a day without internet essay
Answers
Answer:
Once upon a long time ago, the people of the world went about their days without smartphones and no Internet. They couldn’t share their thoughts on Twitter, pictures of their lunch on Instagram or their dental appointment as their “status” on Facebook. They couldn’t even argue with complete strangers in the comment section of an online newspaper or beneath their favourite Youtube videos! They had to settle for simply catching up with old friends, without being able to instantly share the memory with everyone it would matter to, on Whatsapp and Facebook. Their lives, in other words, were barely worth living.
As much as the previous paragraph is an attempt at humour, many of us would almost agree with the sentiment in the final sentence! Some of my younger readers might well have imagined my words read aloud in an almost comical old man voice. If only because, a world such as the one I described must seem barely conceivable to someone who has only known one in which the internet exists.
So let me imagine what a day without the Internet would be like, for me. For starters, my online ‘News Feed’ that accompanies my morning cup of freshly brewed South Indian coffee would have to be replaced with the print edition of a newspaper. Having become so accustomed to instantly accessing news from varied perspectives, I wonder if my cravings would be satisfied by just the one source! I must admit I would feel a little deprived of this simple pleasure, without the Internet. To be honest, if there was a particular developing story I had been following on the internet, I would probably end up looking for a print edition of that newspaper, to satisfy my curiosity. At the same time, I also realize how entitled it is to consider having ‘just one newspaper’ as being deprived!
I feel that there are two clear and distinct types of reactions people have, when it comes to a day without Internet connectivity. One can either feel completely lost and restless, as if one is being denied a basic right, or one can feel liberated from being constantly available to others, whether one likes it or not. In common with most other people, I have been on both ends of that spectrum. As a father whose child has left the family home in the pursuit of an education, the reassurance of being within easy reach and able to share in adventures and memories – even when I am at a physically remote location – is priceless. On the other hand, there are certainly instances when being constantly available can feel intrusive.
So what does a day without the Internet feel like? Well, clearly it is both limiting and liberating. Losing access to more serious and consequential conveniences aside, it is certainly the case that a short break from the Internet can make one feel relaxed and in the moment. Nevertheless, being able to coordinate with colleagues, communicate with a loved one, make travel plans on an impulse or look up the recipe for a favourite childhood indulgence, at the drop of a hat, is an amazing ability to have at one’s fingertips. I suppose the key is moderation. I know we live in an age in which moderation is old fashioned, but sometimes I find myself hoping that, like the countless recycled trends of yesteryear, it too makes a reappearance in our lives. I am just as hooked to the convenience, inspiration, amusement and distractions that the Internet brings into our lives as the rest of us, but it is probably wise to take the occasional break from being constantly ‘plugged-in’ as well.
Answer:
Once upon a long time ago, the people of the world went about their days without smartphones and no Internet. They couldn’t share their thoughts on Twitter, pictures of their lunch on Instagram or their dental appointment as their “status” on Facebook. They couldn’t even argue with complete strangers in the comment section of an online newspaper or beneath their favourite Youtube videos! They had to settle for simply catching up with old friends, without being able to instantly share the memory with everyone it would matter to, on Whatsapp and Facebook. Their lives, in other words, were barely worth living.
As much as the previous paragraph is an attempt at humour, many of us would almost agree with the sentiment in the final sentence! Some of my younger readers might well have imagined my words read aloud in an almost comical old man voice. If only because, a world such as the one I described must seem barely conceivable to someone who has only known one in which the internet exists.
So let me imagine what a day without the Internet would be like, for me. For starters, my online ‘News Feed’ that accompanies my morning cup of freshly brewed South Indian coffee would have to be replaced with the print edition of a newspaper. Having become so accustomed to instantly accessing news from varied perspectives, I wonder if my cravings would be satisfied by just the one source! I must admit I would feel a little deprived of this simple pleasure, without the Internet. To be honest, if there was a particular developing story I had been following on the internet, I would probably end up looking for a print edition of that newspaper, to satisfy my curiosity. At the same time, I also realize how entitled it is to consider having ‘just one newspaper’ as being deprived!
I feel that there are two clear and distinct types of reactions people have, when it comes to a day without Internet connectivity. One can either feel completely lost and restless, as if one is being denied a basic right, or one can feel liberated from being constantly available to others, whether one likes it or not. In common with most other people, I have been on both ends of that spectrum. As a father whose child has left the family home in the pursuit of an education, the reassurance of being within easy reach and able to share in adventures and memories – even when I am at a physically remote location – is priceless. On the other hand, there are certainly instances when being constantly available can feel intrusive.
So what does a day without the Internet feel like? Well, clearly it is both limiting and liberating. Losing access to more serious and consequential conveniences aside, it is certainly the case that a short break from the Internet can make one feel relaxed and in the moment. Nevertheless, being able to coordinate with colleagues, communicate with a loved one, make travel plans on an impulse or look up the recipe for a favourite childhood indulgence, at the drop of a hat, is an amazing ability to have at one’s fingertips. I suppose the key is moderation. I know we live in an age in which moderation is old fashioned, but sometimes I find myself hoping that, like the countless recycled trends of yesteryear, it too makes a reappearance in our lives. I am just as hooked to the convenience, inspiration, amusement and distractions that the Internet brings into our lives as the rest of us, but it is probably wise to take the occasional break from being constantly ‘plugged-in’ as well.