It all started with Ben Franklin and his silly kite and key. He stood in a thunderstorm, and soon enough, we had electricity. Then Thomas Edison made something supposedly necessary like the light bulb. That was our downfall.
I'm not actually going to spend the next 700 words knocking electricity, especially when those key historical figures actually added to the well-being of society. The problem is not their fault - it's Apple's.
Apple makes a new iPod and iPhone model every stinking year, luring society into the tight grip of consumerism. They're the ones who created the iPad, probably one of the most unnecessary inventions of all time. But this is irrelevant.
It's past midnight on what is technically Thursday morning. Why am I up this late? Because my column is due at noon and this is the first time I've opened my laptop today. You see, after spending my days constantly wrapped in the technological bubble of these aforementioned devices, I had an epiphany - modern society is entirely dependent on technology.
It's daunting to think that a little more than 22 years ago, we didn't have the Internet. Some people don't even know they're spelling something wrong without the red, squiggly lines in Microsoft Word. Cell phones are becoming more and more complicated every day. Want a girlfriend? No worries, there's an app for that. So I decided to do the unfathomable - I gave up technology for 24 hours. Cue horrifying yet epic music here.
After telling my roommates about this seemingly profound idea, I hit a few logistical road bumps. One of them pointed out that I probably couldn't give up everything because that would mean I couldn't even turn on a light switch. So instead, I gave up my Blackberry, iPod, laptop, television and radio and spent the rest of the day avoiding as much technology as possible.
Another difficult logistical issue was deciding when I would actually endure this. It couldn't be Monday because I had to use one for my design job. Tuesday was a no-go because of "Glee." And like I said before, my column was due Thursday. That left me with Wednesday.
When I told my best friend about this decision, he looked at me with horror and said, "That sounds like the most terrifying thing ever." Suddenly, the reality of my soon-to-be situation set in. He was right. What if my professor assigned homework and I didn't know because I didn't read my e-mail? What if I don't pick up that could-be-life-changing phone call? More important, what if I lost ability to function? If there was ever a time for me to have a panic attack, it was that moment. But I was determined to prove a point.
Promptly at 11:26 p.m. I handed my phone and iPod to one of my roommates. I turned my laptop off and put it on my desk. I was ready. At first, it was just the little things - writing an assignment rather than typing it, resisting the urge to send trivial text messages and feeling continuously irked that I couldn't check my e-mail or Facebook on my phone. You should know about the deep attachment I have to my phone. Let me put it this way: I treat my BlackBerry like a newborn child. I never leave it alone for fear that it may need me.
But the most difficult thing was the silence. I'm one of those people who needs background noise and being left to nothing but my own thoughts was worse than being repeatedly stabbed in the eye with a nail. It was the worst when I had to work at the library for two hours. Other than the fact that it was seriously boring to shelve books without "Teenage Dream" blaring in my ears, it was really difficult to avoid the computer to check books in and out.
That was the other thing. Even though I had sworn off technology, everyone around me had not. A couple of times I almost slipped when my roommates wanted to show my something on their laptops. One of my friends tried to cheer me up with ridiculous songs even though I told him repeatedly that I couldn't listen to iTunes. I even had to walk away from President Obama's appearance on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart in the last 26 minutes of this experiment.
But I did it. I survived, and there's something comforting about that fact. I understand that technology is a sign of progress, but it's devices such as the iPad or Kindle that really get me. There has to be a limit to our progression or else we're going to become just like those fat people from "Wall-E" whose faces are permanently glued to a screen. So remember that you don't need technology. And every once in a while, maybe turn it off and smell a rose or something. It could be the most liberating experience you'll have. Well, other than streaking the Lawn.
Alyssa's column runs biweekly Mondays. She can be reached at a.juan@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
Holding onto every grain in the hourglass
By Mai Hukuoka | 21 hours agoNow that I’m back at school, I have made it my mission to take note of the sneaky passage of time.
Students brave the cold for a whirlwind sorority rush
By Mia Tan | 2 days agoStudents recount a mix of emotions from rush, with some disappointed after dropping from the recruitment process and others ecstatic to join Greek life.
Top 10 ways to avoid burnout this semester
By Sam Saks | 4 days agoAs you settle into this semester, try implementing these 10 tactics to take care of yourself and wave goodbye to burnout.
