The Web Takes Time
The web takes up a lot of my time. I’m not sure if I would classify it as a passion, or a hobby, or an addiction, but I’m on a lot. I check my RSS feeds through my Netvibes homepage, check my email with Thunderbird (3 different google IMAP accounts), check in on things at work with Logmein, and recently I spend a big chunk of time at FriendFeed. This would all be fine and dandy, but doing one of those other things will most certainly point to new things that I’ll discover and need to check. About 30 minutes ago, I added blogger Louis Gray to my feeds (someone who I wish I discovered earlier, because he has a lot of great things to say). I added Louis because I follow him on the aforementioned FriendFeed, and doing so adds to my cycle of things to check. I don’t consider that a bad thing or a burden, but know it will take up more of that valuable time.
I don’t really think I’m “addicted” to the Internet in the clinical sense. I avoid using it at work so it won’t interfere with my job, I don’t neglect family or friends because of the Internet, and if just can’t get around to it, not having access doesn’t really affect me. That said, it does take up most of my free time. I gave up watching TV years ago. I don’t need it and most of it simply isn’t entertaining to me. (Note: This is somewhat ironic because my job directly involves television media. Not just some television media… ALL of it, particularly the news.) I find the entertainment that’s on the Internet much more entertaining, interesting and importantly, personal. Television is not “interactive” unless watching with a group of friends, but the Internet is interactive at almost every juncture. I can vote things up, digg it, comment on it, bookmark it, favorite it and interact with others who are doing the same. The bad part is that there is not a clear cut end to my Internet cycle. Television shows have a beginning and end. The Internet, as far as I can tell, never ends.
I happen to have a lot of time right now, with my wife and daughter out of town (until Mid-May, ugh), so I’m spending more time than ever doing my Internet “cycle” (Intercycle - the process and amount of time it takes me to check everything I MUST check during a web session.) If I finish my Intercycle, and I still have time (not needing to go to bed, work, or eat), I’ll simply repeat the Intercycle. Commenting and sharing is a built in function of my Intercycle and certainly adds to the time.
Unfortunately, because I currently have more time, I’m becoming more efficient with my Intercycle and find I have even more time after I complete it. So, sometimes instead of the simple repeat, I’ll add more stuff to my Intercycle. I’ll seek out new webapps, or sign up for multiple betas, or get more involved in the communities that are in my Intercycle. While this isn’t intially a problem, when my wife and daughter are back, my Intercycle time will need to be cut dramatically and I’ll have to choose things to cut. That’s always a tough process.
What is your Intercycle, and how long does it take you to “accomplish” it?
Other things: My friends can’t keep up with my Intercycle, which allows me to introduce them the to a lot of new things. Again, they can’t keep up, so I’m often telling them how I’ve already seen something when they try to show me. My iPhone has taken on an Intercycle of it’s own, which can be problematic.
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