I read a post on Brad Beren's Mediavorous blog entitled Unplugging... why is it so hard?. The post deals with why and how people choose to "be free" or not. I followed a post on Brad's blog to Where's My Jetpack?'s Going Off the Grid post which led me to Radio Free Babylon's MediaFreeZones page. 
Before going further, let me once again reiterate that I consider myself a Luddite. Fellow KMM blogger Marshall Sponder laughs at that belief. During a concall he said, "You created this incredible technology and consult for Fortune 500's and you call yourself a 'luddite'?" and everybody laughed.
Well, I do consider myself a luddite. I don't go out and get the latest and greatest technology simply because it's the latest and greatest technology. During a recent vacation talk got onto the subject of Apple's iPhone and, when it came right down to it, did anybody really need one? I've known people with high power PDAs and laugh when I get an email with something like "Sent from my wireless phone... Please forgive typos & brevity." I often respond with something like "Sent from my laptop on the backporch, listening to the wildlife while sipping some wine. Phphttt!"
I was on a social networking site earlier today and saw that someone I know "...is prepping an RV for a trip to SD. One week off the grid."
This hearkens back to Eventing, turning the fact that you're going to be gridless into a media event, albeit a personal one.
I do appreciate that the intent might be to let people know this individual won't be getting emails and such. I also want to offer that I respect this individual and their work. And I should also let you know that this past vacation was the first time ever! that I used an autoresponder for my emails.
But the question remains, why is unplugging difficult?
(more to follow)
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I think it's funny when people have those "sent from my phone" signatures too, especially when many can go into the system and customize it. As soon as I noticed that emails and text messages sent from my blackberry came with one of those messages I changed it.
The issue of unplugging is more about wanting or not wanting to. I like being able to respond to email immediately or even post a comment to a blog from my phone. I try to stick to my work schedule so in the event that I have to hit the road unexpectedly and be away from my computer(no lap top), I can still work a little. I have also helped some of our authors when no one else was available because I don't have to be at my computer in order to send and receive messages.
On the flip side, my sister thinks I work too hard and has even forced me to take breaks when she's come to my house and found that I had been working for 7 hours straight. When I'm off for the day or weekend I do avoid my computer like the pleague. I never had a problem not working when I was off until I started working from home. :D
Posted by: Kimberlee Morrison | July 27, 2007 4:24 PM | Permalink to Comment