Yesterday, mid-morning the internet in my apartment died. No problem. This happens occasionally. But, I had several things to get done, so I went in to work early to use my computer there. When I came home for my dinner break, I opened my laptop without even considering the possibility that my internet might still be dead. It was. When I finally got off work at midnight, I came home with the tiniest bit of hope that things had corrected themselves, and I could spend the few hours before bed catching up on political commentary like I always do. No such luck and none today either.
We’re now on what feels like hour 34587 of no internet! Before I guilt you into tears, I guess I should make clear that there is no internet at my apartment. But, I do have an iPhone and I work 8+ hours a day at a library with full internet access. So while I usually spend 95% of my waking hours on or near the internet, we’re now down to about 70%. Still, this lack of internet is really starting to cramp my lifestyle.
My lifestyle? This is my life? A lot of us talk about internet as an addiction. We even try to take breaks from it. But, I was thinking–which I have a lot of time to do because I have no internet–about my life without the internet and it was so hard for me to imagine. I wouldn’t say I grew up with the internet. I grew up playing outside, calling my friends on the phone, and generally having no idea what was going on outside of my neighborhood. But, in only the last several years, the last three especially, the internet has become embedded in my life.
Sad as it may sound, the internet is almost my sole source of entertainment. I never watch TV. I don’t go to see movies very often. I don’t take in plays or recitals or ball games, except when someone invites me. I don’t see my friends as often as I read their facebook status updates. No, I listen to podcasts, I watch YouTube and Hulu videos, and I read blogs and message boards.
The internet is how I stay connected to the world. I get all of my news online. I keep up with most of my friends online. I share my ideas on a blog and people comment on them. I do a lot of my work online.
The internet is also where I indulge my interests. Without the internet, I would not be going through a crazy makeup and nail polish phase. This sounds ridiculous to say, but without the internet, I would not stay current on tech news. Without the internet, I would have no idea what was going on in politics and I probably wouldn’t care as much as I should. Without the internet and blogging specifically, I would not spend half as much time writing.
We all know the internet has its downsides. The older I get and the more responsibilities I take on, the more I hate the fact that I am never unreachable. I feel guilty when I ignore my email and then anxious when I open my inbox after I’ve neglected it for a while. The internet used to be all about fun and convenience to me and now it’s not.
I guess there’s really no point in listing the pros and cons of the internet. I can talk about balance, but I can’t talk about walking away, because I don’t know anymore what it would be like to live my life without the internet. It doesn’t make up a part of my life–it’s embedded in the whole thing.
You’re probably reading this on Thursday, and if I am still without internet, then you might want to check that I’m not in a corner crying and pulling out my hair.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with this email thing! I have separate email inboxes- a uni one & a personal one, and I get anxious when I see new mail in my uni inbox. I’m always afraid it might be a teacher saying I should redo an essay, I failed the semester or something horrible like that. :P
Also, I have to ask… Is the title of your blog from a Travis song?
Embedded is the perfect word to use. I feel like I could’ve written this entry (except for the specifics like where you work and whatnot) and I know for a fact we’re not alone. I wonder what the future will be like… I always think of Wall-E and the people on the cruise ship in space. I think Pixar came dangerously close to illustrating what might happen.
I go crazy without the internet too. It’s amazing how it’s become such a HUGE part of my life!!
I always hated when the internet went out at my last apartment. I don’t watch television either (unless it’s Grey’s Anatomy or Gilmore Girls), so the internet is important.
Embedded in life is so true. I am ok with that because like you I read a lot of the news and get a lot of info from the internet. I also keep up with people via the internet which is both good and bad. I do try to limit myself on the weekends and in the evenings but it doesnt always work that way. I get anxious when I dont have the internet too. I just like knowing that if I WANT to use it, its there.
As a Comcast customer, I’ve become so accustomed to the Internet failing that it’s hard to even be disapponted anymore.
i can’t live without the internet either.. i freak out when my internet goes down.
i feel bad cos i pay for cable, but don’t even watch tv!
Oh, I know how that goes. And, I mean, because we get so much from the internet now– TV shows, movies, reading through blogs, news– it’s not that bad that you use it so much, you know?
So, I am definitely PRO-internet. I use it more often than anyone I know in real life. But after a while, don’t your eyes hurt? And your wrists? I NEED breaks every now and then!
I definitely used to be like that. While in college, I was in front of my computer every moment I was not in class.
Now, however, I avoid the internet at home often. I spend at least 35 of my 40-hour work week in front of a PC, so it’s just about the last thing I want to do when I have free time. Yet I have internet on my phone and I still pay for access at my house. Why? Because the idea of actually being disconnected is not fun.
…You want me to CALL to order from Pizza Hut? No thanks. I can order online.
See, things like that. We’re a generation dependent on the Web.
Okay first off, I’m a bad commenter. Read this yesterday but I failed to write anything. Sorry!
And yes, not having the Internet sucks. Inet w/drawl is the worst thing ever. News, information, email, facebook, youtube, blogs, twitter, tumblr…you name it. Is it bad that I now have Inet on my phone?
Honestly, I don’t know how you do it.
Boyfriend makes fun of me when I’m without the internet. Granted, I don’t carry around my Mac as much as I used to, but I always have my iPhone and am constantly checking email, Twitter, and my Google reader. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so glued to the interwebs, but then again, I love it too much!
PS TV? Pssch, who needs TV when you have the Internet? Haha.