More than a year ago, I stopped using MySpace. And longer ago than that, I stopped using AIM. So when I heard about a little project called “Computer Shutdown Day,” I asked myself why not?
And so it began, late at night on Friday, March 23. I’d pledged both personally and officially on the “Computer Shutdown Day” website to spend 24 hours sans computer on March 24. This should be simple, I mused, as I shut down my computer (for the first time in weeks). I went to sleep shortly after, and woke up the following day, willing and ready to forsake my computer.
With plenty to do and plenty of time for doing it, I took a trip to the public library. I walked between bookshelves, and scanned the selection with other scholastically inclined students. We basked in books, and better yet, we basked in silence. I sat down for awhile to study, before browsing the shelves again for a book I’ve been meaning to read. When I realized I’d never find the book on my own, I thought I’d check the card catalog.
But the card catalog is on the computer. Dun, dun, DUN!
Later that day, I wasted some time taking some shots with my good, ol’ digital camera. Hey, these look great! I thought to myself. I should show these off. Alas, my pledge! Not only did my ”Computer Shutdown Day” pledge end any chance of retrieving photos from my camera, but it sent my hopes to share them with friends plummeting. Without a computer, impossible.
The book, the camera? Unfortunate. But when the sun set, I prepared for the home stretch. Hoping to kill time quickly – since only hours lay between me and my treasured email box – I thought I’d see a movie. That’s when, by reflex, I walked up to my quiet, cold computer. I realized it had be years since I’d used anything but the Internet to find movie times.
Years.
“Computer Shutdown Day” wasn’t necessarily hard. But it wasn’t necessarily easy to realize just how much I rely on computers. The more I ponder, the more I ask…do I really need to use the computer as much as I do? 11:30p.m. on Saturday, 24 hours had passed. I checked my email.
No new messages.
I think I can answer my question.
