Is it Time to Step Away From the Computer (and phone)?

I have been known to bemoan the fact that I am not on the computer all day at work. While I use a computer often (cash register and our in-store book search system), I am not able to check news happenings, my email, facebook, etc. at work. While I can check email and texts on my breaks (and yes, I admit that I love my iphone), I don't have access to full internet use at work. Sometimes this has made me feel unconnected to others or to what's going on.

But overall? I think this is a good thing.

Newsweek seems to agree with me.

In the July 16 cover story, Tony Dokoupil talks about how our increased internet use (including emails, texts, social media, news, video gaming, etc.) is changing our brains, our moods and how we interact with the world.

He describes how people are experiencing more depression, anxiety, higher stress, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, suicidal thinking, and addictive behaviors and brain imaging, often, studies are increasingly showing, as a result of higher internet use.

The article bombards (and I use the word bombards in a good way) the reader with studies and facts:

     -A third of smartphone users go online before getting out of bed.

     -People have been treated for "reactive psychosis" as a result of near constant internet use.

     -People are substituting internet use for visiting with people in person, exercise and sleep.

     -In one study, one week of moderate internet use (five hours during the week) was enough to change the brains (prefrontal cortex - determined by brain scan) of people who were rare internet users.

     -Brains of internet addicts look like brains of drug and alcohol addicts.

     -When the new version is released in 2013, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) will include Internet Addiction Disorder as a diagnosis.

The article describes how China, Korea, and Taiwan are seeing problematic internet use as a national health crisis. One couple in Korea neglected their own infant to death while nurturing a virtual infant online. Another man bludgeoned his mother to death when she suggested he get offline for a while.

Extreme examples? Maybe. And yet...

Studies seem to show that increased internet use, which has increased exponentially since the advent of smart phones and social media, is affecting us in deleterious ways. This article provides some disturbing trends, corroborated by experts.

Sherry Turkle, MIT psychologist and author of ALONE TOGETHER*, talks about her concern about how our interactions with other people are changing because of our increasing need to be digitally connected. If nursing mothers text while nursing, she posits, and experience tension while texting, the infant will experience tension as well, and the infant is "vulnerable to interpreting that tension as coming from within the relationship with the mother." The ramifications of this are scary.

I mentioned above that I've felt unconnected when I'm at work because I do not have full internet access while I'm on the clock. And while our work computers don't allow us to cruise the internet freely, remaining off the internet is at least partly my own decision. I don't carry my phone with me (like some co-workers) and check it every few minutes (like some co-workers). So while this not checking sometimes means that I feel a little out of the loop, it is my choice.

How digitally connected are you? And how does it affect your mood? Your interpersonal interactions? Your life?

*see my blog post about this most excellent book here:
http://notthenewyorktimesbookreview.blogspot.com/2011/09/alone-together.html

And yes, the irony does not escape me, that you are reading about the dangers of increased internet use on a blog. You can comment on the blog right here on this page. You can also send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Thanks for stopping by!

Not the New York Times Book Group, either

So I have this idea.

What if there could be...oh wait, first let me give you a little background...

I have been meeting with a couple of friends for several years, ever since we all worked at the same bookstore. In addition to catching up on our lives, we've come together to talk about the books we are reading.

I've loved this. I think of it as our spin on a book group or club.

This is different from more traditional book groups/clubs where one book is selected and everyone reads the same book before the meeting. When the group gathers, they talk about the book. The same book. That everyone read.

The traditional book group has its pluses. It gives everyone the shared experience of the same book. In a good group, members would be free to like the book or dislike the book selection, and the atmosphere of the group would allow for differing points of view to be expressed.

When my friends and I met, we would often bring the actual books we were reading or had just read. It was a literary Show-and-Tell, each of us sharing what we're reading, telling what we liked or didn't like about each book.

Even though we all worked in a bookstore, and often the very same bookstore at the same time, and it would seem that we would all be exposed to the same things, we'd always see something new and interesting brought by one of the others. Often they would bring books I never would have otherwise seen. Almost every time we met I would make a note of some of the books they brought and go get them for myself.

So here's my idea. What if there could be an online book club/group in which each member would bring to the table (or the computer) the books they are reading and we could talk about them? It would have to be something separate from this blog (a chat room? or email?) to make for easier participation by everyone.

I'm eager to give it a try, and I'm willing set it up and facilitate it. Ideally I'd like to have a way to show book covers, to encourage the whole Show-and-Tell aspect of the group, so maybe some sort of email communication (beforehand?) that includes at least pictures of book covers? Then maybe we meet up in a private chat room at a specified date and time? What do you think?

If you think it sounds fun and you'd like to be a part of it, send me an email and we can go from there.

My email address: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. (Get it? if you read the email address, it's "two of three R's"...and what are the Three R's? I do two of them. You can guess which two.)

Read More...

...to learn about people and places and things




                    ...to challenge yourself


                                                                  ...to   e s c a p e




...to be delighted



                                    ...to be    ^{t r a n s p o r t e d}




                     ...to   r e l a x






                                             ...to be entertained



                     ...to be smarter




...to have something to talk about




                           ...to be a good example to your children




                  ...to _reduce S T R E S S



        ...to see another point
                                            of
                                             view


...to experience b e a u t y




         ...to increase your vocabulary



                           ...to improve your memory



                                                ...to ^{I M A G I N E}



...because it's fun!


Thanks for stopping by the blog! You can "like" us on our facebook page, NOT the New York Times Book Review. You can also send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Read more!

Who Doesn't Like to Receive an Award?

I just got an email saying I've been awarded the Liebster Award, presented by tubchairtimes at blogspot (http://tubchairtimes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/liebster-award.html)! How cool is that?

As part of receiving the award, there are questions to be answered. Fun!

Here are her questions (and my answers!):

1. Favourite place to curl up with a book?
On the couch, feet up, with something to eat. And yes, I know you're not supposed to eat and read, you're just supposed to concentrate on eating, but eating and reading is one of my favorite things.

2. What is your ultimate favorite food?
Impossible to choose just one. Steak. Salmon. Turkey with cranberry sauce. Stuffing. Ice cream from Salt and Straw (Oprah likes one of their flavors too). Chocolate. Everything Salad from Le Happy.

3. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging as a way to be disciplined about writing and have a creative outlet. Writing about books and reading? It's the best.

4. E-books or hard copies?
Both. I love books - the look, the feel, the personalities of books (have you seen the hardcover version of THE NIGHT CIRCUS? incredible). And, sometimes I love the ease and convenience of e-reading.

5. If you could be any animal which would you be?
A dog. Or a cat. And it would have to be our dog or cat because they have pretty good lives.

6. Which superhero would you most like to chill with?
Catwoman maybe? Or the Incredible Hulk?

7. Which planet would you most like to explore?
Jupiter. It's always intrigued me...it's so huge and it's got all those moons.

8. What band/musician would you love to see live?
Fun. Adele. Young@Heart. Gotye.

9. You get one wish upon a star, what is it?
That booksellers would be paid more. And world peace.

10. If you could be a character from any book, show, or movie, who would you be?
Katniss. Or Milo from The Phantom Tollbooth.

11. Today is your last day to live, if you could do anything (anything!) how would you spend your day?
Since I can do anything, I would know enough ahead so I could travel to a fabulous island with my loved ones. And the travel would be before the last day. I want the whole last day to BE there. I'd spend it by the ocean with the people most important to me, having fun and laughing. There would be rum punch.


And 11 random facts about me:

1. I've changed my name 4 times.

2. My hair used to be straight. Now it's curly.

3. I've lived in five states.

4. My brother is one year, one month, one week, and one day younger than me. (she said "random". I think this qualifies.)

5. I've taken classes in three different languages (French, Spanish, and German). I don't speak any of them well.

6. I don't really like beer.

7. I was married for 25 years and now am infinitely happier being with a woman.

8. I've been to Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, London, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii. There are more places to visit. I love to travel.

9. I love astronomy.

10. I taught third grade.

11. I love the ocean, not just warm, tropical beaches/ocean, but also chilly northern oceans and beaches.


Thank you, lemonstar, for the award!

And thank you for stopping by the blog! You can send email to: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. You can also "like" us on our facebook page, NOT the New York Times Book Review.