Your own nuclear reactor

Does your phone have to alert you every time somebody has a bowel movement? I posit that no, it sure doesn’t.

I had an epiphany a while ago: I don’t run a nuclear reactor.

Which means I don’t have to be notified every single time something’s going on.

Which means I can turn off notifications on my phone.

Which means I can drive home from work without feeling my pocket vibrate. And go to the store without hearing a “bing” about every new e-mail that comes in to one of my accounts. And find out somebody @-ed me on Twitter when I feel like checking Twitter.

Which means my attention isn’t constantly being torn away from whatever it is I’m engaged in, so I can actually concentrate on the thing to which I’ve chosen to dedicate that particular moment instead of being yanked around by electronics.

Sure, I still check my e-mail like a lab rat going for a cocaine pellet, but I’m checking it on my own volition and schedule.

It’s a massive win for my frayed nerves and my sanity—no more voluntarily putting myself on a mental leash.

What’s kind of weird is that at least in the circles I move, this makes me a bit odd.

There are clearly more nuclear reactor operators out there than you’d think.

Posted Friday, 10 September, 2010 by Nic Lindh

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