Media Deprivation

My 24 hours of media deprivation began at 12pm on Thanksgiving day, and ended at 12pm the next day. I certainly had ups and downs with this experience. I knew it would be hard not to be on the computer every other minute checking something, constantly texting, or watching TV. I think however, the time and day I chose for this experiment helped me get by.It was a very family oriented day. I'm very proud as well, that I did not give in to my urge to utilize one of the forbidden devices. It was almost heartbreaking to see my cell phone sitting there, vibrating with a new text that I couldn't view, but I resisted. My sister asked me if she could read it to me, my family was not very helpful in this experiment.

It began when I woke up at 12 on the 27Th. I woke up, ate, and then went on a walk with my family. After I returned I helped my mom cook dinner until we all ate, that put me at about 5:30. I hadn't planned anything, so even though it was getting dark I talked my dad into a bike ride, that's another hour down. When I returned I figured I would be alright with the current book I was reading and all the homework I had to do. I finished my book around 9:30pm, this is where the trouble began. I soon realized that almost all of my homework was to be done on a computer. I couldn't even do the communications reading, I had forgotten what chapters we had to read and the syllabus is online. So it was about 10 at this point and I had nothing to do. My family was watching TV., trying to get me to join, and I was just sitting around. A little while later everyone went to sleep. Naturally, having woken up at 12, I wasn't very tired. Usually I watch TV. until I fall asleep, I even put the timer on, but tonight I couldn't, and didn't fall asleep until 2am. That was the worst part of the assignment, I even ended up taking my remote downstairs and left it there for the night. Once I fell asleep however, it was smooth sailing, I didn't wake up until 12pm again, so the assignment was over.

I have mixed feelings for this experience. For one thing, I felt I did a lot more than I normally would have. I may have spent the entire day on the computer or watching TV. if I weren't restricted from them. Like some of Danna Walkers students said, I had to be more creative to find entertainment, and I did things I wouldn't normally do.I don't feel like I was freed though, I don't really think that media and technology hinders us either. Dependence on technology really depends on the person.

It is not a new thing though, to depend on technology. Throughout history we have depended on tools to entertain us and help us interact. The tools of today of just much more complex than before. They also seem to yield different results in society, because of this, the issue of media and technological dependency in society garners more attention. It is normal for us to become dependant on things, I think the consequences of this are blown out of proportion.

Walker, Danna L. "The Longest Day." washingtonpost.com. 5 Aug. 2007. 27 Nov.
2008 AR2007080101720.html>.