"The final mystery is oneself."
–Oscar Wilde
"Beware of the person who can’t be bothered by details."
–John Wooden
The popularity of Facebook and MySpace are holding, but another player continues to rise exponentially in visibility: Twitter.
I believe Twitter exists to bridge connections. Twitter is a window into the life of another. Facebook is too. The constant updates on Twitter provide real time insight; the brief blurbs consistently revised by friends on Facebook are identical in intention. Why is this unending data stream intriguing though? Twitter co-founder Biz Stone may know the reason: "When people hear about Twitter, their immediate reaction is that it’s the simplest and stupidest idea in the world. They do not want to know that their brother is eating a hot dog right now. But then they discover that their friends are on it. And so are the L.A. Fire Department, NASA, and JetBlue. Then they get it." I suppose it is the power of numbers too—people join for the simple reason that others have already joined. Is it also fueled by one’s willingness to be public, to reveal life’s small details to all web users? I love technology, but I crumble in amazement when I consider the information within reach on the Web. A quote by comedian Jon Stewart is appropriate: "The Internet is just a world passing notes around in a classroom." But is this unending data stream on Twitter simply minutiae, mundane musings unworthy of a limited, sacred storage space known as the brain?
Writing for ZDNet, Matthew Miller makes a fascinating confession: "I admit that I have been hooked on Twitter the last month or so and am wasting way too much time checking my mobile device every time a message ("tweet") hits it." Social sites are good for establishing new and existing relationships, but is a point reached in which addiction grips the mind, the spirit? I remember the opening scene from The Matrix (1999). Thomas Anderson (Neo) meets a friend at the door to exchange software for cash. He starts to ruminate on the vexing behavior of his computer occurring only moments ago, but decides to pose a question: "You ever have that feeling where you’re not sure if you’re awake or still dreaming?" His friend comments on the way a drug induces this reality, but nudges him to simply "unplug," step into rest, relaxation. Might Twitter or Facebook be a unique "drug" type? I know people who check Twitter (and Facebook) like e-mail-constantly.
Mark Bittman, writing for The New York Times, crafted an article on the importance of disconnection from technology. He conducted his breakaway on a Saturday, “unplugging” from the PDA, the notebook, the text messages, the RSS feeds, the e-mails. The television was included too. He characterized his early disposition by uneasiness, a twitch; however, he succeeded in finding alternatives. He filled his open time with reading (newspapers, books), a walk without the iPod, a nap, a cup of tea, a stare out the window. Now six months in, he summarizes his newfound clarity like this: "I felt connected to myself rather than my computer. I had time to think, and distance from normal demands. I got to stop."
Like the Sabbath, creating a periodic disconnect from technology is good. It is the invitation to reach for a book, step outside for a walk or write a thank you note for no reason. Seven days of unending immersion in gadgets, messages and apps exacts a harsh toll on the mind, the body, the spirit. In turn, fatigue lingers. Frustration lingers. Distress lingers. A day or season for rest recharges the body in every way. All Twitter users know the requirement on updates is this: messages must be under 140 characters. This is my bold statement: I’m choosing not to open an account, so this is the only "tweet" I will ever post: "Connect to me through austin.bonds@yahoo.com. Ask for a phone number. Will lunch or dinner work?" If it is Sunday, however, wait until Monday since I’m currently off the grid.
Austin Bonds is the creator of UNENDING GROWTH, a journal in existence to recognize spiritual and cultural convergence through writing. He likes to run too. For more information, visit www.becominggenuinedaily.net