Today, I took a moment to meditate on the internet, and more specifically what we actually use the internet for. So I asked myself the crucial question "Self, what is it exactly that you enjoy doing online?" My response exposes an indulgent, shameful habit which I've decided to share with the entire world.
My guilty pleasure is that I enjoy reading weird science articles, watching videos about cats and doing quizzes that tell you which character you would be on Orange is the New Black which, by the way, I have never seen (I got Piper Chapman). It's an appalling abuse of one of mankind's most advanced and treasured resources.
Imagine you met someone from 300 years ago and explained to them that we have a small device that fits in the palm of your hand with access to all the world's knowledge, history, languages, art, law and science. "That's pretty amazing!" they would say "and how do you use it?"
"I watch cat videos and scroll mindlessly through a newsfeed which contains personal stories/photos and anecdotes of people I have little to no real interaction with."
"Tell me more about these cat videos" they would probably say in return.
But could the person of the past possibly understand how important that irrelevant and ridiculous time wasting is? Would they have any inkling that we have come to use this pointless, hollow, mundane and absurd activity as a cathartic means of winding down?
With no phones, no internet, restricted access to transport, a low literacy rate and little civil liberties, it's hard to imagine what people did in the olde days to relax. In 1815 you would probably go for a walk, stagger into a pub and drink yourself into a stupor after working 16 hours straight in a mine. Or maybe you would stay at home in your dark, unsanitised hovel doing cross-stitch by the light of a single candle and caring for your 4 unschooled children. Sounds great.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think that scrolling through the top 26 images of what it means to "Grow Up Asian in America" is any substitute to having a life. But when things are fast-paced, a tad on the intense side or you're drowning in indecision and need some mindless stimulation then yes, I would recommend turning your favourite photos into fridge magnets, memorizing the top 37 most important life hacks or reading any pointless, though insightful, pseudo-scientific article on IFL. Nothing de-stresses me more than reading about the psychological benefits of watching cat videos online, the mysteries of calcified fetuses, learning why joints click or, dammit, just staring vacantly at the newly rediscovered planet of Pluto and it's lovely, smiling face.
The truth is, I enjoy scrolling through this stuff at the end of a stressful day. The more heavy a week is in the "real world" the more I enjoy a good TedTalk on the importance of sustainable fish farming in Spain (which, by the way, is a revelation). This doesn't mean I'm less involved in a community, lack physical exercise or fail to engage in the world around me. All it means is that I like to watch stupid videos of cats on the bus. I'm ok with that.
My guilty pleasure is that I enjoy reading weird science articles, watching videos about cats and doing quizzes that tell you which character you would be on Orange is the New Black which, by the way, I have never seen (I got Piper Chapman). It's an appalling abuse of one of mankind's most advanced and treasured resources.
Imagine you met someone from 300 years ago and explained to them that we have a small device that fits in the palm of your hand with access to all the world's knowledge, history, languages, art, law and science. "That's pretty amazing!" they would say "and how do you use it?"
"I watch cat videos and scroll mindlessly through a newsfeed which contains personal stories/photos and anecdotes of people I have little to no real interaction with."
"Tell me more about these cat videos" they would probably say in return.
But could the person of the past possibly understand how important that irrelevant and ridiculous time wasting is? Would they have any inkling that we have come to use this pointless, hollow, mundane and absurd activity as a cathartic means of winding down?
With no phones, no internet, restricted access to transport, a low literacy rate and little civil liberties, it's hard to imagine what people did in the olde days to relax. In 1815 you would probably go for a walk, stagger into a pub and drink yourself into a stupor after working 16 hours straight in a mine. Or maybe you would stay at home in your dark, unsanitised hovel doing cross-stitch by the light of a single candle and caring for your 4 unschooled children. Sounds great.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think that scrolling through the top 26 images of what it means to "Grow Up Asian in America" is any substitute to having a life. But when things are fast-paced, a tad on the intense side or you're drowning in indecision and need some mindless stimulation then yes, I would recommend turning your favourite photos into fridge magnets, memorizing the top 37 most important life hacks or reading any pointless, though insightful, pseudo-scientific article on IFL. Nothing de-stresses me more than reading about the psychological benefits of watching cat videos online, the mysteries of calcified fetuses, learning why joints click or, dammit, just staring vacantly at the newly rediscovered planet of Pluto and it's lovely, smiling face.
The truth is, I enjoy scrolling through this stuff at the end of a stressful day. The more heavy a week is in the "real world" the more I enjoy a good TedTalk on the importance of sustainable fish farming in Spain (which, by the way, is a revelation). This doesn't mean I'm less involved in a community, lack physical exercise or fail to engage in the world around me. All it means is that I like to watch stupid videos of cats on the bus. I'm ok with that.
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