Addiction to connectivity

How many times a day do you find yourself checking emails or or thinking that you NEED to check emails. If you sit in front of a computer all day, that probably isn't even a thought, it is simply an automatic action. Also, since nearly everyone has a "smart" phone, you don't have to think about it, because it automatically comes through! But seriously, how many lives would be lost if you ignored your emails, text messages, phone calls and (God forbid) Facebook for a day? What about a week?

On my travels I am one of the few that still does not have an iPod/iTouch to carry around in my pocket, I still travel with a small netbook (my big clumsy fingers aren't adapted to the small touch screens), so it requires a little extra effort to get out the computer and get online - granted, not a big deterrent. I notice myself often asking "Do you have Wifi?" before getting a place for the night or even for a meal. The other day I talked to a guy who had been traveling for months, that had TWO iPods - one for data, one for media - and admitted he is addicted.

The point is, even if you break away from the "real world", and leave everything behind to travel the world, the desire to get online doesn't always follow; it still requires extra effort. Even though I automatically ask for Wifi a lot, I can easily go without it. I have been on boats for a couple of days at a time, or villages with absolutely no internet distractions and I don't miss it one bit, but when it is there, it is tough to ignore. It is like going on a diet and having a piece of chocolate cake (or whatever your vice) put in front of you.

So now, I am going into the jungle for a couple of days, we'll see how many lives are lost when I don't check Facebook for that time! :) Could you do it too??