It was not as bad as you think. I'm lying. I got sick midway through, so the experiment was a success because I was on medication and did not feel like viewing or listening to anything. The hydrocodone had something to do with it.
What I learned:
1. People hate each other. I watched people in the doctor's office and they did not interact with each other at all. That probably had something to do with them feeling like they were sick or something, what a bunch of self involved asses. But people really do hate each other. You notice it in the stores. Everybody is trying to jockey a space in a check out line, and they are pissed about about twelve items in the ten items or less line. They try to be in front while driving, and I do mean in front. In front of a row of cars, in your front seat, or just in damn front. If you happen to be in front of them, they hate you. I could go on, but take my word for it, hate and animosity is rampant.
2. There is not a lot on the news. The world happens, and the happenings are not all that different. The middle east was in turmoil when I tuned out. I tuned back in yesterday and found Iraq was under siege, people were upset about a PFC being traded for Taliban members, and you know what? It was the same when I tuned out.
3. Reading is falling out of fashion. I read three books. One because it was there, another because I wanted to, and another because of the reviews. "A Parchment of Leaves" is a book for women, written by a man, and it does deal with the Appalachian region, but still... come on Silas House, even "Cold Mountain" (Charles Frazier) could be stomached by a guy from Georgia. I also read several magazines, none of which enthralled me or gave me any inclination that the medium is going to survive much longer. While reading all this "hand held print" material I did become a convert to J. A. Konrath's idea that physical print is going to become extinct. No matter how much I like having a physical object/book, the digital version is convenient and economical. Convenience and economics will trump habits eventually. Is that bad? No way. All writers should get on that train (or plane, considering it is the most advanced). Digital media, at least for information and probably literature, will become a mainstay. The publishing houses just need to get over it and adapt.
4. My DVR holds an infinite number of shows. I was selective about what I would record, because I don't want to spend days watching television. I have Netflix, so I can always catch up later. Some technology saves time, but this sort is purely entertainment in nature (maybe some of it was research).
5. I made a whistle out of a piece of hickory. I took my pocket knife and carved away.
6. I was really, really, really bad sick. I ended up at a urologist, and wished I had decided to forego this experiment and look up my symptoms on the internet. If I had I would have been psychologically scarred. Suffice it to say, my wife did not participate, and thus knew the extent of what was going on. The weird thing is, the doctor even used the internet to explain it. Most people assume everybody is using technology to the extent they are. For the most part we are. Is there any escape? Probably not. The good thing is it can be rationed. I went to an extreme. I won't do it again unless I feel like it, but I will ration my consumption/use.
7. I tried finding things on the radio I could listen to, but to be honest there just isn't that much out there. In our vehicles we have XM, and can find anything from music to news, comedy to radio plays. On the actual radio? If you get tired of music you are out of luck because it is all talk. And not rational talk. The religious stations are obviously catering to the republican voter, and the only other show I found that was interesting was bizarre. So bizarre in fact that I am going to use some ideas to write about it. You know who I am referring to. Coast to Coast AM. Cryptozoology, aliens, ghosts, NWO, weather machines, and any out there and over the hills and rivers concept. They are all given air time, and, get this, treated as if they may just have some validity. Nice.
8. Without constant use of technology you can actually write, but probably not research. It is really good for getting storyboarding/outlining and character sketches done. You can write the story. If you get stuck and need information you will have to find a book or get to a library. I will say technology has made being a writer much easier.
I'm all better now (almost a month later). I have to eat a special diet and take a pill. Other than that I will be back to normal in a few days. I won't be doing wind sprints or hiking for at least another month, but I can deal with that. I have my Surface RT charged back up, and I have gone through the DVR with a fine tooth comb. I just found out Falling Skies starts back up on Sunday, and I am glad this experiment is over.
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