Unplug From Your “Real” World and Risk Withdrawal

If you were to set aside your cell phone, computer, tablet and all connection to the Internet for one day, would you go in to withdrawal? How about if you also gave up television, video games and music? Would we have to peel you off the ceiling? Would you have a panic attack? Would we find you curled up in the fetal position, drooling and babbling incoherently?

What would happen if you unplugged from technology for one day?

There is a nonprofit organization, called Reboot, that annually holds a National Day of Unplugging. The aim of this event is “to help hyperconnected people of all backgrounds to embrace the ancient ritual of a day of rest”. The persons who participated talked about unplugging “to be more connected”, “ to reset”, “ to spend more time with family” and “to be in the moment”. Noble reasons.

Think about it. When everyone from Justin Bieber, The Pope, and The Dali Lama are on Facebook and Twitter, when and how do we escape the intrusion of being hyperconnected?

A bigger question over unplugging might be to consider how this technology has changed the reality of our daily lives. How “real” is the world of technology we live in?

How “real” is our world when it is played out in the cloud? I’m speaking of the Internet cloud: the internet-based computer server that stores your computer data, somewhat similar to the electricity grid utilized by the utility companies that supply our electricity. How it works is a mystery to me, but I know it’s out-up-or-around there somewhere.

We work in the cloud. We socialize and fall in love in the cloud. We make friends on the Internet. Some people think of their Internet friends as their closest friends, even though they have never met them in person. They met in the cloud.

But, how “real” is this world that is played out in the cloud? And, what might happen in your “real” life if you unplugged for a day? Would you go into withdrawal? Would you suffer a panic attack?

I dare you to take the challenge…but you go first…the two times I thought I lost my laptop I went in to panic mode…and if I hadn’t found it asap the incoherent, babbling, drooling, fetal position was sure to ensue!

Listen to my caller talk about how unplugging and taking a rest from this busy world has enriched his life. Listen this Saturday 10.18 @6am on 1150 KSAL to “Unplug for the Day”, “Take a Mental Break” and “Take a Staycation”, or link to the podcast at JoanJerkovich.com.

An article from The New Yorker, The Pointlessness of Unplugging, written by Casey N. CEP was referenced for this blog.