Yes it is addiction. Do a chore, go back to the screen, Do another, go back to the screen. I am fortunate my phone is the granny type... make call, take call, alarm clock. Done. So I can walk away. I don't carry computer with me. But the computer in the office is on till 9 or 10 or 11PM. It is the connection to far away friends, the "window shopping" when snowed in, the comedy, cartoons and story teller when the cat declines to discuss anything. The plague made it our companion.
I appreciate all you say here, Kate, and experience the same. Two weeks ago, I quit Youtube ( one of the greatest thieves of real life ) cold turkey. All I had to do was decide. It was not so hard as I thought.
I get the feeling that they are probably going to make it. Car door shutting, footsteps on gravel, waiting and anxious at top of stairs. Very real. One wonders what came before.
I am guessing they just woke up and realized how much of their lives were being stolen by "devices". Decided to try something different. Thank you, George for coming over to 🌿Leaves this morning. Substack is enormous and it makes me so happy to be found over here in this tiny micro-fiction corner. Welcome!
The great thing about Substack is that it doesn't take too long to find your "people" . Small , but incredibly generous, writing communities are formed. To me it is a delight. ( I will wander over to George Publication today and see what's up.)
Well, no. Their decision was an extreme reaction. Screens invade our lives in a thousand ways, don't they. We don't have to agree to ALL of it. Two weeks ago I gave up You Tube. I decided I don't need to waste my time there - and believe me, HOURS can be wasted there with nothing to show for it. It was not that hard. There is always something we can eliminate. There are so many things to do without screens.
Tomorrow the sunshine seizes batteries charge to replicate the cells osmotic linear patterns to create brand new systems that will return in kind to haunt those without communication.
Yeeps! Let's not get crazy here, Sue. How about keeping 🌿Leaves, and quitting You Tube? Seems like a wise exchange to me. ha ha ha Those two kids had an extreme solution. I hope they make it.
LOLOL! I will never give up Leaves or Substack. It's just too much fun. YouTube ... only when it pertains to a story I'm writing, like today's epic. I'll bet you'd LOVE to see how blood sausage is made. LOL!
Oh, I could imagine. The French serve it out of the casing , just plop it on a plate and it does look like a side of dog poop. I am sure it is delicious, but I could not get my fork close enough to try it....
On November 6th, I quit watching the news all day every day and now listen to music and watch scenery videos in the background. I allocate myself about an hour of local news each evening. There is so much repetition and false information being peddled; besides, I don't know who to believe anymore. Now, I wonder why I didn't do that long ago.
Unfortunately, it is the nature of reality these days, and I do like not hearing the same thing repeatedly. I could almost report some of those stories myself.
I believe in them! Great story, Sharron. Technology addiction is a very real thing. I picked up a copy of The Anxious Generation and have been reading it over the past couple of weeks. It focuses on the impact of devices/social media on boys and girls…it reaffirms a lot of beliefs I’ve held for some time, but it’s equally terrifying.
Thank you Justin. Last article I read on this topic pointed out that children take their phones to bed with them! They are so afraid to be left out of the loop they wake up all night long to check it. It interferes with their sleep and, thus , their school work. And certainly must affect their self-concept. So few parents care, it is heartbreaking.
Sharron, I hope I never want to give this up. It brings me so much joy and inspiration. I have to admit, though I do spend a lot of time on Substack reading and reading and reading, but always entertaining. I love the little group of friends that I have made here.
I am so glad you are finding what you want to read -- there are zillions of writers on here. I subscribe to only 19 writers, because I cannot keep up. And I don't take part in chats or notes. Social media has never interested me. But so many people do, and I would imagine they spend all day long on substack. It is a choice.
Their choice was extreme and it will be really hard. I, myself have dropped everything but my laptop. No cell phone, no TV, no social media, no regret! But without my little MACBook I couldn't be writing this.
Good for you, Ron. It can be done. I have kept only my laptop. I need it every day. But now I am in the process of eliminating websites and accounts that steal away my hours. It is not as hard as you would think! The two keepers are Substack and the Cornell Lab live bird feeders. Essentials. Now if only I could close out my Amazon account...
I'm also cutting out the time stealers. You are further along with it than I am. Ha! I have the Cornell bird app for local sightings. I use Ebay for most everything and most books but they don't have new ones by Substack writers. Then, it's Amazon.
It is still possible to live without screens, but getting more difficult all the time. (He writes while looking at a computer screen and contemplating that almost all appreciation for his art is based on people watching and reading on screens. It is a two-edged sword.)
I agree! Without my laptop there would be substack - gone ! And where in the hell would I find someone to listen to my stories? ( Don't need a tv or cellphone, though.)
I only watch TV during dinner with my wife. Although we never let our kids watch TV while eating dinner. We all sat at the dinner table. It was family time to talk. But now... 🤣
My cell phone makes my job easier. It allows me to quickly make student schedule changes, and I keep all of my teaching music on it. I just plug it into my amp. I also capture song ideas on it. And story ideas for Substack. It is a great tool if you don't get addicted to social media. Just like laptops and computers.
It can be done. I’m sure it can be done. Anyone could break any addiction.
There is a reason, of course, that the word addiction is so powerful, but there is also power in peace and incredible power and breaking addictions.
I love this it gives rise to wondrous possibilities, dreams, and hopes. 😌🎈
It is still a choice we make. Sometime soon it will not be. Thank you, Jill
Who knows? We are in the process of change so quickly that we cannot know, just keep our values intact.
That's it. And sometimes take one step backwards. Can't hurt.
Yes it is addiction. Do a chore, go back to the screen, Do another, go back to the screen. I am fortunate my phone is the granny type... make call, take call, alarm clock. Done. So I can walk away. I don't carry computer with me. But the computer in the office is on till 9 or 10 or 11PM. It is the connection to far away friends, the "window shopping" when snowed in, the comedy, cartoons and story teller when the cat declines to discuss anything. The plague made it our companion.
I appreciate all you say here, Kate, and experience the same. Two weeks ago, I quit Youtube ( one of the greatest thieves of real life ) cold turkey. All I had to do was decide. It was not so hard as I thought.
WOW I'm impressed. Not so sure I really want to do that yet..... but here it is almost 10 . again.
Sharron, just as good as the first time I read it and like you said, a good intro for your new readers. Thanks for sharing. - Jim
Thanks, Jim, for the second look. I just reached over 500 subscribers and am re-posting some of my favorite micro-fiction for them.
I get the feeling that they are probably going to make it. Car door shutting, footsteps on gravel, waiting and anxious at top of stairs. Very real. One wonders what came before.
I am guessing they just woke up and realized how much of their lives were being stolen by "devices". Decided to try something different. Thank you, George for coming over to 🌿Leaves this morning. Substack is enormous and it makes me so happy to be found over here in this tiny micro-fiction corner. Welcome!
I agree. It’s like a crowded airport with everyone going in a different direction
The great thing about Substack is that it doesn't take too long to find your "people" . Small , but incredibly generous, writing communities are formed. To me it is a delight. ( I will wander over to George Publication today and see what's up.)
Uh oh. I better hide out for awhile!
🥹
I don't think I could do it!
Well, no. Their decision was an extreme reaction. Screens invade our lives in a thousand ways, don't they. We don't have to agree to ALL of it. Two weeks ago I gave up You Tube. I decided I don't need to waste my time there - and believe me, HOURS can be wasted there with nothing to show for it. It was not that hard. There is always something we can eliminate. There are so many things to do without screens.
Nah! Science fiction. You are really getting better at it.
Thanks, neighbor.
Tomorrow the sunshine seizes batteries charge to replicate the cells osmotic linear patterns to create brand new systems that will return in kind to haunt those without communication.
That's tempting, but if I did that, I wouldn't be able to read your wonderful stories.
Yeeps! Let's not get crazy here, Sue. How about keeping 🌿Leaves, and quitting You Tube? Seems like a wise exchange to me. ha ha ha Those two kids had an extreme solution. I hope they make it.
LOLOL! I will never give up Leaves or Substack. It's just too much fun. YouTube ... only when it pertains to a story I'm writing, like today's epic. I'll bet you'd LOVE to see how blood sausage is made. LOL!
Blood sausage. Boudin noir in France. Blutwurst in Germany. I'll pass. I have my limits, believe it or not.
🤣 I completely understand. Frankly, served on a plate like they were, they looked like turds. I edited that remark from the story.
Oh, I could imagine. The French serve it out of the casing , just plop it on a plate and it does look like a side of dog poop. I am sure it is delicious, but I could not get my fork close enough to try it....
On November 6th, I quit watching the news all day every day and now listen to music and watch scenery videos in the background. I allocate myself about an hour of local news each evening. There is so much repetition and false information being peddled; besides, I don't know who to believe anymore. Now, I wonder why I didn't do that long ago.
If you ask me, you are on the right track, my dear.
Unfortunately, it is the nature of reality these days, and I do like not hearing the same thing repeatedly. I could almost report some of those stories myself.
I believe in them! Great story, Sharron. Technology addiction is a very real thing. I picked up a copy of The Anxious Generation and have been reading it over the past couple of weeks. It focuses on the impact of devices/social media on boys and girls…it reaffirms a lot of beliefs I’ve held for some time, but it’s equally terrifying.
Thank you Justin. Last article I read on this topic pointed out that children take their phones to bed with them! They are so afraid to be left out of the loop they wake up all night long to check it. It interferes with their sleep and, thus , their school work. And certainly must affect their self-concept. So few parents care, it is heartbreaking.
It is heartbreaking that it happens and will forever boggle my mind.
Sharron, I hope I never want to give this up. It brings me so much joy and inspiration. I have to admit, though I do spend a lot of time on Substack reading and reading and reading, but always entertaining. I love the little group of friends that I have made here.
I am so glad you are finding what you want to read -- there are zillions of writers on here. I subscribe to only 19 writers, because I cannot keep up. And I don't take part in chats or notes. Social media has never interested me. But so many people do, and I would imagine they spend all day long on substack. It is a choice.
I wish them luck.
They will need it.
Let's all leave substack and run off to start a magazine somewhere . . . a real magazine, with smudgemarks and papercuts!
Ooooh, Conor.... that sounds like a lot of work to me, but lead on, my friend and I will follow.
…. and good luck to them.😉
Their choice was extreme and it will be really hard. I, myself have dropped everything but my laptop. No cell phone, no TV, no social media, no regret! But without my little MACBook I couldn't be writing this.
Oh, I envy them. TV and cable's gone but still "want" my laptop and cellphone.
Good for you, Ron. It can be done. I have kept only my laptop. I need it every day. But now I am in the process of eliminating websites and accounts that steal away my hours. It is not as hard as you would think! The two keepers are Substack and the Cornell Lab live bird feeders. Essentials. Now if only I could close out my Amazon account...
I'm also cutting out the time stealers. You are further along with it than I am. Ha! I have the Cornell bird app for local sightings. I use Ebay for most everything and most books but they don't have new ones by Substack writers. Then, it's Amazon.
So far, so good!
It is still possible to live without screens, but getting more difficult all the time. (He writes while looking at a computer screen and contemplating that almost all appreciation for his art is based on people watching and reading on screens. It is a two-edged sword.)
I agree! Without my laptop there would be substack - gone ! And where in the hell would I find someone to listen to my stories? ( Don't need a tv or cellphone, though.)
I only watch TV during dinner with my wife. Although we never let our kids watch TV while eating dinner. We all sat at the dinner table. It was family time to talk. But now... 🤣
My cell phone makes my job easier. It allows me to quickly make student schedule changes, and I keep all of my teaching music on it. I just plug it into my amp. I also capture song ideas on it. And story ideas for Substack. It is a great tool if you don't get addicted to social media. Just like laptops and computers.
That’s it exactly. Thank you, Mark.