Well, my blog has remained unmaintained for far too long. The reason I am finally updating it is quite simple: I quit IRC!
Allright, I may have mainly just detached the screen, it *is* still running, but I'm not interacting with it. And might I say, it's a hoot. I've cooked a decent dinner, I've cleaned the whole appartment, and I'm just going out for a walk soon. I have already after an hour and a half noticed that I'm more focused and constructive.
This is not just very pleasing, it's also very scary. If dropping IRC made this much of a difference to me, should I go back? I maintain most of my friendships online on IRC. Friendships can tolerate a week-long absence, but for longer periods, I'd start losing friends - or at least begin to distance myself from them. I've had a number of thoughts about what to do. My main idea at the moment is just to wait a few days, then start hanging around for something like an hour daily at most.
The interesting thing is my reaction to this self-imposed online-pause. While eating dinner, I usually hang around on IRC. I watched a TV series episode (Rome season finale, if you must know :) instead - I'm not likely to be constructive anyway - and that was fun. After seeing something that annoyed me, I immediately reached for alt-tab to talk about it on IRC. Only after seeing screen tell me there was no such window did I remember what I'd decided to do. Also, twice within 4 minutes of this episode did get bored, and paused the thing to say hi to IRC. After doing the dishes for 5 minutes I walked over to IRC to check up. Only after quitting did I realize what a humongous timesink this has been for me!
I don't think I'll come back any time soon. I'll just let Vilde know about this blog and I'll be off again. I CAN QUIT ANY TIME! :)
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2 comments:
That is so absolutely true! I've done the same! Quitting IRC is a blessing. After a few months I was seeing much more people, and doing many things each day. I was almost not at home anymore.
However, -- now I'm using way too much time on IRC again. I think it is the moving that did it. And the fact I was starting to spend more and more time in front of the computer again before moving to Oslo.
Back in Stavanger I also got a girlfriend, which drags me out to do other things. Which is nice - now, without her - I'm using my time worse. So. Hum. Maybe I should refocus a bit? Do more math, and more non-computer-related things? Well, I can't quit right now. It's not bad enough yet.
Really hard to quit/cut back.
Indeed IRC is evil, and so is TV.
TV is even worse, at least series or non-educating programs, cause it encourages only apathy in the viewer. IRC has, as you point out, at least a social effect in terms of maintaining friendships, but it can be hard to limit chat time. A girlfriend can certainly help of course! :)
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