Diane sent me the following and suggested I include it in this week’s post:
Last night, my husband and I were sitting in the living room and I said to him, ‘I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.’
He got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.
I cheerfully admit I laughed out loud when I read this…thanks Diane! But after thinking for a bit it seems it applies more to a couch potato watching TV instead of someone using a computer.
Yes, we bloggers do depend on our computers for our connection to the outside world, but we’re scarcely in a vegetative state. Blogging enlivens my whole life. Does it do the same for you?
I sure depend on my computer these days. Once I switch on, Elly who lives 125 miles away knows her mother is alive for another day and not in a vegetative state! Since she has no siblings to share the burden of a decrepit cantankerous old mother it makes life easier all round.
We have several methods to indicate we are on-line without intrusion and yet available at a moments notice for a chat. I also think she keeps tabs on my numerous toyboys. 🙄
Using the computer is different, by far, from watching the TV.
Sure, it can be every bit as addictive and negative as TV.
However, when you’re blogging and/or building websites, it’s interactive and involved rather than passive, like TV.
Blogging has been great for me. I have met some people who I can really connect with and are interested in similar things to me. I also get the occasional compliment on what I write which is also nice. And then there is the hope of making a business from it. Almost all positive.
Grannymar,
That sounds like a great use of the web. 🙂
Mike,
I’ve heard of people getting addictive to the web, meaning it’s harmful to their health and well being, but I don’t really know anyone like that.
Evan,
I agree that the web is a great way to link up to kindred spirits. Good luck on making a business of your blogging. 🙂
I do know someone like that, a nephew. We hadn’t seen him for years and remembered him as a shy but friendly kid. When we visited my brother and his wife in Montana two years ago, we only saw our nephew for a very short time. He spends all of his time on the computer down in his basement room, mostly involved in on-line role playing games. We were told that he couldn’t seem to hang on to a job and didn’t have any friends. His older brother, who actually owns the house, referred to him as a “cave troll.”
Mike,
That’s a good example of going a bit far. What would he do if he didn’t have his brother? On the other hand, is his brother enabling him? That would be a hard call. The kid might be depressed and need professional help.
It is my lifeline to sanity.
Rummuser,
I can believe that! Bless you and bless blogging. As you are well aware, we readers appreciate you.
Ditto with what Ramana says. I often say that the world comes in to me through my computer on days when I am unable to go out!
Grannymar,
I couldn’t agree more. I never cease to be grateful.
Grannymar,
How often do you see your daughter? My daughter lives a lot farther away than yours does and she eventually would like us to move to the Midwest to be closer to her. As it is we get together at least once a year and have long phone conversations every Sunday evening. Phone calls are very important to us. My mother and I were very close even though we were miles apart. We had long conversations every Saturday morning. Long-distance phone calls are a bargain here in the states.
Jean,
Elly was with me overnight when I had the angiography at the end of June. I was down in Dublin and stayed with her a few times earlier in the year. As newly marrieds (2 years) and working very long hours she and George need their time and space without an ould hag on the floor! 😉 Elly is holding annual leave in order to spend time with me post op for my hip. We chat online or by phone most days.
Grannymar,
I would scarcely call you an old hag! But then I’m pretty sure you’re younger than I am so I’m not completely unbiased. 😉
I agree about not being too dependent on our children. They deserve to have their own life. My husband and I have been paying insurance for long-term care for many years now. We hope we never need it, and hope that if we do it will still be there for us, but we don’t want to be a burden.
I agree, modern technology is a great way to keep connected without disrupting the lives of our loved ones.
Good luck on your hip replacement. It sounds as if you have a lot of company on that one. That would mean a lot to me.
One aspect of blogging hasn’t been mentioned…things go wrong and we have to take the time to figure out why and get them straightened out. That doesn’t happen nearly as often with TVs.
At the moment I’m working through a problem with this very blog. 😕
Notice at the moment there are no gravatars or links to the commenters’ last blogs.
I managed to get the gravatars back, but commentluv still isn’t working even though I’ve activated it.
Ah! In order to get your latest post included you have to click the little box below the Submit button and wait for CommentLuv to find your post.
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Is It Really That Hard to Say No? =-.
Are you using WordPress? Did you move to 2.8.3?
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ Fennel Salad =-.
Grannymar,
Yes, I moved to 2.8.3 yesterday. But I upgraded because a lot of my plugins suddenly stopped working. WordPress didn’t even know about them even though they were in the plugin folder on my site. My hosting service used to be way behind in upgrades to WordPress but they’ve changed to Simple Scripts instead of Fantastico. They say the upgrades will be available much sooner.
Anyway, things seem to be working again. 🙂
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Is It Really That Hard to Say No? =-.
Most people I know who have updated to 2.8.3 seem to be struggling with it. Elly does all my behind the scenes work. She will never update my blog until all the gremlins are ironed out.
I hope your problems are over now.
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ Fennel Salad =-.
Grannymar,
I’m glad I didn’t know about 2.8.3 ahead of time! I upgraded to solve my problems with the plugins and it seems to have done the job. I do have a test site where I check the upgrades before upgrading my main two sites. When I did that it seemed to be fine.
Grannymar and an ould hag. That will be the day.
Jean, I had problems too. Ranjan licked them all save one. I still have one with scheduled publishing setting which is not working. I am trying to get expert help!
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..A Poignant Blog Piece. =-.
Rummuser,
As far as I can tell scheduled publishing isn’t a problem…at least it wasn’t for my last post at Cheerful Monk…but gravatars don’t always seem to work at the blog. Who knows?
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Is It Really That Hard to Say No? =-.
Love the cat. Did you ever notice cats try to imitate everything we do. Mine is trying to play with the mouse (apt!) right now. I think he doesn’t like anything taking attention away from him.
Thanks for coming by. 🙂