Living 24 Hours Without, Gasp, Technology

I think I'd probably die. But a classroom full of college kids did it as part of a class at American University. A recent Washington Post article titled "The Longest Day" highlighted this, ummm, interesting adventure.

The assignment was to spend a day without "media" -- all media. Cell phones, television, car radios, CDs, video games, the computer I'm typing this blog on -- everything. This, of course, generated a discussion of what constitutes media (i.e., if your cell phone is considered media, why isn't your landline? What if you walk by a store blaring music? Have you violated the terms of the agreement?)

The poor souls who participated in the experiment had varying reactions, as noted in their subsequent papers (typed, one assumes, on a computer AFTER the day of no media). Some felt very isolated, disconnected and "in shock." Others discovered the joy of sleep, newspapers and converations with other people.

Some of the items I found most interesting? One student enjoyed the experiment because it helped them get away from their cell phone, which "always rang at the most inopportune times." Seems they didn't know about the "off" button before the media fast :) I was also interested in ways in which some students defended their media habits. As noted by the author of the article, in many ways it seemed as if they were saying: "We're not frivolous just because we like to IM and go on Facebook."

Perhaps most interesting, spending a day without media seemed, for many of the participants, to really highlight how they use media to focus their time and attention on what matters most to them. Some felt "homeless" with no where to go and no one to talk to.

Maybe taking a media fast is a good way to help one determine what's really important. Hey, it seems barbaric to me, but what do I know?