Shutdown Day 2008
Last year the son and I participated in a large social experiment called Shutdown Day. The description from their site:
Shutdown Day is a Global Internet Experiment whose purpose is to get people to think about how their lives have changed with the increasing use of the home computer, and whether or not any good things are being lost because of this.
The idea of Shutdown Day project is simple – just shut down your computer for one whole day of the year and involve yourself in some other activities: outdoors, nature, sports, fun stuff with friends and family – whatever, just to remind yourself that there still exists a world outside your monitor screen.
The list of things I could do with the time I usually spend checking the news, doing email, blogging, commenting, and general surfing is long.
- Go for a hike
- Go for a drive in Maggie the MINI
- Take the boat out for the first cruise of the season
- Do a metalsmithing project
- Do a household creative project, like make new lampshades or paint a piece of furniture
- Get together with friends or family
- Work in the garden
- Take a nap
- Take my dogs to the dog park
- Clean out the garage
- Shampoo the carpets
Honestly, I’ll probably be more focused on the fun stuff. 
We did it last year and I found it very enlightening. I’m facing rebellion from my sons this year. Could you manage a day offline, and what would you do with it?
April 16th, 2008
I’d take a walk (weather permitting), and nap and read. And watch a movie or two.
I’d LOVE to be able to shutdown, but computer people who work for themselves aren’t allowed to do that. It annoys their customers. Even on vacation/family emergencies I’m exepected to be able to be reached by phone and email.
April 16th, 2008
Interesting idea. I’ll give it some thought, and I may participate.
April 16th, 2008
Sure I could, but why would I want to. It’s not like it’s a problem. I can quit using the internet anytime I want to. It’s not a problem. I totally have it under control. Look, it’s not like I’m the only one in the world who uses a computer. Lots of people use their computers even more than I do. Maybe you should be talking to them, not that there’s anything wrong with using computers in a reasonable manner. Anyway, I should point out that I use a computer socially, I’m a social computer user, like a lot of people. Well, and it gets me through the day, using the computer a little at work. But not in a way that interferes with work, in fact most of my computer use at work helps me get along, make it through the day, feel confident in what I’m doing. And again, there are a lot of people out there who use computers much more than I do, people who are totally out of control. If you have a problem with my computer use, maybe you’re the ones with a problem. Did you ever think of that? Huh? Didja? Anyway, like I said, I can quit using my computer any time I want to, I just choose not to. It’s a perfectly reasonable, adult choice.
What are you looking at? Stop looking at me like that.
April 16th, 2008
Vince, if I were on call or had a project cutover that weekend, I’d be out of luck too. But, as a PM, I have some control over that stuff.
Janiece, it was truly odd how hard I found it to be last year – even little things like checking the train schedule on my Treo when I was out and about.
Eric, ROFL. I’m a social computer user too.
April 16th, 2008
I don’t think I want to go back to living the kind of life where paper airplane tickets made perfect sense…
April 17th, 2008
I didn’t know anything about this. Was it on the internet? Why didn’t I see it.
I’m gonna research the hell out of it and then maybe I’ll LiveBlog the day.
April 17th, 2008
Hmmm…
I’m trying to think how difficult it would be, on a Saturday.
I think I could manage–especially if it was raining. Rainy days are harder, especially when I want to garden and am denied.
What would I do instead? Garden and read. Maybe bake something.
Which is a lot like my normal Saturdays, actually. I tend mostly to get quick “fixes” to make sure nothing interesting is happening that I’m not missing.
Hi. My name is Michelle. And I’m… I’m a computer user.
April 17th, 2008
Not especially if it was raining, UNLESS it was raining.
April 17th, 2008
MWT – it’s just for a day. Although I wholeheartedly agree with your air travel rant! I have always done e-tickets and it’s never been a problem so I wonder if yours is specific to your travel agency?
Nathan, you’re twisted. I like that.
Michelle, I can usually plan enough stuff that I don’t miss the online time. (We turn off tvs and game platforms too.) It’s the little internet-as-reference stuff I miss – looking up schedules, phone numbers, directions, etc, those are the hardest to do without.
I’m a… computer user too. Sigh.
April 17th, 2008
I could do it easily. I have done it for weeks at a time. I almost always stay off computers when I’m on vacation. But hey, I’m the weirdo that lived without television for the past decade.
-bm
April 18th, 2008
The reason I don’t have a life is not because of the computer. Last night I got home after work (where I use a computer they entire day), I called Whirlpool about my broken hot water heater. Then I finished up my chain-sawing! Now I’m ready to rent a power splitter! Afterwards, I took a walk around the neighborhood (the protective jacket was hot, and I was sweating – hard work!). Upon returning home, I fixed dinner and watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees (Go Sox, Yankees suck). Then it was off to bed. Just an example of a day with no non-work-related computer usage.
Computers are a well-integrated part of my not-life. But I’m really glad they’re around, and that I understand them.