Tech Backlash

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my site. In fact, it’s been a while since I’ve read anyone else’s posts. In fact, I’ve slowed down dramatically in listening to podcasts and even reading. I go through cycles of hitting a wall where I feel oversaturated and I need to step back and experience some quiet. During these times I just want to read/listen to a novel, or read a quick article in a magazine. One of the articles I just read (I can’t remember if it was WIRED or Entrepreneur) about Twitter regret – or feeling guilty about not being diligent in one’s post. I certainly resonated with that.
A month ago I got to go to a luncheon where Gabe Lyons was speaking about his book Unchristian. He used the term “digital pollution” and nailed me between the eyes. We get so busy and occupied with Facebook, itunes, blogging, etc. that at some point it just becomes white noise. We become overwhelmed and over saturated and we can’t process any more. He made a great point – that any new technology takes the place of something else.
In fact, he used the illustration of blogging. When someone starts a blog and posts fairly regularly, they tend to give up journalling. When this happens, we rob ourselves of the self talk and processing that takes place in journalling. And many times because of this we tend to post ideas and sentiments that we haven’t fully thought through. This can be at least a poorly communicated idea, and at worst a venomous rant. He has a point. I have saved myself embarrassment, stressed relationships and even my job by processing my thoughts in my journal. Those thoughts typically have no place on a blog. So I guess, it lets me off the hook a bit.
I’ll continue to post, but not feel that I have to put one out every week.
I don’t need to feel guilty if I’m not keeping up with every Kawasaki, Godin, Greoschel, or Ruggles blog entry. And I will make sure that journalling takes precedent over any of these technologies.