Browse less movement
Is mindless browsing any good? I was talking to my friend about this yesterday and wanted to post it as well.
My take is that it’s about as healthy as any mindless activity could possibly be. To be fair, I have done my share of vetti browsing. So much so I have some scars around my eyes in the form of dark circles. I am a recent convert to the opposite camp. And like all new converts, I am only too happy to proselytize.
My current method works like this.
- when at home, keep the laptop closed.
- when I get the itch to open it, think about reasons for browsing
If I am not able to come up with five good reasons, my laptop stays shut. I wait till I reach five. At any given 24 hours, I allow myself a maximum of 10 good reasons. Checking mails is not a sufficient enough reason.
- close the laptop again once all the reasons are exhausted.
Like all good rationing, this method results in moderation in consumption. I have time to do some activities which folks elder to me had time for in abundance - walks, shopping, socializing, reading etc.
Net as an infrastructure takes access to information to frightening heights. But some processing has to happen in our heads for the information to be of any use. I think accessing information should be a much more selective and conscious exercise than what it is currently with me and most of the folks I know. We are over-emphasizing information and under-weight on processing that information. Unlimited access to information is no substitute for wisdom. And browsing is no substitute for thinking.
As for the effectiveness of my strategy, habits die hard and I am fighting myself here. But at least I am fighting. This post is an attempt to pump-in these ideas to my head first. How about you?
July 4th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Interesting thought. This usually happens to me when I am at home on Sat / Sun and with nothing else to do. Read all the newspapers - BBC, CNN, Dinamalar, The Age etc.
Of late, i have started listening to ABC Radio a lot - it provides the necessary ingredients to keep my mind churning (apart from work).
I just dont listen to Radio on Sat/Sun mornings - they have gardening shows on - i dont understand anything in them.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
You’re in distinguished company:
http://paulgraham.com/distraction.html
July 7th, 2009 at 11:55 am
BNB
Thanks for the link. Superb one. I wish i’d seen this earlier..pesama link kuduthittu poirukalaam..
PS: i was tempted to click on that link immediately on seeing it..somehow resisted that itch ..and made some time for it later:)
July 14th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Deepak
neraya time waste dhaan da… just stop all those stuff and see.. you will eventually get to know all the ‘must know’ information…
why spend extra hours to know stuff which is, not of any direct use to us is my question…
July 19th, 2009 at 6:57 am
It’s time we stopped being POWs. Prisoners of Web.
I have also been avoiding vetti browsing and trying to get a life outside the web!!!
All the best for the move in the right direction!!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
malesh
thanks. i too think we are doing the right thing