#TalkNerdyToMeLover’s Nate Rushton
Holidays are always a special time of the year. No matter which religion you are or country you’re from, time away from however we lead our lives is always a welcome change. We spend so much of our time slaving away for our employers, our partners, our families and ourselves. Many would say that in 2010, there is a social media & technology revolution happening and that all of this helps us lead more productive and efficient lives. During the long Easter weekend not only did I have a break from my normal routine, I also had quite a large break from my involvement in social media and my beloved technology. I love Facebook, Twitter and have what could possibly be an unhealthy love for my custom built HP Media Center PC. No really, it’s so shiny and black with blue lights… Raaaaawr! I also love my HTC (yes, I am non conformist Mr. Jobs). Love my 3G Internet and the things I can do on the go. Easter holidays therefore led me to some interesting thoughts and funnily a little bit of social adjustment.
Close your eyes and picture for a moment that you suddenly don’t have acces to social media or some of the technology that we have become so accustomed to. You cannot access the Internet. No tweets or status updates. No mobile (cell) phones. Okay, open your eyes. Assuming that you of course could handle the thought and your head and your head has not exploded or you aren’t curled up on the floor waiting for the men in white coats to take you away. Oh yes, it is a scary thought, isn’t it people? Makes me wonder what people did with their time oh so many years ago. But it also made me think, are we applying all these tools for the benefit of our life. Have we been convinced by big wigs and marketing companies that this is just how life it? That we NEED all of this?
My Easter was spent on a farm with my parents and family friends. I had access to one computer, shared between two families and no 3G whatsoever. Oddly, somehow I didn’t freak out! I’m pretty sure I lost some hair and was continually wearing at my HTC and mobile service, yet I really freakin’ enjoyed myself. I had gotten so used to conversing on-line, watching video streams and having everything at my fingertips that conversing with “real” cherished people in my life meant far more to me than I realized. I played Chess and got beaten by a 17 year-old. I talked to my Mum. I drank with my Dad. I went for numerous drives to visit great friends who I rarely see. I literally breathed the fresh air and smelt the flowers.
For those of you following @JenFriel, the creator of this site on her “Unapologetically Awesome Tour” and if you’re not you should be, I think there is a lesson to be learned from how she applies herself to to social media and technology in today’s crazy changing world.
All of this technology we use is useful and certainly has a place in the modern world. Jen is traveling the U.S. and not only applying all of the technology tools that we love so much but is managing to combine it all with real people skills along the way. You see friends, as exciting as this big wave we’re riding on is, we must always remember that NOTHING beats human contact! It is the choices we make that define how we use what is available to us. We don’t need convincing from over-zealous marketers that we need ALL of it. Instead, I suggest we should pick and choose what suits us best. We should use these tools to communicte with those we love and care about. We should use them to meet new people. But we should also remember that it’s okay, rewarding and often enjoyable to spend time personally with those same people.
I look forward to to meeting you, my readers, interating and engaging with you in person. If we ride the wave properly, we can use it to our advantage and meet some real great people along the way. I know I already have and I can’t wait to meet up with them.
We are the people! We control technology, we control the marketers and their hype. They don’t control us and that’s the way it should be. Yep, I’ve had my epiphany. I will sleep tonight knowing that I am now using the Internet the way I want to and I lead my life the way I choose to lead it!
Follow Nate on Twitter: @rustynath
