Basically, one of my first assignments at uni was to pledge to go without any form of 'new media' for 24 hours, and this report gives details of the painful experience...
Just after midnight on 19/10/2010 I wasted time in any way I could; washing my hair, reading, writing this...but my bedroom remained eerily quiet. Already, I was bored, that we are not only dependant on new media for practicalities, but also constant information and entertainment. It felt similar to using no electricity because of how careful I had to be of what I did. Even getting into bed was a challenge without the light of my phone.
Just after midnight on 19/10/2010 I wasted time in any way I could; washing my hair, reading, writing this...but my bedroom remained eerily quiet. Already, I was bored, that we are not only dependant on new media for practicalities, but also constant information and entertainment. It felt similar to using no electricity because of how careful I had to be of what I did. Even getting into bed was a challenge without the light of my phone.
When I first woke up the next day, I automatically hit my phone alarm and looked over at my wardrobe to read the reminder I had left myself about the day.
My morning routine varied considerably; I couldn’t blare music from my iPod speakers, or turn on the radio, or turn my phone on to check my email, twitter, facebook, blog, text messages or phone calls. Getting ready was almost normal, but slightly on the quiet side with no last minute messages from friends.
I had planned a trip to the beach with friends from my course, who were doing the same assignment, so that we could waste the silent hours together. We made sure we organised the trip days before, so that everyone knew what time to meet each other and where without the need for mobile phones on the day.
The hardest thing for me was not being able to use my phone, which literally has everything on it. When I got my phone a few months ago I have relayed on it for everything! Ever since moving to uni about a month ago I have literally been inseparable from it because it is how I keep in touch with my family and friends back home, as well as those who have also moved away, so I already felt quite isolated.
I figured I must have been without new media for at least twenty four hours before, perhaps when my Blackberry was being repaired, but I realised that I had passed the time by watching T.V or listening to music instead. Or perhaps during the seven weeks I have spent over seven years at a summer camp, where I feel little need for my iPod, but then I realised I had always read Kerrang and listen to music before sleeping.
The walk to meet my friends seemed a lot longer and colder than usual. It felt very odd having no iPod in my ears or phone in my hand telling them how late I was. Once everyone, eventually arrived, we drove to the beach, and during the very cramped journey, I craved the radio. When we sat down in a cafe I appreciated how much I usually multitask; it was so tempting to turn my phone on and quickly check my messages.
Being at the beach with people who were undergoing the same torture made it a great deal easier to deal with. I thought about the last Facebook status I had left and the rapid phone calls and texts warning my family and friends of my absence from new media/the world for twenty four hours.
The second cafe we stopped at was playing music as we walked in, and I have never been happier to hear the Beach Boys! During the walk I appreciated the scenery and...learnt how to skim a rock! Generally, this assignment strongly reminded me of my ‘holiday’ in Cornwall during the summer, but even then I had use of my phone and iPod.
When I got home from the beach I became conscious of how quiet the house was without music, so to pass the time I ate. I’ve never claimed to be a great cook, but I can honestly say I have never cooked out of boredom...or done the washing for that matter! It was even an odd experience to do those things without looking at my blackberry or bringing my iPod speakers with me.
After arriving home around 5pm and eating, I realised how tired I was. I ended up sleeping until 10. When I woke up I could hear my housemate watching T.V.
I squandered the remaining hours by tidying my room, doing some more washing, and really taking my time getting ready for uni. I then got ready for bed and read downstairs for almost an hour (shock horror). I could hear cars passing, people walking past, my housemate’s T.V buzzing from upstairs, the clock ticking ever so slowly.
When the clock hit midnight the first thing I did was go on twitter and Facebook and upload the pictures from the day, as well as check my phone messages. I know I like everything to be accessible which is certainly something new media provides me with.
But all in all, I felt as if I could have (hypothetically) coped without new media for another day, which made me realise that I found the assignment easier than I first presumed. But it really struck me that my days are not just influenced by the media, but overbearingly controlled by it because of how much I relay on it and technology, which go hand in hand.
I now know for myself that we use the media, especially the internet, in surplus and thrive on it daily for gaining and sharing information instantly, staying in touch and entertainment. I also know that if I had never been bought a Blackberry that I would be blissfully unaware of what I was missing and I considered that perhaps those who are isolated from the media constantly, are unaware of the media they are missing out on.
The bolded sentence in the first paragraph was stolen from me xD
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/students-brave-24hour-technology-fast-2117482.html
The bolded sentence in the first paragraph was stolen from me xD
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/students-brave-24hour-technology-fast-2117482.html
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