02-07-2005, 03:00 PM
|
|
Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
|
|
Broadband: You Just Can't Get Enough?
"Spending an inordinate amount of time at my computer, using my broadband, I'm developing what I can only term an information habit. Sit down to work. Ten minutes in, the new mail icon tempts me from the bottom of the screen. I'll just check. Nothing like a few juicy new e-mails. Click a few links. Scan a few websites. Oh 20 minutes has just passed. Better get back to work. Now where was I? Start work again. Feel like a reward. I'll just check news.bbc.co.uk. See if anything's happened in the three minutes since I last looked. Follow a few 'related links'...Half an hour has passed. I feel like I've done something, but actually I haven't."
David McCandless has got a problem and it's one that I suspect many here would identify with. However, David's gone one step further and instituted a rather drastic fix involving a Mac and broadband disconnection. 8O He says that he feels lighter and free and that his internet usage now consists of using dial-up for e-mail and web browsing. Do you guys feel that you have an information habit and if so, can you envision yourselves taking similar drastic steps to bring things under control?
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 04:18 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
|
|
I'm at the same place as David. But my 99% of my knowledge on computers have come from the Internet and it's what has really advanced my career. I did take a break a couple years ago for a few months but then I felt totally out of date when I got back in.
I think that either I find a new career where I do not need this type of knowledge or I succumb to the lure of my passion. The Internet and all it's variety is addicting to know that you can surf the world in seconds and gain a multitude of information. Yes there's the bad (ie. porn, warez, etc) but there's also the good.
At this point it's still up in the air of what I'll do.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 04:25 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,725
|
|
Does the fact that I should be working now say anything about my Internet addiction? 
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by silver99
99% of my knowledge on computers have come from the Internet and it's what has really advanced my career.
|
That's true for me as well. No one else in my family is interested in computers. I really don't know how I fell into this career, but it's great! :lol:
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 05:01 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 451
|
|
I know that feeling.. It can be a great big black hole of your time! Right now I'm limiting that by reducing the number of times I hit a site per day, unless there's something really interesting going on.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 05:14 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 49
|
|
Yeah, we all feel this way. I don't think switching to dial up would solve anything though. I rang up hundred dollar bills on compuserv regularly. Before the internet. 4800 baud
Anyways... Is there a program or something else to help us?
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 05:18 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 212
|
|
I feel the same way too, not sure what I can do about it. But being in the field, I feel like I need to be kept up to date with all that's new. I'm a resource for people at work and family and friends. It's sort of an addiction for me, I would rather be on the net than watching TV.
__________________
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 05:49 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 92
|
|
same here
I'm in IT so a broadband connection is a requirement. When I notice myself mindlessly surfing I usually just try to stop and move on to a more productive use of my time. I tried a 'news fast' a little over six months ago. It was back during the heat of the US presidential campaign and up until then I was in the habit of checking favorite internet news sites at least hourly and cable news at home at least every a few times every night. One evening I found myself yelling at some politician and decided I already had plenty of aggravation in my life - why was I going out in search of more? I decided to try a one day news fast. One day became two, then a week, then a month and now I'm out of the habit. It works for me - I'm filling that space and time with more positive information and pursuits instead.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 06:08 PM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 262
|
|
At work, we use proxy authentication, so I don't feel comportabel surfing the web for personal use...however I couldn't miss a broadband connection, I feel like google is an extension for my brain/memory. Everytime I need a bit of info, I google it and have an instant answer for my question/problem, I just couldn't be without it. For the few days we were deploying the proxy authentication at work, I was without internet access (only mail) and I just felt lost when troubleshooting certain IT problems, so no I wouldn't think about having no internet or just dial-up, I'm really glad those days are over
Kind regards,
Ivan
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 06:12 PM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 262
|
|
Re: same here
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by capo
I'm in IT so a broadband connection is a requirement. When I notice myself mindlessly surfing I usually just try to stop and move on to a more productive use of my time. I tried a 'news fast' a little over six months ago. It was back during the heat of the US presidential campaign and up until then I was in the habit of checking favorite internet news sites at least hourly and cable news at home at least every a few times every night. One evening I found myself yelling at some politician and decided I already had plenty of aggravation in my life - why was I going out in search of more? I decided to try a one day news fast. One day became two, then a week, then a month and now I'm out of the habit. It works for me - I'm filling that space and time with more positive information and pursuits instead.
|
I quoted your whole text because I feel exactly the same. I admit that at first having broadband was an information overload, and really soon it became a habit which lasted a few years, trying to keep up with every latest bit of information. But now I just regard it as a usefull tool for instand information when I need it...the 'when I need it' part is the key here That's why I don't use RSS btw, I would click on every new item and read the whole page, now I look up information when I need. Kind of like a pull versus push technology.
Kind regards,
Ivan
|
| |
|
|
|
02-07-2005, 06:34 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 178
|
|
I like RSS and find it stops me from visiting lots of sites and maybe getting destracted. Also I like that if I don't use the computer for a day all the main stories from my favourite sites are there in Thunderbird, so no hunting around for news you missed.
And the best part is RSS in Thunderbird looks just like email to the untrained eye so if someone sees me on it in the office, it does not look like I am surfing the internet and wasting time.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
