Are we becoming monitor zombies?

[Azrael]

Editorial - http://www.outpostnine.com/editorials/zombie.html

I sort of make satire of it, but in a lot of ways, I do feel like society in general is getting sucked into a lifestyle where we spend the majority of our time in front of some sort of display. As I said in the editorial, 83% of my lifestyle takes place in front of some sort of monitor.

Certainly, things like computers, televisions, cell phones, et al bring a lot of good and interesting things to our lives, but perhaps we're overdoing it a bit? Remember back to the first Matrix movie...Cypher choose to betray Morpheus and the others because he preferred the Matrix over reality. Sometimes that doesn't seem like its such a far-fetched idea. On another board I go to, someone asked which is more important - sex or the internet? I was quite surprised to see, on a male dominated board, that the internet won by a decisive margin.

So, are we becoming too dependent on technology and monitors? Is this a bad thing?

[ZaichikArky]

I know I do. *siiigh*. I also know I try to... not spend 80 percent of my life on a monitor, but I fail. This is why I hope to get a career that will help me look beyond the computer screen.. maybe teaching :D

[Eddie Echoplex]

Well, of course it's a bad thing!

I'd say the moment society collapses, what are we going to do? We pretty much dumbed down our survival instincts, our sense of personal responsability, there's going to be a high rate of casualties/people going insane when that happens.

[ZaichikArky]

People living in 3rd world countries would survive. IE: those unlike ourselves who do not use technology nearly as much as we do.

[MNJetter]

I honestly think that I'm addicted to my television. Or at least to background noise. If I'm playing music on my computer, I don't have to have the television on, but I can't stand silence. I can't even get to sleep unless I put the TV on low volume with the sleep timer on. In the summer I don't, but that's because I've got the hum of the fan to keep me company.

I do think that people (including me) spend too much time using technology. And it's good to take a break once in a while. Sending my computer in to get fixed helped a lot. They kept it for like two months. My house got cleaned, I started exercising more, and grew really bored with watching TV reruns. And now, even though my computer's back, I don't feel like I need to spend all my waking hours in front of it. If I ever do get that feeling back, I'll lock up my computer for another two months.

[Micah the Great]

I too spend most of my day in front of a computer screen. Honestly, I don't think i'm going to be able to make a career out of an office job. I can't take it much longer. I need to be outside, or traveling, or talking to people maybe.

Society in general i obviously becoming more dependent on new technology, especially the interwebz. But, i say i appreciate the technology that has come about in my lifetime. It's nice to be able to use it when you need it and it's right there in front out you, but i know i could handle life just fine loosing most of it. Some people would freak the fuck out if cellphones, internet, and digital cameras all asploded.

EDIT: ^Yeah, one time my computer was broke for a couple months so i spent most of my time drawing. It was awesome.

[SlickWilly440]

I am in front of the computer screen pretty much all day, even during classes because I'm using my computer to type up notes and studying the notes when I'm not in class.

[Angelyne]

I don't own a cell phone.
I don't have a Facebook or Myspace and don't understand social networking websites at all.
I don't own a camera.
I don't have cable.
The last portable music player I owned was a Sony Discman (lulz).
I've never even visited iTunes website, let alone paid for a MP3.
I can't remember the last time I used a microwave.
I have a DVD player in my apartment (not mine), but my VCR is still hooked up to the TV. My Sega Dreamcast sits on top of it.
I still have a rotary phone hooked up in my apartment, but mostly for the novelty of it. I do own and use a cordless phone.

I'm stuck in the 1990s, and happy. It has saved me a lot of money and drama in the long run--student loan was paid off three months after graduation, I'm completely debt free except for some upcoming utility bills, and I started a retirement fund years ago. I don't miss or care about any of the shit I listed above, because I just don't see the point of most of it. I doubt like hell I'll be thinking, "damn I wish I watched more TV" or "damn, I wish I bought an iPod" when I'm old and on my deathbed.

[akitaka]

"I can't remember the last time I used a microwave."

That's pretty damn impressive. I've met all of the above, but never a person who cooked/ate out enough to not need the awesome power of radioactivity for a quick meal. Heck, even I use it, every other week.

There'd be big hole of information that I use the internet for, with everything from personal events, to a cake recipe. With that said, while I don't spend 80% of my life in front of a screen (TV bores me, I'd rather go to the gym), there's still that spooky link that has been mentioned time and time again with being "entertained" 24/7.

Maybe we can play a little game amongst OP9 users...say...who can last the longest, without logging onto a computer for non-work or study purposes? It require some thoughts and rule-panning to get it right, but a bit more interesting than an inconclusive discussion, in my opinion. The second you break the fast is the second you post in said thread :-)

Probably my main issue would be the reliance on facebook for planning events/meeting up with friends. Maybe it'd be time to start memorizing phone numbers.

[Kyletherealninja]

Hmm. Let's see.

I watch little TV. Right now, only Heroes and sometimes The Office, plus 24 and Battlestar Galactica when new episodes air. I don't own a cellphone, thank God. At least not until I'm forced to do so by some job. I keep my Dad's old cellphone in my car for emergencies, and occasionally call a friend for something.

Unfortunately, I spend far too much time in front of the computer. My popularity is low enough that I can live without Facebook and I don't even use MySpace (I have one, but only so I can look at bands' photos and stuff.) But schoolwork in particular - taking notes, reading summaries of novels I don't have time to read, that sort of thing - is unavoidable. And I know I waste too much time on the Internet, I've been trying to ween myself off of that. Maybe I'll get there someday.

[rl*united]

"I can't remember the last time I used a microwave."

That's pretty damn impressive. I've met all of the above, but never a person who cooked/ate out enough to not need the awesome power of radioactivity for a quick meal. Heck, even I use it, every other week.

There'd be big hole of information that I use the internet for, with everything from personal events, to a cake recipe. With that said, while I don't spend 80% of my life in front of a screen (TV bores me, I'd rather go to the gym), there's still that spooky link that has been mentioned time and time again with being "entertained" 24/7.

Maybe we can play a little game amongst OP9 users...say...who can last the longest, without logging onto a computer for non-work or study purposes? It require some thoughts and rule-panning to get it right, but a bit more interesting than an inconclusive discussion, in my opinion. The second you break the fast is the second you post in said thread :-)

Probably my main issue would be the reliance on facebook for planning events/meeting up with friends. Maybe it'd be time to start memorizing phone numbers.

I intentionally do this artificially induced down-time weekend every month or so. I simply don`t pay my internet bill for a few days and use the uni PCs for work. And if I have to be honest I don`t need internet 24/7 for my studies. I joined a few medical and pharmaceutical journals but all I really need to study for an exam is Open Office and a working printer loaded with paper.

Other than that I too am monitor-happy :/. I don`t watch TV but I spend a lot of time on IRC in forums and playing old games like Planescape Torment and the first Half-Life. I don`t think I`ll ever give that up but I`m trying not to make a big deal out of it - keep entertaining myself in various other ways.

Thing is, if you were there, were you actually taking in your surroundings, or were you too busy trying to take the perfect picture?

Meh I know what you mean - I try to ballance it out but since I`m the only guy with a camera in the gang I have to take the pictures even if it draws me away from the actual fun. But I think I tend to ballance it out LOL Take pictures of my steamin hot classmates and of myself as well. :P Huggle pictures are the best!

[marycatherine]

I'm highly addicted to my computer and the internet, but I don't even have a TV in my apartment. I know that if I had one, especially with cable, I'd probably watch TV all of the time. I don't even take advantage of sites like tv-links.

I don't own any other technology besides a digital camera... no iPod or other portable music player, and I never crave having one. I'm happy with the radio in my car or old tapes I've found at thrift stores for 35 cents...or no music at all so I can think. I love to think while I drive.

I fair alright without technology, but when I get back to it I feel a sense of relief, like I've been missing out on one of the more important aspects of my day. In all honesty, I don't miss out on much, but I like knowing that by checking my usual websites and email.

My weakness is my computer with internet access. I remember thinking a really long time ago "What good is a computer without internet? It's got limited games to play alone, limited information that's outdated [think Encarta/Compton's], fairly useless..."

I don't think it's such a bad thing. If I weren't dependent on my computer, it would probably be something else - like crappy TV. *shrug*

[rl*united]

I`ve pretty much given up on spending money on technology - I have my laptop - a 7 years old memmory of the past but since it was top of the class at it`s time it still works fine - I can play all the old games I like download and browse the nets at normal speeds watch movies and such. Besides that I`ve got an MP3 player but Lord knows I`ve never paid for an MP3. And I`ve got my digital camera.

It`s funny though how you might try to warn people about the same techno-geek mistakes you made. It`s like when I bought my camera a year ago it was the best in it`s class - a compact 7.2 Mp Sony Cyber-Shot. And of course I paid like 700 credits in my contry`s currency which would translate to 700 USD for the American lifestyle. And now just a year later the camera`s down to half it`s price. Now when I try to convince a friend to go take the same thing or buy a similar one so he doesn`t spend a fuckton of money on it he says he wants the newest best thing just for the idea of it.

And I don`t even need those full 7 megapixels - I use it at around 3 or 5 cuz frankly you don`t need to be at space-age quality to make a decent photo at a party.

[Trump]

Well, how do you consider "lifestyle" in your percentage? I mean, I have to use a computer at work. It isn't like I could choose not too, and I have to have money for bills, food, fun, etc. So I don't consider that part of my lifestyle, I consider it my job.

Outside of work I have a good mix of activities. I play sports or work out 3-4 times a week, I hang out with friends playing board games (usually translated from German, go figure), just going out, or sometimes watching TV or messing around on the computer. TV and computer are for when I'm alone and bored. Overall, I'd say a maximum of 50%.

Is internet better than sex? Hell no! It's kinda funny, I suspect evolution will work just fine =)

[Scarabomb]

My life schedule:

-Alarm Clock goes off at 5:45AM, I punch it until 6:00
-Commute to work for about 40min while listening to the radio
-Roughly an hour of "working out" (Usually running to at least keep a lean looking physique)
-Work (8+ hours of staring at, Not 1 but 2 computer screens). I actually try and move around or find something to do just so I'm not stuck staring at computer screens all day. Throw lunch in there to take away from the hour and some change of would be monitor zombieing.
-Another 40min ride back home, preferably listening to the radio
-Chillaxin at home (another 5 hours of monitor zombieing either playing World of Warcrack, reading forums, downloading movies, music, etc. [I despise any sorts of MySpace and anything that has "friend's lists" and crap. They've ruined relationships in the past for me]).
-Watch some of the boob tube then hit the hay for another fun filled day of the same thing...

...so most of my day is actually 'Monitor Zombieing' even though I like to enjoy the finer things in life like taking dogs out for walks, running outside, mountain biking, kyaking and even walks in the park...the occasion to do these just happens at off moments so I do more of "the norm" more than I do these outdoorsy activities.

Edit: For the "techno-geek" stuff? I did pretty good at not going crazy with console games but DID purchase an Xbox 360 Halo 3 Edition because they didn't have regular 360's when I tried to buy it. The funnier thing is I bought it specifically to play Halo 3. Other than that, it's just a green box, chillin' on the floor.

My set includes:
-iPods that are old school and barely used
-PsP my mom got me one Xmas...barely used
-Laptop of 2 years, heavily used
-TV, used to say I can use it but I actually don't watch a lot of TV...I should start watching the news just cuz though
-Xbox 360, barely used
-Xbox, retired
-Gamecube, retired
-PS2, retired
-Router?, heavily used
-Printers and all the bells and whistle techno stuffs, borderline barely used and retired
-Anime DVDs and everything else like...fun to watch movies, borderline barely used and retired

I feel bad because I put money into this stuff and I barely use it. My lifestyle just doesn't see fit to use this equipment anymore...it's kind of sad but...that's the new world I suppose

[Sakari]

I've grown up into the social networking generation. Computers are not geeky, having no life is a positive joke, and everyone is a monitor zombie by your definition. Might have something to do with the fact that I live in Finland, latest statistics say only 21% of the population do not use the internet. Perhaps the elderly and deer herders?

Unfortunately (or perhaps not?) to some of you this is new, and, as adults tend to do, you worry about the new trends. By the time your pushing up the daisies, there will be nobody around to think it unusual.

Whether or not that's a good thing, I don't know. It doesn't seem to have a negative impact on the lives of people I know.

[rl*united]

Nah people won`t just stop living just cuz of interwebz - the trend will pass away with time or at least later generations will oppose us just like we did to our parents and people will have RLs again. I bet the interweb would turn out so geeky and reqireing of skill and techno-knowledge that most people will just ditch it and use it only when they need to for school or work. And when it`s no longer something new and unusual it`ll just lose the younger generation of users.

[Sakari]

Hmm that seems unlikely. I doubt things will get so complicated that they need craploads of skill, and even if they do, people are growing up with this technology, so they would learn to use it anyway. Things are getting easier all the time, so I don't see why the trend would reverse.

And to kids now its not something new and unusual, they've grown up with it, its a fact of life.

[Overkongen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMiDZIY1bM