Internet – Networking Vs Not-working

Last week was quite nice and peaceful. It was nice because I had moved to a new flat which is bigger and better than my older one. It was peaceful because the flat did not have a TV and an internet connection too. Voila! Suddenly there was abundant time. I was transported back in time when there was no internet, no email, no forums and no telly. Life once again seemed very simple.

I had enough time to buy groceries and even make my own dinner. I had lost that habit a couple of months back when I was busier with the internet, doing nothing. I once again got back to Thomas Friedman’s “The world is flat”.

It felt great just reading about the forces (including technological) that made the world shrink and flat. I was not a part of that force any longer. I was not replying to some one’s posts, not on VOIP calls with friends half the world away nor tracking my modest investment portfolio. Here I was, lying on the couch with coffee on one hand and the paperback on the other and amazed at the wonderful things that new innovations have brought to our world. The simple joys of the world are easily missed as we are busy getting some where. I swim through hundreds of emails at work every day and had long since begun to take it for granted as a basic part of life so much so that I nearly missed the utility. It is like eating a great meal without the sense of taste. A great discovery it definitely was not. I just realized it when I read about the grandfather in England who was pleasantly happy reading an email from his 10 year old grandson. The child had just moved to Australia and earned himself new friends in the strange world down under conquering his skepticism and hesitation.

I am sharing my flat with 2 other colleagues now. It was great talking to them, knowing them and spending time making fun of each other. I now doubt if it would have happened had we had the luxury of internet from day 1 when we moved to the new flat. I am already back to my virtual life speaking with you through this blog. I wonder if the internet is making us better by helping us create new bonds which other wise would be near impossible or is making us worse by draining us of the necessary time and focus to nurture the more real bonds just around us. I wonder if there is any “Internet Surfers Anonymous”. The overwhelming desire to be online is nothing short of any other addiction. I guess it is a pretty picture as long as one balances their online and offline time presence.

I am off to make my picture pretty. Adios!