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  3. Are you a slave to technology?

Are you a slave to technology?

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    martin_hughes
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

    print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

    D R P D C 19 Replies Last reply
    0
    • M martin_hughes

      I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

      print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

      D Offline
      D Offline
      Dalek Dave
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      It all started to wrong when the TV was invented.

      ------------------------------------ "I am always serious about what I do, not necessarily about how I do it." Tom Baker

      M 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • D Dalek Dave

        It all started to wrong when the TV was invented.

        ------------------------------------ "I am always serious about what I do, not necessarily about how I do it." Tom Baker

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Member 4194593
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        No, it all started to go wrong with that bow and arrow thingy.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • M martin_hughes

          I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

          print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

          R Offline
          R Offline
          Rama Krishna Vavilala
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          By technology do you mean only the electronic stuff or do you include the garden tools, fertilizer etc you used to work on your garden? I have been watching "Man and Wild"[^] recently and I don't think I will be able to survive in the wild like bear Gyllss.

          M 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • R Rama Krishna Vavilala

            By technology do you mean only the electronic stuff or do you include the garden tools, fertilizer etc you used to work on your garden? I have been watching "Man and Wild"[^] recently and I don't think I will be able to survive in the wild like bear Gyllss.

            M Offline
            M Offline
            martin_hughes
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Just the electronic stuff :)

            print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

            D 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • M martin_hughes

              I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

              print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

              P Offline
              P Offline
              PIEBALDconsult
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              martin_hughes wrote:

              How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure.

              Does that include Bambi down at the club? (She'll go "beep" (or whatever) if you pay her.)

              J 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M martin_hughes

                I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                D Offline
                D Offline
                Douglas Troy
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                martin - The only "gadget" I own is a cell phone; and only my wife, kids and family call it. Work does have that number, but no one dare call me unless they must. I had text and internet disabled on my phone, because, well, I just wanted a phone; could careless about that other stuff. But alas, I am bound to a computer more hours in my day, than I am not; especially these days, because of new projects, economy downturn, etc...

                martin_hughes wrote:

                Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them?

                Don't really have any gadgets, but I will admit, it bothers me if I don't have my cell phone, but only because I want my wife to be able to get a hold of me in case of emergency.

                martin_hughes wrote:

                Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow?

                Might sleep in. Maybe get outside and finish some painting, cut the lawn. Need to get a fence up. Course, without all this man-made beeping plastic crap, I'd also need to find a job ... so I guess I'd be job hunting ...

                martin_hughes wrote:

                And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                We are doomed. But not because of man-made plastics that beep, but because of this

                WE'RE ALL DOOMED!

                See, says so right there in plain text. and if it's on the interwebs, it must be true.


                :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

                M 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • M martin_hughes

                  Just the electronic stuff :)

                  print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  dighn
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I have a certain distaste for communication devices and services that "beep" at me. I find them disruptive. Aside from that though, I love technology in general.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • D Douglas Troy

                    martin - The only "gadget" I own is a cell phone; and only my wife, kids and family call it. Work does have that number, but no one dare call me unless they must. I had text and internet disabled on my phone, because, well, I just wanted a phone; could careless about that other stuff. But alas, I am bound to a computer more hours in my day, than I am not; especially these days, because of new projects, economy downturn, etc...

                    martin_hughes wrote:

                    Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them?

                    Don't really have any gadgets, but I will admit, it bothers me if I don't have my cell phone, but only because I want my wife to be able to get a hold of me in case of emergency.

                    martin_hughes wrote:

                    Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow?

                    Might sleep in. Maybe get outside and finish some painting, cut the lawn. Need to get a fence up. Course, without all this man-made beeping plastic crap, I'd also need to find a job ... so I guess I'd be job hunting ...

                    martin_hughes wrote:

                    And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                    We are doomed. But not because of man-made plastics that beep, but because of this

                    WE'RE ALL DOOMED!

                    See, says so right there in plain text. and if it's on the interwebs, it must be true.


                    :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                    Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

                    M Offline
                    M Offline
                    martin_hughes
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Douglas Troy wrote:

                    WE'RE ALL DOOMED!

                    Damn, I called you Kojak, when Private Fraser would have been more appropriate!

                    Douglas Troy wrote:

                    Might sleep in. Maybe get outside and finish some painting, cut the lawn. Need to get a fence up. Course, without all this man-made beeping plastic crap, I'd also need to find a job ... so I guess I'd be job hunting ...

                    I'd recommend a career as a jongleur :)

                    print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • M martin_hughes

                      I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                      print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                      C Offline
                      C Offline
                      Chris Austin
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      martin_hughes wrote:

                      Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them?

                      Yes. When we go on vacation, usually hiking and camping in South and Central America or Hawaii, the phones and computers stay at home. If someone needs to reach us they can leave a message at our hotels.

                      martin_hughes wrote:

                      How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?)

                      Most of my exercise is gardening or kickboxing. It's obvious that I don't carry gadgets doing the latter. When working in the vegetable garden it is usually my son and I so I make an effort to leave everything else behind but him.

                      Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --?

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M martin_hughes

                        I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                        print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Marc Clifton
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        martin_hughes wrote:

                        How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure.

                        Computer, cell phone, and occasionally I'll set the timer on the stove. That's it. And I drive this ancient 1994 Toyota Paseo. Gotta love it. There's no door chime, there's no seatbelt warning, the only thing it does is make a beeeeeeee... sound if I leave the lights on, which is useful.

                        martin_hughes wrote:

                        How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected?

                        I got this speedometer thing for my bike, so I could measure how many miles I cycle. But it doesn't make noise. It broke, and I went without it for months last summer, since I knew the mileage on the routes. But yeah, I missed it, so I fixed it (broken wire). Otherwise, I do keep my cell phone with me at all times, but I turn it off when I am out to dinner with my gf, and when, oh, never mind. :)

                        martin_hughes wrote:

                        Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets?

                        Yeah, I get pretty stressed out if I forget my cell phone.

                        martin_hughes wrote:

                        Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow?

                        I'd prefer if most people vanished. ;)

                        martin_hughes wrote:

                        if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                        It's not the technology that dooms us all, it's us. Marc

                        Will work for food. Interacx

                        J 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • M martin_hughes

                          I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                          print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                          G Offline
                          G Offline
                          Gary R Wheeler
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Beepy electronics things: Two, my phone and my iPod. The phone is mainly for emergencies and keeping in touch with my kid. Only my family members have the number. I probably spend less than 10 minutes a day using it. The iPod spends most of the time on my desk at work, where I use it in lieu of having 600+ CD's of music in my desk. I probably use it 2-3 hours a day. While I run and bicycle, the only electronic thing related to that I use is the cycling computer on the bike. I use that to keep track of distance when navigating on roads. I don't feel a need to become 'disconnected' as I've never been terribly 'connected' to begin with. Probably the strongest electronic leash I have is e-mail and CP.

                          martin_hughes wrote:

                          if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                          I'm sure the folks that lived in Strasbourg thought that folly of Gutenberg's would lead to nothing but trouble.

                          Software Zen: delete this;
                          Fold With Us![^]

                          S 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • M martin_hughes

                            Douglas Troy wrote:

                            WE'RE ALL DOOMED!

                            Damn, I called you Kojak, when Private Fraser would have been more appropriate!

                            Douglas Troy wrote:

                            Might sleep in. Maybe get outside and finish some painting, cut the lawn. Need to get a fence up. Course, without all this man-made beeping plastic crap, I'd also need to find a job ... so I guess I'd be job hunting ...

                            I'd recommend a career as a jongleur :)

                            print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            Douglas Troy
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            martin_hughes wrote:

                            I'd recommend a career as a jongleur

                            Emmmm... I'll have to look-up some tunes.... :rolleyes:


                            :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                            Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • M martin_hughes

                              I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                              print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Mycroft Holmes
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              I hate the fu***ng toaster, the bloody thing needs to beep at me 3 times when to toast is done, what my attention span cannot last 2 minutes, I'm not standing there waiting for my carbs in the morning, I can't hear the toast hitting the bench when the stupid fu***ng thing ejects it 2 feet into the air. Wheres my hammer..... Mind you I'm the closest thing to a ludditie around, I use a prepaid phone b/c I continoiusly leave the dammed thing in a bag or on a desk so nobody can be confident I have it with me. I have an iPaq that is used for a reader only, never touched any of the other functions, the phone is not web enabled (barely makes calls) and there is no other tech rattling around when I leave the house. I walk in the mornings (no garden) and it's me the threads and a water bottle, disappearing over the horizon for and hour or so!

                              Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • G Gary R Wheeler

                                Beepy electronics things: Two, my phone and my iPod. The phone is mainly for emergencies and keeping in touch with my kid. Only my family members have the number. I probably spend less than 10 minutes a day using it. The iPod spends most of the time on my desk at work, where I use it in lieu of having 600+ CD's of music in my desk. I probably use it 2-3 hours a day. While I run and bicycle, the only electronic thing related to that I use is the cycling computer on the bike. I use that to keep track of distance when navigating on roads. I don't feel a need to become 'disconnected' as I've never been terribly 'connected' to begin with. Probably the strongest electronic leash I have is e-mail and CP.

                                martin_hughes wrote:

                                if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                                I'm sure the folks that lived in Strasbourg thought that folly of Gutenberg's would lead to nothing but trouble.

                                Software Zen: delete this;
                                Fold With Us![^]

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                                Steve Katic
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                "if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?" Oh, cheer up. We have always been doomed anyway. Don't go blaming technology now. You've just confused with 'crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"' as being a cause, where it is a symptom of our human condtion: of groping at laziness dressed up as competency and convenience without really shaking off the incompetence. Man can always look at all of his finest achievements with awe and wonder, but in the end he knows that the bottom line is that he won't be able to stop raping this world until the brink of destruction is reached. "Are we there yet mommy?". "No not yet son, we'll be there when you see everyone trying to kill each other again for the third time". Wait on, doesn't man look at technology as its saviour? How dare we blaspheme against it. I better go now, the paradoxes are coming. Anyway, it's time for our medication.

                                G J 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • M martin_hughes

                                  I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                                  print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

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                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Personally I HATE anything that goes BEEP. Why can't beeping devices have an easily accsible and obvious MUTE button? It took me 20 minutes faffing about with my phoe to work out how to stop the keypa beeping when I press a key (obviosuly, it's in the 'ringtones' menu option!). I actually hate owning a wankerphone, but I admit it has its uses. I thought bluetooth was going to be the answer - you could have one beeping crap device (not too plastic because you'd want it to last) to control every device you have - so it would be the phone, remote for tv, video, air con, car unlocker and starter etc. etc. I hope you're not using electronic http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4329815.html[^] devices in your plantation :) (and I bet it wold beep)

                                  ___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

                                  M R 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • L Lost User

                                    Personally I HATE anything that goes BEEP. Why can't beeping devices have an easily accsible and obvious MUTE button? It took me 20 minutes faffing about with my phoe to work out how to stop the keypa beeping when I press a key (obviosuly, it's in the 'ringtones' menu option!). I actually hate owning a wankerphone, but I admit it has its uses. I thought bluetooth was going to be the answer - you could have one beeping crap device (not too plastic because you'd want it to last) to control every device you have - so it would be the phone, remote for tv, video, air con, car unlocker and starter etc. etc. I hope you're not using electronic http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4329815.html[^] devices in your plantation :) (and I bet it wold beep)

                                    ___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Mladen Jankovic
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Maxxx_ wrote:

                                    Personally I HATE anything that goes BEEP.

                                    Like life support systems? :)

                                    [Genetic Algorithm Library]

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • M martin_hughes

                                      I'm not a technophile. I don't really want, need or even like gadgets. But I'm no technophobe, either. I appreciate when something is useful or adds that undefinable "something" (I hesitate to use the "quality") to my way of living. But here's the thing: I'm surrounded by crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep". I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. I never thought this would be my sort of thing - I was so wrapped up in technology, felt this pressing need to be contactable 24/7, to be "wired in", so addicted to technology that I've spent the better part of the last 15 years completely divorced from the world around me - but really, truly, digging, planting and nurturing has made me realise just what an unhappy life life surrounded by technology is. I'm not advocating a Luddite rebellion here - technology has some very good uses (and let's face it, here I am typing on such a thing for y'all to read :) ) - but have a think about the following: How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure. How many crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" do you own? How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected? (For example: do you run, cycle or exercise with some electronic gadgetry that measures speed, distance or pulse?) Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets? Do you go cold turkey without them? Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow? And ask yourself this: if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                                      print "http://www.codeproject.com".toURL().text Ain't that Groovy?

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      Colin Rae
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      Well, here I am just finished listening to a record - yes, a vinyl LP. I refuse to buy any sort of i-thingy. I also have a stereo amplifier. No 5 or 7 channel surround crap - 2 channels that sound fantastic. Sometimes I turn on the stereo if I'm watching a concert or something on TV, otherwise I usually don't bother. Yes, I have a CD player and a DVD player but a lot of my music is on vinyl and it still sounds great. I just upgraded my turntable with a new cartridge last year and have no intention of abandoning it. (You youngsters - look up "cartridge" on Google!) Last year one of my co-workers asked me what tax preparation software I used. I told him I just used my calculator and filled in the form with a pen. "You do it by *hand*?!! Ugh!", he said. It really isn't difficult... I suppose I'm an old fart / luddite then! (If i remember correctly I'm 43.) Oh yes, I do have a cell phone though - but I don't text or anything. Occasionally my wife calls and asks what I want to do for dinner.

                                      R 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                                        martin_hughes wrote:

                                        How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure.

                                        Does that include Bambi down at the club? (She'll go "beep" (or whatever) if you pay her.)

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                                        Jim Crafton
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        Yeah but I rarely get to feel plugged in!

                                        ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • M Marc Clifton

                                          martin_hughes wrote:

                                          How much time per day do you spend interacting with crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep"? Both work and leisure.

                                          Computer, cell phone, and occasionally I'll set the timer on the stove. That's it. And I drive this ancient 1994 Toyota Paseo. Gotta love it. There's no door chime, there's no seatbelt warning, the only thing it does is make a beeeeeeee... sound if I leave the lights on, which is useful.

                                          martin_hughes wrote:

                                          How disconnected from electronics do you ever get? And are you ever really disconnected?

                                          I got this speedometer thing for my bike, so I could measure how many miles I cycle. But it doesn't make noise. It broke, and I went without it for months last summer, since I knew the mileage on the routes. But yeah, I missed it, so I fixed it (broken wire). Otherwise, I do keep my cell phone with me at all times, but I turn it off when I am out to dinner with my gf, and when, oh, never mind. :)

                                          martin_hughes wrote:

                                          Do you feel naked or elated without your gadgets?

                                          Yeah, I get pretty stressed out if I forget my cell phone.

                                          martin_hughes wrote:

                                          Have you ever wondered what you'd do if all the crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" vanished from the face of the planet tomorrow?

                                          I'd prefer if most people vanished. ;)

                                          martin_hughes wrote:

                                          if we have become so reliant on crap, plastic, man-made things that go "beep" in less than 50 years, are we all doomed?

                                          It's not the technology that dooms us all, it's us. Marc

                                          Will work for food. Interacx

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                                          Jim Crafton
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Marc Clifton wrote:

                                          I'd prefer if most people vanished.

                                          Frank Barone[^] couldn't have said it better!

                                          ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh

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