You’re invited, but will you take part in the National Day of Unplugging? This Friday from sundown March 7th to sundown March 8th those cyberly addicted are being asked to disconnect from all electronic devices for a 24 hour period.
The project is an outgrowth of The Sabbath Manifesto, an adaption of the long ago rituals of setting aside one day a week to unwind, unplug, get outdoors and connect with the ones you love. Still, it may be extremely difficult for some people to observe the National Day of Unplugging.
- Have you ever been in the same room with family members and you just couldn’t fight the urge to check your email, text a co-worker or sneak a peek at Facebook?
- At the park with your children, do you sit and disappear into your phone instead of giving them a push on the swing?
- Do you get ridiculously panicked when you leave your phone at home?
Answering yes to just a few of these scenarios might mean this Friday’s National Day of Unplugging is just for you.
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Wait! You mean no listening to PRP either??? NOOOOOO! In all honesty, I doubt that many people will actually participate. I have been amazed, perplexed and annoyed on many occasions when I see the lack of attention paid to real live people by others who are obsessed with staring at their little screens. Even with current laws that forbid such activity when one is driving seems to have little impact on the many people I see every day ignoring these important safety laws. If they can’t put it down for 15 minutes while driving, how will they be able to survive an entire 24-hour period without it. Nice notion, but I don’t see wide-spread participation… Especially from the youthful souls who seem to think that their device is an appendage with which they were born.
Gary Jarvis
Sweet Home
Well Gary, they said the same thing about The Great American Smokeout when it debuted back in 1977. I think for some, it might be a challenge but I’m a perennial optimist. I think there will be more than a few “Unpluggers”.
BTW- This year’s Great American Smokeout is November 20th.
Okay Valerie, you got me… I have tended historically to be an optimist… This time, I “knee-jerked”, so I will try to join you in your optimism… My reaction is probably due to near-misses I have experienced with cell-phone talking, texting drivers and my fear/annoyance to those close encounters. I will shut off my computer (my link to the outside world, since I have no TV or radio in this town, and rarely use my cell phone) at sundown Friday night!!! I will instead, watch the fireplace!
Gary Jarvis
Sweet Home