I Wasn't Missing Twitter, But...
Added 2019-04-21 02:16:23 +0000 UTC
It's been two-and-a-half weeks since logging off social media. Generally I feel fine about it. When I get the itch to waste time online, I turn instead to Wikipedia, which has proven to be an edifying substitute. In the past week I have read about, among other things: the Holy Roman Empire, the Napoleonic Wars, the history of The Hollywood Squares, Pot Noodle, Premiere Inns, Eton College, Brené Brown, "Invictus," cauliflower steaks, the most efficient method of double glazing windows, Vocaloid, the U.K. rapper Dave, the U.K. comedy network Dave, The Front Bottoms (band), Jerry Sadowitz, Rebecca Adlington, Norman Wisdom's filmography with the Rank Organisation, the episode-by-episode history of The Ed Sullivan Show, and much, much more.
At the same time, I didn't realize that my decision was going to effectively cut me off from virtually all my social contacts. People, by and large, don't email anymore. They seem to consider it a major commitment, one that cannot be broached until one "has the time," which is practically never. And on my end, it seems creepy and weird to send an email to someone that just says, "Hey! How's it going? Just acknowledging that we are both still alive!"
So it's a mixed bag. It wasn't my intention to become a hermit. I just wanted to exist with more care and purpose, both online and off. I hope more people return to my orbit, because despite all appearances, I like people.
