“Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
I’m not talking about ‘death’ of course, but the notion that ‘going dark’ is desirable. I recall someone accusing me of being addicted to the Internet which, despite being true, is also utterly preposterous. I pointed out that this person is never found without a watch, and in fact, owns half a dozen of the accursed things which is as ridiculous as anything. (I would prefer a wall clock and watch that use nothing but ‘fuzzy time’ (like this one. It’s evidently just as possible to be addicted to knowing the time, another completely artificial construct.
Darryl has mentioned ‘go dark’ a couple of times to Gareth and Andy because they were on vacation (in Dublin and Prague). My other half has balked at my attempts to find good internet coverage while we go on a cruise (visiting 6 countries) in August because it shows my addiction. She will, on the other hand, be taking her MacBook Air with her (to download photos to) and will be disgusted if she can’t get her email.
I think that for my ‘watch bearing friend’ and others who cannot leave the house without watches, reading materials, makeup, umbrellas, chewing gum, tobacco products and other serious but potentially more socially acceptable addictions, they should work on their own issues. Being internet connected 24×7 isn’t something I strive for. But it being present when I want or need it is.
That’s the difference between ‘always on’ and ‘always available’. I want internet to be ubiquitous because I don’t know if I need it ‘now’ or ‘later’ and unlike tobacco and makeup it’s not something I can just ‘buy’.
Anyone know the state of free WiFi in Stockholm? St Petersberg? Talinn?