I suppose I will need to pick up a TV show or start checking Facebook so that I have something to blog about. For this first post I will just share some musings I have been having lately about my future with media.
- I recognize that I can't just ignore all media, intrusive as it may be, and isolate myself. That would be kind of weird. And I don't want all of my Facebook friends to think I am weird.
- Part of me really loved that one semester when I watched The Bachelor with my roommate. And not just because it is a ridiculous show. Something about it LURES YOU IN like when you are pouring a bowl of cereal and you keep pouring out just a few more lucky charms, hoping to get more charms than that other grainy stuff, and find that you have WAY too much cereal but you eat it anyway.
- The other part of me recognizes that I usually leave interactions with media feeling empty and frustrated that I wasted part of my life.
- What is the solution here? How can I use media to enhance my life rather than burn my eyeballs out and turn me into a grouchy wanna-be Bachelor contestant? Really these questions are nothing new. Humans have always sought to develop moderation and self-control. Media just joins the long list of temptations that help us develop these attributes. Just as God commands us to fast regularly in order to gain control over our appetites, I think it would be wise for us to disconnect ourselves every once in awhile, take a deep breath of unpolluted, uninterrupted thinking time, and re-evaluate the purpose of media and how we use it. It can be so loud and demand so much attention that it makes us forget everything else going on in our lives. Now, I believe media can be a great tool. I am amazed that I can connect with my family all over the globe instantly, google any question any time...also instantly, and even seek out virtuous and uplifting entertainment, hobbies, or craft inspiration...instantly. But I just hope that we don't lose sight of long-term goals and personal growth because we are drowning in a world of instant notifications. David Elkind in his book The Hurried Child wrote that the best things in life are slow. Think about it: waiting for Christmas morning, a five course Thanksgiving meal, mastering a bad habit, and the theme song from "Schindler's List". We rob ourselves if we saturate our lives with instant gratifications only.
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ReplyDeleteI liked your points about balancing the media in our lives. I am pretty similar in the fact that I don't check my Facebook too often, and I don't watch any TV shows. I also realize that shutting out the media completely isn't the best way to handle things and that there is a lot of good we can gain from the media. Also, your post reminded me of this brief clip reminding us to take a break from technology for what is really important.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/deseretnews/videos/10153812950444655/
Totally agree with you! Balancing media in my life is huge and i think media can be a great thing once in a while. I'm not to involved in media right now but try to pay attention to the media I use each day. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know that I'm not the only one in the class who was daunted by the assignment to make a blog about the media and post about it every week. I honestly prefer not watching tv shows, checking face book, blogging, and even texting. Sometimes I also wish I could isolate myself from it all, and let's face it, I'm sure my Facebook friends do think I'm weird. I just feel so much more fulfilled when I actually interact with someone in real life. Like you said, technology often leaves me feeling like I've been wasting my time.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't think (at least I try not to think) that it's all bad, and I hope this class will help me see the good in media.
I'm really glad I made you watch the bachelor that one semester. I also love your thoughts here. I think you are the queen of balance and will master the mix of being involved in the media and staying above the nonsense of the world.
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