Newsflash: I’m not always on the internet

Here’s an issue: I’m not always on the internet. Well it isn’t really an issue. But it is something that other people should note for… well, most people.

I’m not always “connected”. For me, that is not a problem at all. Not being on my computer 24/7, turning wifi or mobile data off on my phone, is normal.

Since I got a mobile phone I have never been on a monthly plan. I have been on prepaid, so that I have a set amount of money to spend, which usually lasts a good while, and I only need to recharge my phone credit if I run out. I have been used to this ever since I first owned a phone in 2002.

I had a sense of discipline for almost a decade, having an old “brick phone” until about 2010. That meant no social media, no blogging on the go, no reading blogs while waiting for the bus – no internet. Once I got a smartphone I quickly became addicted. Right now I would still admit to the same thing. My phone is like my left arm, and I take it almost everywhere I go. I don’t feel a need to be connected. In fact, half the time I am probably just constantly refreshing my email or my Twitter feed or thinking of something to send on Snapchat. I mentioned a few posts ago that I no longer have push notifications for my email and just refresh manually. But these pockets of time, these bits of time I find myself entering my passcode into my phone for no apparent reason – are what prevent me from feeling this need to stay connected.

This brings me back to my initial point: I am not always on the internet. Why do I feel like I need to make this statement?

  • Didn’t you read my email?
  • Didn’t you see my tweet?
  • Didn’t you get my message?

Sometimes, I feel like people need to understand that I am not always online. Did I read your email? No, because I was probably doing something more productive at home like cleaning the kitchen. Did I see your tweet? No, because I am not just sitting there refreshing my Twitter and somehow expecting you to tweet. Did I get your message? No, because I am not always on the internet and I really, really, really don’t know why you are so dependent on iMessage to get in touch with me.

Another thing: I have a life. I don’t spend every waking moment with my phone always on wifi.

I have an iPhone. One thing that irks me about having one is the mindset from other people who have iPhones. They will send me an iMessage – which is messaging for free between iPhone users. The thing is, it is not free. You have to have a wifi connection or have mobile data turned on. Of course, at home, this may not be an issue. I will receive the message promptly. However, promptly does not mean immediately.

  • Since some time after the 3G was released, iPhones were made so that wifi or mobile data would be disabled when the phone is on standby, unless the phone is connected to an external power supply, because it did not make sense for it to be on when the phone was not in use.
  • I might not be at a wifi hotspot, and I don’t want to have my mobile data on and be using up credit unnecessarily.

I don’t know why some people are so reliant on free messaging – not just iMessage, but other services like BBM or Whatsapp. Your message won’t reach the person as quickly as a text message would. Unless the person is halfway up Mount Everest or in the middle of the Sahara or swimming in a sewer, your text message would most certainly reach them immediately.

But, all in all, do we want to be connected all the time? As someone who works in web design and development, constantly online throughout the day at work, I like to sit on the train home in peace. I crave the mornings when I realise I turned my wifi off overnight and there aren’t twenty Whatsapp messages, ten Instagram notifications, five blog comment notifications, twenty tweets and ten snaps on Snapchat flooding my screen when I just want to see the time.

I no longer want to post a piece of food on Instagram every time I want to eat it.

Also, I enjoy doing things outside of blogging, outside of chatting on Skype, outside of reading design articles on the internet.

On the weekend I went ice skating with Tristan. The only time I got out my phone was to show him

Comments on this post

I go through periods of time where I put my phone on airplane mode. I don’t turn it off, since there might be things I need on it (like notes I wrote up while on the go, or checking a previous text message). I have it off right now because I haven’t bothered to charge it. I just don’t feel like texting anyone.

Being in university, I get really annoyed by some of my professors who rely on online communication. For instance, one of my profs (who I respect an incredible amount) needs timely replies to their emails. It bothers me. I’m not always checking my emails–I also don’t have push notifications and instead have all my emails synced to one client–and can’t reply to one where they need a reply within the two hours they sent it. /bash

For me, it’s the communication that comes with being online. I’ll get off my social media or turn off my phone, just to get some sense of being “away” from everything. There are other times, like when my Internet goes down, where I’m glad that I’m not connected. I’ll do some writing or reading in that time, maybe clean up the house or do chores.

It’s nice to not be in that constant state of connection, whether it’s with the Internet or with people through devices.

I think it’s really apt that you posted this now, because I recently just deleted my Facebook in an attempt to disconnect a bit (amoungst other things, of course). I used to (well, still do, haven’t quite kicked the habit) always check my phone/rely on having internet on the go whenever and wherever I was, parties or on the train or in class or whatever. Granted, online connectivity is entertaining when you’re bored in class or waiting for a friend to come back from the bathroom, but I definitely see it get out of hand – especially when you’re in the middle of a movie and feel the need to refresh your inbox. We’re in such a digital world now, we’re all saturated with these online necessities that they’re taking over our lives and every day experiences – a lot of people can’t even eat without sharing it online, y’know? Life isn’t as much about living as it is about being able to be connected to 2000 people while doing so, and I am not that keen about that anymore. I admire your ability to be so disconnected and I hope to one day have those skills too!

Yay for prepaid phones! I like them because they’re much easier to have and pay for, whereas contracted phones are always, well, contracted, and you’re locked into that price and those rules and the pricing can always change. Meh. With prepaid I get a solid rate per month with unlimited everything. Much nicer, I think. ♥

I think the only difference between you and I in this post is that I do feel the need to be connected, but that stems from my paranoia. I don’t, however, always have my email program open or the Twitter app on my phone open. I actually deleted the app to make room for other apps I’d like to have because it was just something I didn’t care for anymore.

But I feel like people these days expect immediate contact and replies because of the technology we have to make it all happen — “I text messaged you; why haven’t you replied?!” or, “I called and you didn’t answer.” A lot of people expect things to be dropped, but it can’t always be done that way. >.>

I go through periods of having to be connected with the world around me, and periods of simplification. Sometimes I think that the problem is that we spend too much time worried that we’re going to miss something, that we’re going to be left out of an event. Well, I have a newsflash for those people…If you’re going to be included, then people will find a way to do it, regardless of whether you’re connected or not. Well, I’m off to go post comments and whatnot. /type

This is very true! A friend said to me that I might be missing out on events on Facebook. But I still get told one way or another, a friend might text me, knowing that I don’t have Facebook but an event came up that I might be interested in. They will definitely find a way to notify you if they want you there.

I’m always connected but I’m still bad at replying to emails and texts in a timely fashion. I guess much like real life, I like to wander by myself online. I get very annoyed when text conversations drag on for too long unless it’s people really close to me. But then I need to be connected, because I love wandering by myself online. :P

+1 for prepaid plans! I was planning on staying on my prepaid plan and just buying my current smartphone for the full retail price (much cheaper in the long run). I got talked into signing a contract in the end. I really regret it.

I really don’t think we need to delete any social media networks. I really think, we need to just sit back and relax away from the social media world. I have been off and on Facebook due to reading. Though, I’ve noticed I have been frequent on Facebook and on Twitter, due to some giveaways, and not feeling well. But, still I have been limiting the amount of time I once was on before to about half that via reading my books.

Of course, you know that I have many Stephen King books to tend too. I also bought a copy of I Am Malala, and that one is an eye opener. But anyways, when I’m not reading, I’m out, when I’m not out, I’m mostly reading and every so often going online to the social media world. Again, half the days that were wasted on the social media networks, are now being spent reading my books.

I’m not sure what prompted you to write this post up, but I applaud you for doing so. I know people don’t seem to understand that you’re busy and DO have a life outside the computer. Remember how I was that way at first? Yes, I will admit it. I was that way at first, but in time I did realize that you were busy and can’t answer every single one of my emails. I now wait patiently for when it does come. I don’t get all butt-hurt if it’s not sent back right away.

Here’s one for example: I sent you an email about some coding problems I had. Well, I decided that I should try before bugging, and I did. I knew that you were busy, and probably weren’t online so I made a new layout and didn’t want to keep pestering my good friend. As I know that gets irritating after awhile. I figure things out on my own, or try too. If I can’t and can’t find it on the search engine’s, that’s when I go to you for help. Nothing wrong with that I don’t think?

Anyways, social media is becoming a thing of the past. I really think. It’s great to be keeping in touch with family who have moved elsewhere; or who lives in another state. I.E., Since my dad isn’t a phone person, this is the only way I can keep in contact with him with out blowing his top over the phone. My best friend moved out of state and I stay connected on Facebook to her and her family as well as phone. I know most of the time she’s busy with work, her kids and what not, so she can’t always get to the phone right away. But over time I have since learned that not everyone will want to be on the phone and reply when YOU want them too. That’s just selfish that you think they have to drop what they’re doing to tweet, text, or Facebook you. I again will admit that I used to be like that when I was younger, but now I’m older and much wiser. So enough of that.

My mum just inherited my old iPhone, and I think that partially got me thinking about this (thus I wrote this post). She does not want to spend money on texting, so she sends iMessages when she has internet access. She thinks it is amazing and I don’t blame her, but when I get a ton of messages as soon as I turn my wifi on… I know that this can’t be good if she needs to get to me in an emergency.

An emergency may not always be the case. But I have had friends who ask if I have received their message, and it is just a simple case of me not being “online”. I think most people start out being very reliant on the internet to keep in touch with people, and from time to time I notice patterns in my friends’ behaviour and assume they might be online most of the day. However, I know that in a real emergency or if I am wanting a quick reply, the best thing to do is to text, or even call.

I know sometimes in the past you used to send me emails to make sure I got it! But I don’t blame you, as I said, most people are like that at least some of the time.

I try not to bug people unless it is urgent; I guess this is in line with my last post and emails – if people send emails they shouldn’t expect a reply right away of course. There are lucky times I have responded to you right away because I happen to be online, but other times I’m away most of the weekend or something like that.

My parents don’t use social media like a lot of parents do these days, my mum still likes to make phone calls. :D It is definitely a nice idea to take a break from the internet every once in a while. It is challenging, but sometimes really refreshing.

You know that’s funny. I do remember that I used to bug the hell out of you when I was younger and just starting out in coding. I don’t ask you or be consistent about things anymore like I used to way back in 98-99. What I don’t know, I learn, what I don’t learn, I look up. Easy as that. The only time I can’t find it is when I contact you for help :).

It’s funny, both of my parents have a Facebook account. My mom (even though I never talk to her) rarely goes on or at all. My dad’s on all the time, as he has some depression issues and when he doesn’t feel like restoring antiques, he gets online and goes on Facebook. Half of my family has a Facebook account. I’m only friends with one cousin and my dad that are relatives. The rest can bite me. I’m also friends with my dad’s girlfriend even though I still don’t care for her as much as I did when I first met her. Due to personal reasons. They even have a twitter account! I almost barfed at the thought of my dad having a twitter account. He’s so illogical sometimes when it comes to thinking and irrational. But I honestly think that our parents don’t really know what Twitter is, they’ve heard of it, but don’t know what it is. Facebook is one thing — but having a twitter account that you don’t really use? I’ll never understand their thinking in that. I guess they had seen me being on it, tried it out, and thought it wasn’t so bad that I was just following paranormal people (apparently, the girlfriend hacked into my old account as a couple of paranormal investigators would be unfollowed later on and I would have to turn around and follow back. I got fed up with that and deleted it.) .

But anyways, yeah, I only use the media on my phone such as Instagram. The whole notification thing on Facebook really got on my nerves. So many notifications whenever I turned on the data or wifi. I just now deleted it and it feels good. I still have internet on my computer, so not a major loss just because I choose not to have it on my phone.

Hellooooo there!

Well just like you, ever since I started working, I rarely use the internet not until now that I felt like I missed the blogging world.

I like going out with friends as well. I like eating to different restaurants. LOL. But I think comparing to my old self back in college… I’m somehow disconnected online.

It’s nice reading your post again, Georgie! Hope you still remember me. :D

Tine! Of course I remember you, haha. There are a lot of bloggers in our little blogging circle who have been quiet lately but how can I forget your constant use of :D smileys, hey? :D

I guess online I am not really disconnected, but I don’t talk to my friends as much. I don’t think that is a problem, since we occasionally tweet each other (I don’t have Facebook) and text each other, and it’s nice when we catch up and see each other in person.

You probably aren’t missing out on much in the blogging world, maybe you just need to be updated with your blogging friends’ lives, but most of the time when you stop blogging for a couple of months and ask what is going on, there isn’t much to tell – or it can be summarised pretty quickly, or will come up in conversation over time. :)

I was the same way before getting a smartphone. I actually held off on getting one for several years because I was afraid of being addicted to it. Now, I think I really have become addicted to checking my mail and social media on my phone. I like your idea of turning off the wifi/data on your phone once in a while.

I think that’s great that you don’t pull out your phone to check things often. I get annoyed when people do that while I’m trying to talk to them, and I’ve always told myself not to be like that. I don’t think I’m at that stage, but I do think I should be using my phone less ^^;;

It’s also really annoying when people are shopping with you and they answer their phones every 5 minutes. It’s as if you don’t even exist. I swear people are liking and wanting the Zombie Apocalypse to happen. Well, believe it or not folks, it has. People + Smart-phones = Zombies.

I went out shopping with my boyfriend’s grandmother one day for Christmas, and every five minutes or so, the phone would be ringing (mainly being the mother of my boyfriend). Every time I went to say something – the grandmother would answer the call. It’s like really? Why bother trying to talk when the phone is just going to be ringing every 5 minutes with something that will just annoy you. I check out instagram more than I do Facebook on my phone as I post photos to there. Sometimes, I’ll check Facebook when I’m away, but not all the time like I used too. I’m considering in deleting the Facebook app anyway. Not entirely liking all the notifications I get when I turn on the mobile data.