Wednesday, October 06, 2004
The Simple Life

Paris Hilton(that online porn queen)and Nicole Ritchie starred in some staged "reality" series called "The Simple Life" about a year back and while I never actually wayched the show,the premise of it is interesting.Two blue-blood socialites drop their everyday material comforts and park themselves in a rural village to see how they can survive there.Ok,so the situations in that show are actually staged anyway(tell me,which reality show haven't had their situations staged or scenes edited and misrepresented in one way or another?)and the two ditzy queens aren't,in real life,that ditzy after all but hey,it would have been nice if they did that for real.

What does that show got to do with anything?Well,it doesn't.The X-Men had a conversation in the pantry this afternoon during lunch and one of the topics talked about was when Jubilee went to some China道馆and observed the people there.Apparently,they looked and lived exactly as you'd see those道士did in all those TV shows we see.When I heard that,I was like...WOW.Are these people for real?They didn't have any modern facilities save for the convenience of electric lights.That's it.Not even a phone although they have a pay-phone outside of the premises.I am just amazed.I'd never be able to live in a place like that in a million years.

I always have the deep suspicion that a city person will never be able to fit into a secluded and "ancient" kind of lifestyle that's devoid of modern comforts.Imagine going to a place where there's no computers or the internet,where your mobile phone cannot receive a network and is as good as paperweight and well,where you have to drive a million miles just to see another house or living person.In fact,I think a lot of people can't even bear living without the internet,now that it's become such an integral part of life.

The Christian Science Monitor reported on a study where 28 people were asked not to use the internet for a period of two weeks and it's amazing how people struggle without such a tool.All of a sudden,many conveniences that people take for granted were taken away from them and many struggled to cope.You couldn't go online to find information or perform some tasks like banking and stuff.Everything had to be done manually.People complained.It's also interesting that even while they could no longer use the net,they reported more time spent in activities such as talking on the phone,watching TV/movies and reading.Some also reported visiting their neighbors, playing games and exercising more.

For myself,I have found that I rely extremely heavily on the net,whether for my own personal use or for work.Disregarding work,not having the net at home will be a real bummer.I would not be able to do a lot of things.I only stay away from the net when I am overseas on holiday.But even then,I have found myself wanting to sneak into an internet cafe one way or anotehr to check on news and email.Even though I could have read papers and I didn't have any real important emails that I was anticipating.Usually I resist.But that's because I know at the end of the holidays,I can safely go back home to clear everything I have and read everything I wanted.

Without the net,I don't know.I'd just end up watching more TV and sleeping more.Maybe play a bit more sports and watch a few more movies and visit a few more friends.Actually come to think of it,it's amazing how technology creates communities that brings people closer together and alienates at the same time.Read the article about how a college guy felt left out because he didn't have a messenger programme to use during that period like an IRC probably.We SMS each other instead of calling each other.Email colleagues instead of walking over.

If losing the internet is hard,how about losing all the trappings of technology and its benefits?Live just like an Amish.For me,I know I can't make it.I am a city person and can't imagine otherwise.I could live a secluded life of course but I'd need a working mobile phone(just in case of emergencies),laptop with network,a games console,cable TV and a car.That's cheating already.Like I said earlier,a city person will find it hard to live a life without all these modern conveniences.In fact,they are more like necessities to us instead of luxuries.Should that be so?I don't know.Can you live without your mobile phone?Seriously?Yes...but with great difficulties and inconveniences right?

The article made a very good point that being dependent does not equate to being addicted.Yes,I agree.But is it better in any way?I can't see that.In fact,isn't it worse to be dependent rather than addicted?

Is technology a double-edged sword?Making our lives easier and yet entrapping us in its crutches?So weird I should be questioning.And it's so matrix...don't you think?The dynamics between technology and us.Hmmm,why am I asking this?Maybe I am beginning to see through the fabric that constitutes our reality...Oh s#$%,I am THE ONE...