Comments on: The benefits of unplugging http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:06:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54113 Wesley Fryer Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:40:48 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54113 Courtney: Thanks for edifying me on this post topic... I think about these issues quite frequently. My <a href="http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2005/02/25/snow-days-are-the-best-days/" rel="nofollow">post from February 2005 "Snow Days are the Best Days"</a> is an early articulation of my thoughts along these lines... I have not read it yet, but my wife has and based on her summary as well as recommendation I think Richard Louv’s book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=1565125223%26tag=discoveringharry%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/1565125223%253FSubscriptionId=02ZH6J1W0649DTNS6002" rel="nofollow">Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder"</a> is a worthwhile text on these subjects as well. Watching my 10 year old son this first "real" week of summer-- with the access he has to his own laptop (alebeit a 6 year old Powerbook) and a Wii, not to mention our television, DVD player, and DVR... it is DEFINITELY important to emphasize unplugging from screens, playing outside, reading books for fun, etc. I think this may have always been an important issue for parents to remember and emphasize with their kids, but the proliferation of media devices and media content all around us now makes this even more important I think. Although <a href="http://www.stager.org/" rel="nofollow">Gary Stager</a> has corrected me that I may be misusing this term as a category, I have posted ideas along these lines <a href="http://www.speedofcreativity.org/category/luddite/" rel="nofollow">in a "luddite" blog category.</a> I do realize the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite" rel="nofollow">Luddites</a> were more pro-employment and pro-labor than they were anti-technology, but the term "neo-luddite" as I understand it has become synonymous with folks who question technology's accepted and pervasive roles in our lives. Neil Postman's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0679745408%26tag=discoveringharry%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/Technopoly-Surrender-Technology-Neil-Postman/dp/0679745408%253FSubscriptionId=0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2" rel="nofollow">"Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology"</a> is another of my favorites which has colored my thinking along these lines, as well as his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=014303653X%26tag=discoveringharry%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X%253FSubscriptionId=0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2" rel="nofollow">"Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business."</a> Both are good reads and very thought provoking. Courtney: Thanks for edifying me on this post topic… I think about these issues quite frequently. My post from February 2005 “Snow Days are the Best Days” is an early articulation of my thoughts along these lines… I have not read it yet, but my wife has and based on her summary as well as recommendation I think Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” is a worthwhile text on these subjects as well. Watching my 10 year old son this first “real” week of summer– with the access he has to his own laptop (alebeit a 6 year old Powerbook) and a Wii, not to mention our television, DVD player, and DVR… it is DEFINITELY important to emphasize unplugging from screens, playing outside, reading books for fun, etc. I think this may have always been an important issue for parents to remember and emphasize with their kids, but the proliferation of media devices and media content all around us now makes this even more important I think.

Although Gary Stager has corrected me that I may be misusing this term as a category, I have posted ideas along these lines in a “luddite” blog category. I do realize the Luddites were more pro-employment and pro-labor than they were anti-technology, but the term “neo-luddite” as I understand it has become synonymous with folks who question technology’s accepted and pervasive roles in our lives. Neil Postman’s book “Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology” is another of my favorites which has colored my thinking along these lines, as well as his book “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business.” Both are good reads and very thought provoking.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54109 Wesley Fryer Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:15:37 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54109 John: Thanks for sharing that video link, you never know what weather you're going to get in New Mexico mountains, esp in May or June! Your video certainly demonstrates that! Scott-- I'm sending you an email for more info on the trip-- we're hoping to do some more camping and maybe even backpacking later in the summer! John: Thanks for sharing that video link, you never know what weather you’re going to get in New Mexico mountains, esp in May or June! Your video certainly demonstrates that!

Scott– I’m sending you an email for more info on the trip– we’re hoping to do some more camping and maybe even backpacking later in the summer!

]]> By: Courtney http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54107 Courtney Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:08:55 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54107 I whole heartedly agree with the sentiment that we need time away to refresh, rejuvenate and recharge. I only wish this idea was more pervasive in our totally plugged in, go go go work and home life culture. It's important to write about and encourage others to feel that it is "ok" to let it all go for a week or more (ideally). Thanks for the refreshing post! I whole heartedly agree with the sentiment that we need time away to refresh, rejuvenate and recharge. I only wish this idea was more pervasive in our totally plugged in, go go go work and home life culture. It’s important to write about and encourage others to feel that it is “ok” to let it all go for a week or more (ideally). Thanks for the refreshing post!

]]> By: Teresa - Kid Friendly Camping Ideas http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54089 Teresa - Kid Friendly Camping Ideas Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:20:24 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54089 What a wonderful time of refreshment!!! We love to camp as a family, and spend time together. We recently had time to unplug also - albeit, on a cruise this year, but the time away from technology was WONDERFUL!!! What a wonderful time of refreshment!!! We love to camp as a family, and spend time together.

We recently had time to unplug also - albeit, on a cruise this year, but the time away from technology was WONDERFUL!!!

]]> By: Scott S. Floyd http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54063 Scott S. Floyd Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:34:30 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54063 I look forward to getting away myself in the next week or so camping with my son. Figure we need some male bonding time. We are planning a trip to Broken Bow at the end of summer to do some science podcasts along the river. Interested in tagging along? It will be me, my chief of technology, a science teacher, and possibly the superintendent (he loves to fish). I wanted to swing by Howe while in that area to check out what they are doing. Looks like fun. Shoot me an email if you're interested. I look forward to getting away myself in the next week or so camping with my son. Figure we need some male bonding time. We are planning a trip to Broken Bow at the end of summer to do some science podcasts along the river. Interested in tagging along? It will be me, my chief of technology, a science teacher, and possibly the superintendent (he loves to fish). I wanted to swing by Howe while in that area to check out what they are doing. Looks like fun. Shoot me an email if you’re interested.

]]> By: John Peters http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54054 John Peters Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:09:55 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-unplugging/#comment-54054 Wes: I went Backpacking in the Pecos Wildernes in New Mexico (just north of Santa Fe) over Memorial Day. Here is a YouTube Video that I created of the snow we encountered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR4mpNWqqf4 I know what you mean about the storms in the Texas Panhandle last night. I live in Amarillo and in some places we received record amounts of rain. I have spent most of the day picking up tree branches and other debris left from the storms! Thank goodness for summer vacation! Wes:

I went Backpacking in the Pecos Wildernes in New Mexico (just north of Santa Fe) over Memorial Day. Here is a YouTube Video that I created of the snow we encountered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR4mpNWqqf4

I know what you mean about the storms in the Texas Panhandle last night. I live in Amarillo and in some places we received record amounts of rain. I have spent most of the day picking up tree branches and other debris left from the storms!

Thank goodness for summer vacation!

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