Ellen Ullman describes her email relationship with a man in her article Come in CQ: The Body on the Wire. She explains how she couldn't help but check her email every minute, and also how she would allow herself to check her email as a reward for doing work. Although I do not have an online relationship with anyone, my email and Facebook-checking patterns are similar to Ellen's. If I am doing work on the computer, I feel compelled to constantly check my email because it offers a break from challenging work yet still makes me feel productive. Similarly, when my mind gets tired from hours (or sometimes minutes) of studying, I like to take breaks and reward myself by checking Facebook.
In addition to the frequency of her email checking patterns, I also sometimes relate to the time she was up late and got on email just to see who else was up. Sometimes, usually in the summer and not the busy school year, when I'm up late at night unable to fall asleep, I will get on Facebook just to see if anyone else is on that I can talk to. This is human nature though; nobody likes being lonely, and for the portion of us who regularly stay up late, we need breaks from work and boredom in which we can talk to people.
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I can completely relate to the temptation to check Facebook and my inbox while doing work on the computer. Whether it be writing a paper, or reading an online article, I cannot seem to make it through without a rewarding distraction.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably safe to say that most of us have been in that late-night lonely situation and just want to interact with people. If my roommate is sleeping and I'm just sitting in the dark, I will try to find someone to talk to. The same goes for late summer nights. When I come home from hanging out with my friends, my parents and even my dog are dead to the world, so I crave an interaction.
I certainly agree with your post. I am also tempted to check my email and facebook in the middle of doing homework or writing a paper after an hour or two. I actually work better with some of those "rewarding distraction" as Emily said. Even though it is of course not good to be addicted to facebook, or any other social networking websties, that one cannot go on with other important tasks, I don't think taking a short break checking emails and facebook is not a negative thing.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with your post. I am also tempted to check my email and facebook in the middle of doing homework or writing a paper after an hour or two. I actually work better with some of those "rewarding distraction" as Emily said. Even though it is of course not good to be addicted to facebook, or any other social networking websties, that one cannot go on with other important tasks, I don't think taking a short break checking emails and facebook is not a negative thing.
ReplyDeleteDid you find any differences between Ullman and you?
Facebook and email are collaborative tools that allows us to connect with others, and I wholeheartedly agree that this communication is caused by "human nature". We love connecting to others; some find love and others friendship. Email is a great "productive" reward that allows us to stay in-sync with our world, without it some would feel lost. Similarly, Facebook and Twitter connects us to individuals as well as groups.
ReplyDeleteHowever alien it may seem that Ullman, or any person actually, could fall in love is not truly justified. For what part of a relationship is the most important? I argue that it is communication and that a connection based solely on pure communication could plant a great relationship.