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technology overload?

Last night I had trouble with my computer and became extremely panicked when I couldn't work, couldn't check my email, couldn't surf the net... I couldn't even call my parents because I don't have their phone number memorized.

I started to feel like I've gone on technology overload. I mean, I buy this nice computer, then I spend all this time trying to find the perfect apps for it or the perfect wallpaper or how to make it distraction free-- and what does it add up to? Me dependant on something and not really getting much work done.

Even the lo-fi forum seems to fall into the perfection trap-- the perfect moleskine, the perfect fountain pen. Is it all just a waste of time.

I mean, Cormac McCarthy wrote one of the best books I read last year (The Road) on a portable manual typewriter.

Do you ever feel trapped like I do?

And how do I get out?

pooks's picture

Don't forget the fun factor....

Don't forget the fun factor. It's more fun to surf the web looking at pretty fountain pens and reading reviews of various inks on Moleskine paper than actually working, and I have a feeling techies feel the same about different software.

In other words, it's not only perfectionism, but just "this is more interesting than what I'm supposed to be doing, and hey -- I can even tell myself it's important because it's about the system I use to be more efficient!"

 
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