Digital Detox: Why Not?

Adbusters is encouraging a digital detox this week and I think it’s a fantastic idea. So why not give it a shot? I’m going to be at a pastor’s retreat with our yearly meeting, and am then flying out to Indiana to participate in the release the book project I was a part of Spirit Rising: Young Quaker Voices. I’ll be leaving my laptop behind and putting up away messages on my phone and email. I may enjoy a few facebook updates now and then as the excitement of holding our new book in my hands will be too hard not to share, but otherwise the time away will be beautiful.

So take some time, slow down, read a book (can I recommend one? How about Wendell Berry’s “Life is a Miracle.” Can I recommend two? Barbara Kingsolover’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” which I am about to begin reading as well).

Here’s a few interesting thoughts from adbusters on the idea behind a digital detox:

The End of Childhood: Children who spend more time inside than in the wilderness experience poorer health in adulthood. We must let them roam free.

Virtual Morality: Are we free to do absolutely anything (torture, murder, rape, etc.), or will we conclude that morality does indeed have a place in virtual life?

Quit Facebook: The decision to destroy my carefully built-up virtual image came as a result of wanting to enhance my profile. (I don’t personally plan to do this yet, though I have extremely scaled back my twitter usage).

The Era of Simulation: Consequences of a digital revolution.