What I found to be the most interesting was how completely isolated
I felt around my friends and classmates.
Unless I was speaking to them directly, they would be on their phones or
staring at a screen; even when I was talking to them face to face they
would have their own little devices between us, making it even harder to grab
their attention. I mean, who can compete
with Buzzfeed these days? That website
is distraction gold. It was pretty
offensive that the quiz "What kind of Grilled-Cheese Sandwich are you"
was getting more attention than me.
For the most part
all I could do was read. I couldn’t even
open my computer because I was so tempted to get on the Internet and
explore. I have to admit, however, it
was relaxing after the first day. I only
recently got a smartphone, so I thought I was more immune to the gravitational
force surrounding snapchat and instagram and the facebook app. I was thoroughly disappointed to find that I
am just as susceptible to modern technology as the next college student. I thought I was above that. I was mistaken.
It is nice to take
a step back and realize how incredibly addicting technology is. I was snowed in at my friend’s house over the
snow day break and was stranded with only my book for company, as my friend and
his roommates all had editing software and Netflix on their computers. I can honestly say that I only had about
three full-length conversations in as many days. I was desperate for some sort of attention by
the end of it—attention that my phone usually provides in times of need. Though I did feel refreshed and proud at the
end of this exercise, I doubt I will be doing it again any time soon.
