I was born in 2001, and ever since I've been surrounded by technology. I learned to use a computer when I was 6. I've never known what it's like to not have that sort of tech in my life. It all feels so normal, but when I hear stories from my parents about their lives when they were younger, I find myself faced with the stark difference between their childhoods and mine, and just how much society has changed since then.
I spend upwards of 8 hours with my friends every day, usually entirely virtually. If I'm awake, it's a pretty good bet that I'm talking to someone or another. It's honestly more uncommon for me to be on my own than for me to be online with one of my friends, and that's really interesting to me.
My generation is really the first to grow up like this, fully immersed in the online world, and I think it's worth talking about how different it is. We're the first to be able to connect freely whenever we want, no matter where we are, what we're doing, or who's nearby. This freedom is undeniably powerful, and there's no chance in hell that I would let it go, but I think that, maybe, in the process we lose some restraint.
Because honestly, I'd argue that being alone is not necessarily a bad thing. We're social animals, and whenever I find myself alone, I tend to reach for my phone to start a conversation. But in those few times where nobody is available, or I can't get online for whatever reason, I find my mind works much better.
A week or two ago, I had to take two ferry rides in two days alone. While I was sitting there for an hour and a half each way, I worked on things that I had been neglecting for weeks, and solved problems with my work that had been plaguing me for ages. And the thing was, I savored that time. I even went so far to try and get more of it by taking another trip the week after. When I was isolated from the world, and the only voice I could pay attention to was my own, I focused so much more clearly than I usually could.
I think that we sometimes feel guilty being alone when we could be with others. This idea that we're antisocial, or that we're missing out on valuable time with our friends is hard to shake. And the availability of free platforms like Discord and Teamspeak make it all that much harder to justify not being online when I could be spending time with my friends, making jokes and playing games. But I think it's key to remember that just because you're alone doesn't mean you're lonely.
I realized it's not so bad to take a break from people now and then. The quiet can be surprisingly comforting. For my own happiness, I think I'm going to try to make more of those moments when I can, and maybe you should try it too.
2024 Bonus Holiday Feature
Wow, Wow, I really, really hope that you didn't actually need a definition for what COVID is.COVID really did a number on this one. When porting forward a few of my older posts which I still feel moderately okay with, I came across this one, and I think it's a really interesting little time capsule. Reflecting back on my experiences here, I think that what I was just starting to grasp wasn't the desire to be alone, but the desire to have more rich experiences than just online. The pandemic really brought those frustrations to the forefront for me, where I was able to spend as much time as I wanted with friends online, but I was never truly able to feel satisfied with that time. It never felt full.
I've changed a lot in the last few years, and for better or worse, I don't think I struggle with the feeling that I always need to be online anymore. I spend a lot more time on my own when I code, or work on projects, or spend time around the house, and the peacefulness of it is really refreshing. But in its place, I found that I crave in-person interaction so much more.
Maybe that's what you get from being stuck at home for two years, or maybe it's just the natural progression of growing up, but nowadays I find spending time IRL is so much more rewarding, and so much more tempting even when I should be focusing on getting things done.
But, oh well. If I have to choose a vice, I'd rather it be socializing with the people close to me than being stuck online. It's a good tradeoff, I think. I hope that I'll look back on this in a few years and think the same.
