My Whole Expanse I Cannot See…

I formulate infinity stored deep inside of me…

Mar 31

It does other things!

Category: Life

So, I’m returning to the blog with a rant.

I am sick unto death of people acting like their phones and computers are simply Social Media Machines, Machines that are really sort of a burden. We have all these national “unplug” days, people gush about how freeing it is to put away their devices to get away from Twitter, Facebook et al, “and just curl up on the sofa with a book!” Because, you know digital books are a myth, our devices are simply locked Social Media kiosks. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry buys his dad one of the early digital organizers; it was an address book, a dictionary, an alarm clock, a date book, and a tip calculator. It had all sorts of functions, but as far as Jerry’s dad was concerned, it was ONLY a tip calculator. A really expensive tip calculator. So, Jerry eventually screams in frustration, “It does other things!” Whenever I hear someone say with relief, and a certain smugness, how amazing it is to unplug, to put away their technology, thus unchaining themselves from Facebook, I just want to scream, “It does other things!”

First, if you’ve allowed technology to become a burden, you’ve fucked up. If you spend six hours arguing about politics on Facebook, or uploading selfies to Instagram only to feel miserable, that’s on you. People blame Social Media for eating so much time, but that isn’t Social Media’s fault. Social Media is only a misery if you make it a misery. Also, if you look at your iPhone or MacBook or whatever with dread because you fear getting sucked into some Social Media vortex, remember, it does other things!

I spend… a lot of time with my Macs, and Social Media is just a tiny fraction of what I do. Our devices are libraries full of books, movie theaters that only show the movies we love best, concert venues where our favorite artists are always there to play. Our devices allow us to create art, visual art, word art, art for our ears. Our devices let us say, I love you, to that one person who means everything, even if they’ve gone far away. Our devices do so much, way more than Social Media, or calculating tips.

4 comments

4 Comments so far

  1. Mary Griffith March 31st, 2019 5:59 pm

    YES!

    Half my life is on my devices, part professional and part personal. I choose to read mostly ebooks these days because my vision isn’t what it used to be (nearsighted. presbyopic & developing cataracts), but I don’t see that as any different from the glasses I’ve worn since I was nine years old. The tools I use are the tools I use, but that doesn’t mean those tools use or define me.

  2. Amy Wood March 31st, 2019 7:56 pm

    I feel the frustration too. Luckily I’m of the age where I’m too old to have been raised by the internet but young enough I’m not getting tricked either. (Hello baby boomers that repost onion articles!)

    Glad to see you posting again!

  3. Eve April 1st, 2019 11:36 am

    So agree! Not being able to go out much, the computer and internet do bring the world to your door..and beyond! From leisure to taking online courses to keep my grey-cells busy:) -o writing to friends and reading up on the news…to meditate and being part of a community. It`s a tool and up to you how to use it! So yes..it does other things and i`m happy it exists!
    Cheers for pointing that out!

  4. Tess April 1st, 2020 8:07 pm

    I love you so much, Mike