topic Digital Detox in Industry News

Digital Detox

rslade — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:07:55 GMT

Over on the (parody) discussion of CPEs, I have inadvertently created a mini-furor, and upset @Shannon , @pearceww , @j_M007 , @JimmyD , @Caute_cautim , and @dcontesti . I apologize.

The reason for my tardy responses lies in digital detox. Although I've been on the Internet since before it was called the Internet, and manage my online time reasonably well with all that experience, recently there have been calls for people to take "digital vacations," and get rid of, or turn off, all devices for various activities or periods of time.

I thought this was probably a good idea, so, for the past few years, I've taken Sunday off.

I think it's a good plan, so far. I know that, when I started, I was very nervous about missing something on my news sources: the dreaded FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Over time I've gotten some perspective back, and now I hardly even notice: it's just part of my routine. (This week I had an appointment Monday morning, so my absence was possibly more prolonged.)

I also turn my cell phone off when I'm at home, so there's less temptation to turn into one of those people who cannot be without their phone and apps for more than three minutes at a time. Very occasionally someone gets mad at me because I am not instantly available when an idea pops into their head. Even more infrequent are the cases where that actually matters.

I'd recommend it, it you don't already try it. You'll likely save money on blood pressure medication.

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 02:36:38 GMT

@rsladeWell there is a bunch of us who noticed and obviously you have created some great camaraderie, everyone really cared (smile) whether you openly volunteered for "detox" or were told to do so.

Yes, I turn my mobile off in the evenings, and discipline myself to only check once or twice on a weekend.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox

Flyslinger2 — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 13:33:42 GMT

I take it as a compliment if my iOS devices report that my screen time was lower then the week before. Sadly, because of vision issues, reading from a very portable device that I can put in front of my nose and not printed material is much more advantageous. So I try to balance screen time with ease of use.

Re: Digital Detox

Shannon — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 13:21:26 GMT

@rslade wrote:
Over on the (parody) discussion of CPEs, I have inadvertently created a mini-furor, and upset @Shannon , @pearceww , @j_M007 , @JimmyD , @Caute_cautim , and @dcontesti . I apologize.

Dependent as we are on IT Technology --- it seems we've inadvertently turned @rslade into another of one of our our dependencies...

Jokes aside, I can't afford to take the digital detox, coz I'm the point-of-contact for our MSSP & SOC, so the management might not appreciate me turning off my data or else putting my phone offline.

Particularly annoying is that many in our organization rely on WhatsApp to communicate during emergencies --- I've often tried to emphasize on the perils of this but no avail. (It would all become clear to them if both we AND the mobile service providers have an emergency simultaneously, but that is unlikely.)

Re: Digital Detox

dcontesti — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:49:50 GMT

@rslade

I think it's brilliant that you pick a day and shut down....good for you and good for the family.

I typically shut down when my grandson and granddoggie (he's 6 and she's 😎 come over to spend time with me.....amazing not only what it does for me mentally but also how I am amazed at the things the six year old knows and does. The 8 year old on the other hand usually wants to be a lap dog (oh did I tell you she is a chocolate lab?).

In these technological days, it nice to sit and play a game of Snakes and Ladders or Operation or anything not electronic or go outside and play hide and seek....

So hat's off to you.

Best

Diana

PS: I did enjoy the thought that you might have volunteered to take the pill.....LOL

Re: Digital Detox

rslade — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:38:53 GMT

> dcontesti (Contributor I) mentioned you in a post! Join the conversation below:

> I typically shut down when my grandson and
> granddoggie (he's 6 and she's 😎 come over to spend time with me.....amazing not
> only what it does for me mentally but also how I am amazed at the things the six
> year old knows and does.

Always take the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective--
espcially that of grandkids 🙂

> The 8 year old on the other hand usually wants to be
> a lap dog (oh did I tell you she is a chocolate lab?).

The mind boggles ... 🙂

> PS: I did enjoy the thought that you might have
> volunteered to take the pill.....

🙂

====================== (quote inserted randomly by Pegasus Mailer)
rslade@vcn.bc.ca slade@victoria.tc.ca rslade@computercrime.org
People's lives, in Jubilee as elsewhere, were dull, simple,
amazing, and unfathomable -- deep caves paved with kitchen
linoleum. - Alice Munro, `Lives of Girls and Women'
victoria.tc.ca/techrev/rms.htm http://twitter.com/rslade
http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/author/p1/
https://is.gd/RotlWB

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:47:36 GMT

@rslade @dcontesti

However, none of you can prove it, because if you did take the bait, you would not remember it.

Unless it had an independent auditor monitoring the exercise, and due to security by obscurity i.e. not cleared to obtain this information on a need to know basis. Will never effectively be able to write, speak about the experience or provide feedback.

So, either the experiment was successful, but you would never know for at least 30 years.

Perhaps the auditor also took the pill too, so ensuring a complete coverup.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox (but really CEP, sorry, CPE opportunities ...)

rslade — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 23:51:53 GMT

> Caute_cautim (Advocate I) mentioned you in a post! Join the conversation below:

> However, none of you can prove it, because if you did
> take the bait, you would not remember it.

I can't recall if I took the red pill or the blue pill ...

> Unless it had an independent
> auditor monitoring the exercise, and due to security by obscurity i.e. not
> cleared to obtain this information on a need to know basis.

Maybe the red pill is for auditors ...

> Will never
> effectively be able to write, speak about the experience or provide feedback.

You're such a pill, John ... 🙂

> So, either the experiment was successful, but you would never know for at least
> 30 years.

I should live so long ...

> Perhaps the auditor also took the pill too, so ensuring a complete
> coverup.

The complete lack of evidence of the conspiracy is the surest sign the pill is
working ...

====================== (quote inserted randomly by Pegasus Mailer)
rslade@vcn.bc.ca slade@victoria.tc.ca rslade@computercrime.org
Old people who can fix cars, make clothes and build furniture
think young people are good at technology because they can click
on a picture
- https://twitter.com/FinalBullet/status/423802246875578368
victoria.tc.ca/techrev/rms.htm http://twitter.com/rslade
http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/author/p1/
https://is.gd/RotlWB

Re: Digital Detox

denbesten — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:23:08 GMT

@Shannon wrote:
I can't afford to take the digital detox, coz... [irrelevant details]

Kinda the point. You are hooked.

I get that one can not afford to be completely offline. However, that does not mean that one can't shutdown a bit. Perhaps you take the first step of not looking at the phone unless it rings.

For me, my detox is that the mobile phone does not go in the bedroom. Those who truly need to wake me (elderly parents, kids, emergency alert system, etc.) know my (unlisted) home phone number, which does sits next to my bed. For everything else, I don't even look at the mobile phone until after I am dressed and ready for the day. I treat social occasions, restaurants, the dinner table and church similarly.

It helps that our SOC and help desk have both been well trained to know what requires waking up the troops and what can wait till morning. It is amazing how much really can wait.

And yes, a home phone is quaint. With VOIP, it is about $5/month -- which is well worth it for a good night of worry-free sleep.

Re: Digital Detox

rslade — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:46:36 GMT

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:57:00 GMT

My Detox is get the trusty weed-eater or Shrub Cutter and hammer away at the sections, to clean them up before Winter for two solid days.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:57:24 GMT

Dangerous habit

Re: Digital Detox

dcontesti — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:14:39 GMT

That definitely provide a detox.

We are doing the opposite and just raking our lawns, seeding and hoping something survived the winter.

cheers

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:24:13 GMT

My essential detox today, was clean the gutters out, open the down pipes and get rid of the accumulated grime and muck. Very important when you depend on tank water. Now a few hours later, the gutters are absolutely clean, and the down pipes are running pure water. And now it is pouring with rain, and the tanks are full again already. So time to open the down pipes again, to ensure the overflows are moving in the right direction.

Yet, during the Summer, we were making good use of the water, because you never know when the next time it will rain.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:25:03 GMT

@dcontestiThe great circle of life.

Cheers

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox

rslade — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 04:16:05 GMT

Elizabeth May, leader of Canada's Green Party at the federal level, got married today. (Yeah, OK, Earth Day, we get it ...)

I think it's tomorrow that they head off on a honeymoon, by train (second most efficient transport system) to Ottawa.

And her new hubby has taken her Blackberry away for the trip ...

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 04:28:19 GMT

And the digital watch, Fitbit etc its not easy. AirWatch plugs etc?

And the method of transport isn't an aeroplane - by chance? Poor earth.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: Digital Detox

rslade — Wed, 15 May 2019 18:12:58 GMT

Selena Gomez, the 3rd most followed person on Instagram, just said social media has been terrible for young people

Re: Digital Detox

Caute_cautim — Sun, 19 May 2019 20:25:03 GMT

I think Detox should be practiced more often, a colleague who retired to the Scottish Isles, had a shock the other day, his wife died. So let this be a reminder to use ones life to the full to the benefit of all, and never let a day go past without completing or achieving something every day, even if you feel like hell. We have the capability to do great things. Use it wisely. Detox often and renew.

Regards

Caute_cautim