The Ordinary Times

A Scientific Study, Day 2.

I really can’t tell if this is actually tough, or if it’s just that everyone thinks it’s tough. I just got off of the phone with Mr. Kevin Stone, and though he said “it’s a real pain in the ass for your friends,” he did commit to coming to my house at (more or less) the time I asked him to, and now I have a plan for tomorrow, and I don’t need to worry.

My girlfriend, Liz P., said it was real dumb that I am doing this. I told you that and I tell you this to point out that folks are reacting strongly my plan. I’m not convinced that we can’t break free from this crazy thing, this mobile phone business.

I’ve been having trouble determining my limits for this experiment, but I’ve come up with this. The phone can’t leave my desk, except for charging (outlets in my room are woefully placed). I will not respond to text messages except by actual voice call. Though I haven’t decided for certain, I imagine I will refrain from checking my voice mail messages from away, but might also end up in a sticky situation where I need to. I am DJing weddings on the next two Saturdays, and there is always something to fetch, or fix, or some other fiasco pops off during the event, but with enough foresight, this might be overcome.

The experiment seems to be a little flawed because my experience isn’t what it would be like if things totally changed and lots of people went back to land-lines and answering machines – my experiment is one person using a land line in a sea of mobile phones, i.e. I’m still counting on a network of cell phones to be able to contact people. I must return to my hypothesis: I predict that by using a land-line the pace of my life will slow down and I will less stressed, more productive, and more present in my every-day activities. I needn’t be confused with revolution; I’m not going to change anything. This is a scientific study, after all, not a polemic. I shall try my best to follow my rules and record the results without intent.