Many moons ago in one of my media classes, we were asked to go on a week-long media fast in which we didn’t listen to the radio or watch television or read a book – well, except for homework purposes. Of course, this was during a time where the Internet was still fairly new, so it wasn’t uncommon that we didn’t include that in our projects. It wasn’t a part of our everyday lives. But a week without music or television or reading was quite a feat then.
Nowadays, with smartphones and tablets and wireless connections galore, we are so connected to everyone in the ether, and yet we are seeing a disconnect to those who are physically around us every day. This sort of always-on attitude, while great for work productivity, has put a damper on traditional activities, like going outside or eating a meal with our friends or families.
That’s the reason why Reboot, a Jewish organization, instituted a National Day of Unplugging. Based on the Sabbath tradition in which everything is unplugged on a Saturday for 24 hours, this day aims to bring us back to what’s most important – life, without the cord.
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