Overconnectedness: You Know You Have It

I picked up a copy of the January/February issue of the Utne Reader in a waiting room this week and found myself immediately drawn to an article on America’s overconnectedness. I wish I could link to it, but the new issue just went up and I can’t find the old one anywhere! But the idea of the article, which was an interview with…someone…was that our society is entirely too connected because of the internet, e-mail, cell phones, etc, and that we’ve reached a point where we’re dependent on instantaneous sharing of our emotions. A quick text message here and there, a blog for immediate publication for innermost thoughts, a phone on you at all times… We’re incapable of being alone.

“Not me,” I scoffed. “I’m so not one of those people.” But tonight on my way home from school, I seriously called about 8 people because I just felt like I needed to talk to somebody. I wasn’t upset, I didn’t have great (or terrible) news to share, I just needed to have that instant interaction. And it freaked me out.

Have you had one of those experiences? Will your cell phone be attached to your hand until you have it surgically removed? Are you a closet MySpace addict? And is it healthy? I want to know what you think.

Spill it.

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King