Digital Detox

[rslade]

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.

[Caute_cautim]

@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

[Flyslinger2]

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.

[Shannon]

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@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.)

[dcontesti]

@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

[rslade]

> 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
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[Caute_cautim]

@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

[rslade]

> 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
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[denbesten]

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

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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.

[rslade]