Unplugging

[muses_nightmare]

I like Facebook
I like my Ipod
I like my cell phone

I do not like being told that people should have to "unplug" because we're too dependent on technology. Sorry, we may be dependent, but these are tools, and toys that people enjoy, need, and use on a daily basis. The idea that all technology is somehow bad annoys me. I don't like talking to people on transit, so I listen to my Ipod, there are a few people I just don't talk to outside of e-mail and facebook because they live so far away. My cell phone is pretty important in case something comes up and I need to call someone right away, especially since pay phones are going the way of the dinosaurs, and the ones I can find are usually broken.

Also being in school for Graphic Design technology is pretty important to me. I would not be able to do my assignments without a computer. So yes I generally think computers and technology are good things, so sue me!

[MaggieTheCat]

I never go anywhere without my cell phone, especially alone. We live in a very large city, and while I have not heard of the crime rate being a problem in our area, you can never be too safe, I don't think. Even if not for my own sake, for the sake of others -- what if there is a care accident or something, and you need to call an ambulance?

[Cat]

When I go camping, I don't have my iPods nor cell.

I am not always camping however :) I have a very techie bf, so I've taken to carring more tech-toys with me (iPod Nano, iPod Touch, cell) and it fun to have thoose (esp when said bf is always on his iPhone..hissss)

Its like anything, you can over use and be too reliant on tech, you can 100% shun them, or you can maintain a smart balance. I prefer the latter

[HYHYBT]

Well, *two* iPods for one person does seem a bit excessive...

[Cat]

I bought the Nano before I recieved the Touch as a gift :) The Nano is for music and podcasts (used at work and the gym) the Touch is for movies and interwebz and apps

It is a bit much, I will admit, but I'm not getting rid of either of 'em any time soon ( I am a hoarder)


edit: OT rant I hate audiobooks where the narrator has no emotion. hiss.

[telecom_goddess]

I love technology and don't think dependency on it is a bad thing. I have my smart phone, ipod nano, laptop, desktop, hd tv, surround sound, and get off on it. I love playing with technology.

I grew up with NONE of these things and having them now is great....

[powerboy]

I have my iPhone which has an ipod on it. I have that with me everyday. Now when I am investigating, I shut it off. I have my bluetooth, I will use that when I am driving. I also have bluetooth sunglasses that is awesome. I use that when it is sunny out. I have my laptop, i use that.

[DrFaroohk]

Naw man, come on. Come on man. We're supposed to all live in the woods, man. We're all supposed to function with no electricity, medical care of entertainment of any kind except the douchebag poetry we write and put to music, man. Come on, man.

[Boozy]

It is a bit much, I will admit, but I'm not getting rid of either of 'em any time soon ( I am a hoarder)


I don't think two iPods is too much. A nano and a Touch combined are about the size of a deck of cards. It's a compact and convenient way of storing music, audiobooks, and movies.

I use an iPod shuffle for jogging, and my iPhone for everything else. The iPhone is too bulky to jog with, while the shuffle isn't useful for anything other than listening to some tunes.

[Nyoibo]

I've got no problem with any of these things, hell I use them myself, more than I probably should. But I think dependance on anything is a bad thing, what do you do when those things are suddenly no longer working?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I've got no problem with any of these things, hell I use them myself, more than I probably should. But I think dependance on anything is a bad thing, what do you do when those things are suddenly no longer working?

Read a book. Along with my PSP (movies, music and games... oh my!) I usually (meaning whenever I have a spare pocket in my cargoes) carry a book. :D

I wonder how many people were droning on about people's over-reliance on record players when they should really be paying attention to the world around them...

[muses_nightmare]

I've got no problem with any of these things, hell I use them myself, more than I probably should. But I think dependance on anything is a bad thing, what do you do when those things are suddenly no longer working?

See this is the thing I hear most often. I think people could deal just fine if things like that aren't working. Well most people, there are those that are far too dependent on them of course. I personally would be fine if technology went down, but it would suck no doubt.

[Vagabond]

I still have *gasp* board games around my place... somewhere and a deck of cards. Not that they've seen the light of day in a long time, well, not since I got caught up on technology (my own computer and connection to internet, and my own gaming console).
I like my technology :) !

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I still have *gasp* board games around my place... somewhere and a deck of cards. Not that they've seen the light of day in a long time, well, not since I got caught up on technology (my own computer and connection to internet, and my own gaming console).
I like my technology :) !

Speaking of which, the bookshelf-sized board games are great. RISK will never get old. That said, no board game holds a candle to a good round of MW2 :D

[Vagabond]

RISK, Axis & Allies, Battleship, Monopoly.
I'm not that good at FPS's, so I stick to Diablo and CIV IV on the computer.
I haven't touched my PS2 in ages... have a couple of fight games (Tekken) and ummm FF Tactics, a Castlevania, Gauntlet and that's about it; they're mostly collecting dust though, along with the board games.

[BlaqueKatt]

I wonder how many people were droning on about people's over-reliance on record players when they should really be paying attention to the world around them...

to be fair-you couldn't take a record player jogging with you-which is my main complaint-I've seen joggers running down the bikepath or in the middle of the street with headphones on loud enough that they could not hear me say in a loud voice "passing on your left" or my bike bell, or the car that almost hit them.

Sorry some times you should be paying attention to the world around you. We recently, as in last fall, had a series of attacks on joggers-only ones assaulted/robbed were the ones with headphones in, oblivious to their surroundings....

[Vagabond]

*a mischievious elf inside me snickers at that <- only ones attacked were ones unaware of surroundings*

Granted this did happen to me once. I was walking around london with some headphones on and a double decker almost decked me, luckily I heard his horn.

I've nothing against headphones or various MP3 players, but I think it's a wise idea to be able to hear what's going on around you.

At work I used to let my subordinates listen to music on their headphones, but with the stipulation that they could only have 1 earbud in at a time so they could hear what's going on around them, and if anyone was trying to get their attention.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

*a mischievious elf inside me snickers at that <- only ones attacked were ones unaware of surroundings*

Granted this did happen to me once. I was walking around london with some headphones on and a double decker almost decked me, luckily I heard his horn.

I've nothing against headphones or various MP3 players, but I think it's a wise idea to be able to hear what's going on around you.

At work I used to let my subordinates listen to music on their headphones, but with the stipulation that they could only have 1 earbud in at a time so they could hear what's going on around them, and if anyone was trying to get their attention.

At my internship last year I spent the majority of time listening to music while working, with both if only because I rarely worked with anyone else on anything and it was almost impossible to enter the dub room (where I lived) and NOT be seen. Also, it was insanely handy to just plug my earbuds into the decks to make audio checks rather than fiddling with the headphones or using the speakers.

I generally keep both in when walking/crossing the street too, but never too loud to hear anything as a general rule of thumb. That and, you know, looking around so that I can see if there's any problems. And never walk at night with both, though. In fact, I don't even put my hood up, either.

Or, is that too much like asking people en masse to have common sense?

[Vagabond]

Wingates - too much common sense. But then, common sense isn't so common anymore... but it would be difficult to start calling it 'un-common sense'.

[Rageaholic]

Do not get me started on this.

I get so tired of hearing about the old fashion way of doing things. Yes people played board games instead of video games back in the day. Board games can still be fun, but that doesn't mean you have to criticize me for finding video games entertaining. It's what we have now, what we had back then has absolutely nothing to do with now.

[Vagabond]

I'm not saying that we have to or should go back to the old way of doing things. I'm not at all. I like new tech and new toys.

I just think it's a good idea to keep some old tech around too, just in case the new tech fails. Every have a power outage? Flashlights and candles become your best friend then. (Unless you are lucky enough to have a generator - then you have lots of new best friends, usually called neighbors)

Speaking of new tech - I can't wait for the MegaUltraCompuTV - yes, an all-in-one wonder. That installs as a wall in your house! It's internet, tv, gaming console, and computer all in one! And like SARA in Eureka, monitors everything you do... That or wet-wire.

[telecom_goddess]

Speaking of new tech - I can't wait for the MegaUltraCompuTV - yes, an all-in-one wonder. That installs as a wall in your house! It's internet, tv, gaming console, and computer all in one! And like SARA in Eureka, monitors everything you do... That or wet-wire.

Pardon me I have to wipe the drool that's dripping down my face.....:p

That would be freaking AWESOME

[Lace Neil Singer]

I'm not getting rid of my mobile cuz I kind of need it... I don't have a landline, so my mobile IS my main phone. I've had that kind of "blah blah you're so reliant on your phone" crap from people, only for them to shut up when I point out that ditching my phone would mean that I was completely uncontactable. Thing is, I don't want to fork out for a landline to be installed and to pay rent on it even when I wasn't using it, so it makes more sense to keep a pay as you go mobile instead.

I don't have an ipod, but only cuz I can't afford to buy one at the moment.

[Rageaholic]

You know, why can't these people who have such a problem with technology just shut up and mind their own business? They don't have to use all the technology if they don't want to, why can't they just stay out of the lives of those who do? Much easier for everyone.

[negruvoda]

Well let me see if I can inventory everything.
Cell phone (win mobile, w/ gps), mp3 player (not iPod, can't stand Apple products, but that is entirely my problem), a second pda w/ gps stays in the car for my wife, two desktops in the house (wife is an engineer too), the laptop, external hard drives by each computer, hdtv's two of them, several usb sticks each with its own purpose (music, movies, work, portable antivirus programs), two cameras (mine is a dslr, the wife has a very nice point and click), my wife's gaming systems ( an DS, and a very nice portable that plays the SNES games she likes). And among these usually only the tv's stay home when we go somewhere.

And that's not all, I have also several examples of old technology, the most used of which is my fully mechanical type writer since I don't like to write on the computer.

Tell me to unplug and I'll tell you where to go, in detail.

This does not mean that I can't live without them, just that I don't want to.

[Vagabond]

Rageaholic -
cuz all that technology causes cancer dontchaknow?