disconnect..................

Do you ever get tired of being so very connected to everything?

It sometimes seems to me like I am drowning in the connections. I feel bound by modern technology. Computer. Cell phone. IM. Email. Blogs. Facebook. Television. Radio. Cars. Even Wristwatches. Each of these things empower you so much that they restrict you.

You can't say "you lost track of time" because you have a watch. You can't say you can't go somewhere because it's too far since you can just drive or fly or take a Bus. A letter can be "lost in the mail" but an email never is. Read receipts if enabled even tell them whether you even read their letter. Through your IM status people can tell whether or not you are actively in front of your computer. Your various facebook status, your blog, your twitters and your imoods gives other people a constant insight into your current mood and feelings, your relationship status, and your very mental life itself.

And your cell phone... Oh the horror of it! It's always there. Always taunting you. A text or a call or a voicemail or a paige or an IM or an email can now reach you anywhere at any time no matter what you are doing and you can't escape! A constant permanent connection to everyone you know. They can ask you a question, engage you in conversation, check and see how you are doing, or wonder why you haven't called them or contacted them when they know you have the power to reach you at any time day or night. And it's not like you can say "I tried to call but no one answered" because they know whether or not you called and they always answer anyway. Because their cell phone is always there. Just like yours is. You are both bound by the curse of modern mobility and there is no escaping it.

Am I the only one that is bothered by this? It's like technology takes away your ability to make excuses. It makes it impossible to isolate yourself. Impossible to have a moment of true quiet lost in your own thoughts. Impossible to feel at peace. Because you're always virtually near others. Always surrounded by others. Caught up in the thoughts and thinking of others. Even when you're all by yourself.

Even when you try to disconnect, you can't. It just leads to people worrying and wondering about you. And then you get the questions. Why haven't you updated your blog lately? Why haven't you changed your facebook status? What's going on? Why did you turn off your phone? Is something wrong? Are you ok? Endless questions. Texted to you. Emailed to you. Commented on your blog. Left in your voice mail. And that all in turn leads to your feeling a sense of guilt for making people worry and making them wonder. You feel like you are failing your obligation to connect with people and hurting people in the process.

But maybe we just want to disconnect. Just for a bit. A week. A month. A year maybe. Just disconnect. Remove ourselves from people and thoughts and wonder and wishes. To avoid the all seeing eye of technology. To remove yourself from the culture of constant connectivity. To feel unbound. To feel truly alone.

And be free. Disconnected...