed, mostly the internet the underground music scene would be a lot different. Thats all i can really think of, mostly because i saw the best show ever on friday.
Also, this assignment makes last week the worst possible week for GTAIV to come out. The 3 days i got to play that game were amazing.