Modern life has clogged my skull to the limit. Technology has delivered an avalanche of options to preoccupy me at any hour; the notion of idle time that can’t be filled with some form of digital distraction is foreign to me, almost unnerving.
If you’re reading this column on a phone, or any sort of computer, you’re seconds away from all kinds of diversions—social media, digital games, the state of your 401(k), the latest celebrity embarrassment or political mess…
For me, the problem comes when I need to think for myself. If you read this column, you know that any kind of complicated thinking is hard for me, and perhaps impossible. My brain’s interior is not a series of mathematical formulas dancing around balletically, like it does for beautiful-minded geniuses in the movies. My brain is more like a slop-sink faucet, slowly dripping. Or an arcade machine that only plays 70’s-era Pong…
As I get older, I realize I need to utterly unplug. My ideas will not come from my phone, a Facebook post or the latest tire fire on Twitter. For me, they come from digital distance, from oxygen and exercise and especially from time spent outdoors. There once was a time I could get ideas from staring at websites, but not anymore. I get them from looking at trees…
I fear we’re getting worse. Technology just gets better, as those airport bookstores get smaller. I’m wary of our artificial-intelligence future, and the notion that we will lean on bots to think for us, writing code, speeches and even poetry. It sounds like more off-loading of our brain space to technology. And to what end? To watch more episodes of “Love Is Blind?”
I don’t want to sound like I’ve figured it out. I’m not saying this brain of mine is on the cusp of a breakthrough. My brain will not save the world. It barely remembers why it went to the supermarket.
But to get anywhere real, it needs to be uncluttered. It needs to be empty. I mean empty more than the usual. It needs to be bored. And for me that means: unplugged.
— Jason Gay, from “The Joy of a Totally Empty Brain. Modern distractions cannot compete with the inspiration of old fashioned boredom (wsj.com, April 21, 2023)
Live & Learn 
BAM!
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Yep
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Ohmygosh, is this true! I realized the other day when sitting outside, sans devices, I almost felt my skin crawling. What do I do, what can I look at, read, think about? Then I realized, admittedly with deep chagrin, that there was a bird in the palm tree right next to me, *singing* its little heart out, like its life depended upon that tune, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. THIS, Lori, this is what you pay attention to right now, and nothing more. And I felt a shift. Need to remember that the next time I plunge down the digital rabbit hole…..
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Yes! I so get it!
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I feel you, Lori.
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“My brain will not save the world. It barely remembers why it went to the supermarket. But to get anywhere real, it needs to be uncluttered. It needs to be empty. I mean empty more than the usual. It needs to be bored. And for me that means: unplugged. ”
Sounds like a remedy!
Happy Monday
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Yes!
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YES, YES, YES !!!!!
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I wrote software for 24 years and then retired very early for personal reasons (and I’m really glad I did!).
Technology is an EXTREMELY SHARP, DOUBLE EDGED SWORD. It can be used to make the world a far better place, but it can just as easily be used for great evil.
I think each of us has to be EXTREMELY DISCIPLINED when choosing whether or not to use technology. Learning to do this needs to be taught to children at a very early age. It almost comes down to teaching “right from wrong“.
The fundamental questions you have to ask yourself when using technology are very simple: “Is this improving the quality of my life?” “Is this making me happier?“ “Is this improving my health?”
To be fair, technology is “coming at us“ at such a rapid rate, that we have to make these decisions “on the fly“. It’s often not easy. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.
My personal opinion is that right now, technology is doing just as much harm as good. If we let it, TECHNOLOGY BECOMES EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE. Like many people, I have fallen into this trap, and I am now working to dig myself out.
WE NEED TO OWN TECHNOLOGY, AND AVOID LETTING IT OWN US!
– Know when to log off your computer.
– Know when to TURN THE SMART/CELL PHONE OFF!
– Use these devices for things you care about. DON’T USE THEM TO WATCH VIDEOS OF CATS! (Wally, of course, is an exception!!)
I just came up with this (somewhat lame) analogy: “Technology is like holding a can of gasoline in one hand, and a lit match in the other. Should I blow out the match and pour that gasoline into my lawnmower? Or…
It’s not rocket science. Be disciplined and use technology for Good…Not evil.
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So much wisdom in your comment Paul. Thanks for sharing.
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” It needs to be bored. And for me that means: unplugged.” We are unplugged as noted in detail below. Boredom, I think fosters Creativity!!!
Friendships!!! and Encourages Experiences!!!
For me: Technology moves forward, which has its positive and negative points and technology users need to set limits on Usage…
As a kid in the late 60’s & 70’s if the word Boredom was spoken the reply would be go outside and play, ( we spent a fair amount of time in trees, in our fort, or above ground pool) or are your chores done? Go play at the neighbors, they had a tree-house, or one of us said maybe its time to go to the Candy Ladies house, yum! We’d make cookies & do art projects, too.
We had the hang out house… 3pm was Dark Shadows viewing time…I think I only lost playing Monopoly once. when we were older, “boys” started making a point of walking past the house and linger a while, in the front yard…
We live a SLOW Life…We have a home phone…my prepaid cell needs to be re-up or I will lose my number. (notice I don’t have my every 3 month payment set up to my bank accounts, to be pulled) It ran out of time on Saturday…I usually, check the cell about once a week…thought the last 3 weeks w/ a sister in the hospital & then to the skilled nursing facility – she has at least 6 more weeks of recovery…I’ve kept the cell on and have even sent a few texts back and forth, to keep up with her..(note my dear husband doesn’t KNOW how to Text) the medical transport van took her home yesterday, afternoon. The only Social Media either of us had was I had a face book acct. and left in the fall of 2015 I went on once in Jan 2016 and that was it…We still have a desktop & a few laptops & we use an old single focus pocket camera. I’ll send on a photo of where the Fawn Lillie’s Bow , along the river (taken last week)…/// PS a few months back I prepaid, our Electric, our Water, for a Year!!! paid off the little amt on our charge card & am planning on prepaying a year on the Internet /cable (won’t have cable at all soon) which I’m lowering the services thus lowering the price, too…house paid off…darn the county doesn’t accept early payment on Yearly Property tax…our cars are old…old school has the advantage of Freedom…
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Yes. Yes. Yes. Same for me on this Christie: “As a kid in the late 60’s & 70’s if the word Boredom was spoken the reply would be go outside and play, ( we spent a fair amount of time in trees, in our fort, or above ground pool) or are your chores done?”
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That’s why I begin each day with an emptying of the mind and filing it with light meditation…simply that.
I love Lori’s little bird singing his/her heart out! (and the love and gratitude that must have followed).
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I need to catch up to you Valerie. And fast!
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I so agree with this!
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Me too. Now to do something about it!
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Yes, he explained very well, I do agree with his thoughts… Sometimes I really want unplugged everything… Just hearing birds, winds,…. But we are all (embeded) in this techonologic world… Thank you dear David, have a nice day, love, nia
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Yes Nia! Yes!
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