Living Low Tech

[kybearfuzz]

After a rather stressful day, I went home after work for a nap and had planned on going for a run. It was probably one of the last nice warm days we'll have this year, but I skipped it in favor of hitting the "Woof Wednesday" happy hour at a local bar. A beer can be just as cathartic as a run somedays.

I ran into the globe-trotting and freshly shorn chrisglass who is always a pleasure as well as a few other familiar faces. Sitting alone next to our group was this beefy-looking cub type. So rather than have him sit alone, I scooted a couple of chairs down and introduced myself and then integrated him with some of rest of the group.

While he looked cubbish in appearance, I found out that he is actually 10 years older than me. What surprised me is that he admits that he'd only been in a gay bar four times in the last few years and drove roughly 30 miles to get to this one. Even stranger, he says he has no computer at home and his cell phone is of the non-iPhone/Droid variety. He says he uses a computer at work, but doesn't do Facebook or Twitter or have an email account other than his office.

Such technology has become so ingrained in our society that it is odd to run into someone who is freely and intentionally avoiding it. While I'm no FB fanatic, I do use it to keep up with people and events. I asked him how he had even heard of the bar or any of the events. He simply uses the local City Beat. The old fashioned way I suppose.

While I applaud the kind of resolve it must take to stay away from the internet and all its yummy goodness, I have to wonder how long a person can maintain such a distance from the online world. In talking to chrisglass, I know he's preparing for another trip where he will not have access to cell or WiFi access for weeks, but that is a different situation. Do you think you could give up the web for any excessive length of time if it were freely around you?

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, I didn't really have a cell phone until May. I still use it mostly as a watch, since I can't find my wrist watch. And it's a pay-as-you-go, not a smart phone.

I didn't have internet at home until 2007, when I moved into the apartment I have now. Didn't really own a computer that could do anything til 2007, when I went back to grad school and bought a lap-top.

Now I find it almost impossible to live without internet access. Even brought my computer with me on vacation. But I think I could go without it from time to time. For me, it's mostly a means of staying in touch with friends, via e-mail and LJ. I'm not much of a facebook person.

It would be hard but not impossible to give it up.
Besides, there are so many free knitting patterns on the internet. ;-)

[mississippicub.livejournal.com]

Actually, when I go on vacation... which is a very very rare thing, I prefer to disconnect from the internet phone and everything.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Do you think you could give up the web for any excessive length of time if it were freely around you?

I've become very attached to LJ, but I didn't grow up with computers and I don't have a phone that does anything other than be a phone. I'm on FB a bit, but could drop it in a heart beat. I consider it more of an online contact directory than anything else. I think I'd have a few twinges of regret, but I think I could give up the internet for an extended time. I know I could certainly make better use of my time - like write letters and correspond with friends like I used to, pick up the phone and speak with them, go visit them in person ...

HUGS!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I jumped on the internet myself as soon as I could back in the dial-up days of the mid-1990's. However, I held off on the cell phone until 2003. I never wanted to have my boss be able to contact me when I was away from home and off-hours. Eventually I gave in.

Realistically, though I have an iPhone, I use it more for internet functions than a phone.

And I've always been fascinated at how much information is available at a few keystrokes that I would really miss the internet if away from it for too long.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I have done downtime from the net before, but I haven't been able to give it up wholeheartedly. Then, I rarely go away for vacation, but it's something I should consider.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I've been very attached to LJ since 2003 myself and attend it much more often than other sites, like FB.

While FB has its perks, I guess I don't see it as substantial reading like I do LJ posts. I've commented on it before, saying that FB is like reading the headlines, whereas LJ is the full article.

Hugs back :)

[martini-tim.livejournal.com]

I cannot imagine existence with computers. I have had one since I was 14 years old. I have been using the Internet since it was the Arpanet. I had used a windowing GUI for years before Apple "stunned" the world with one. I have seen fads rise and fall on the Internet like waves on a beach, and I surf them while never really getting immersed in them, knowing they will be gone tomorrow.

And yet this man intrigues me. Was he cute? Well spoken? Educated or at least well-informed?

[spikejrt.livejournal.com]

I am too curious. Before computers, I would make regular geeks to the library to read the latest magazines. And I would write a lot of letters and send a lot of post cards. Now, if I think of a question, I Google it. If I want to communicate with someone, it is an immediate phone call, emai, or text.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

The odd guy was very handsome, shorter and stocky, full stache with that divot goatee, very beefy and seemingly very educated. I didn't ask what he did for a living, but he had an air about him that suggested he had a professional job.

When I told him that it was strange to meet someone nowadays with no online presence, he seemed very concerned with putting his personal and financial info "out there" for anyone to get.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Well, we've become much faster in our communication, which I think is a good thing, but I suspect the guy at the bar was more of a phone call guy than a text/email guy.

[martini-tim.livejournal.com]

You should consider pursuing him. He is the rare subspecies of gay, the hot gay luddite. I thought they were extinct.

[jeepdude-70.livejournal.com]

I rarely take a vacation, too, but when I do, I like to go somewhere that I don't have those distractions easily accessible. I think there was a movement in the late 70s/early 80s encouraging people to "unplug" for an evening; the idea being intended primarily for TV. I do have one friend who has no computer and no TV... there's yet another bear luddite. In the end, I guess I could give it up, but probably wouldn't want to.

[texwriterbear.livejournal.com]

I just don't think I could do it. Heck one of my friends gave up Facebook last year for Lent, and I was like I couldn't! LOL!!

[jccub1.livejournal.com]

I've lost my Blackberry two or three times and every time I've, in this order, a) cried "What the hell will I do now?! My life will fall apart!" and b) thoroughly enjoyed the 2-3 weeks of being without one. We all remember a time when we didn't have access to the internet or carry phones around - and we still survived, socialised, functioned perfectly well.

But to answer your question - hell no! At least not if I had a choice. I'm Gen X and take comfort in having suckled on technology's growing teat from an early age. That said I have no problem rolling my eyes and chastising later generations about their dependency on technology. Hey, I'm Gen X. I'm allowed to.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Heh... I'd not heard the term "luddite" before, but he does fit the bill after I looked it up. We exchanged phone numbers and I may give him a buzz.

[oceanlux.livejournal.com]

I have a regular cell phone, and have some friends who go batty when I don't answer it. I refuse to use it when dining out, driving, doing errands, etc. I think it's rude to answer the phone when you are engaged in f2f conversation with someone else, etc.