I read an interesting article in yesterday's paper that put into words similar thoughts I've had about technology sometimes getting in the way of living.
At this very second, there are gazillions of people videotaping, photographing, camera-phoning, e-mailing, voicemailing, blogging, typing, scribbling, talking things that may or may not mean anything now, but will really not mean anything tomorrow. This post is but one example of a sea of information in which we can so easily drown.
The article focused on the question: "Are we overdocumenting our lives?" Very well may be true. We spend so much time cataloging what's going on in our lives, when will we have time to revisit those things and still have time for new experiences? There is even, apparently, a database in the works that would archive voicemail messages virtually forever. Services like Google's g-mail claims to have so much space that you never have to delete a message; rather you can archive it. The bigger question is, "why?"
Of course, the "keep everything" attitude spills into the physical world as well. From children's art projects to the flotsam of daily life, sometimes it just comes down to throwing stuff away just to get rid of it. And sometimes it comes down to keeping something just because you haven't thought about throwing it away.
Here's some points to ponder in relation to all this:
• How many scrapbooks does a person really need?
• Have you ever taken a photo (or written a blog entry) and had an overwhelming deja vu feeling that you've chronicled the exact same event before?
• Do you really need to keep e-mails or voicemails from 10 years ago?
• When does anyone have time to watch all the videotapes they make of recitals, childbirths or weddings?
• Will relying on technology to help us remember mean that our brains will be less likely to remember things on its own?
Technology is awesome and overwhelming. It comes down to three things I need to remember in my life: prioritize, prioritize and prioritze. If we are conscious of the time we're spending, on what and with whom, maybe we won't feel the need to capture all of it to remember later. And maybe self-editing will help us avoid a memory glut before we have 50 boxes of photographs and 1,000 hours of videotape of relatives eating.
I'm all for taking photos; obviously I'm all for blogging. But I try to stay realistic that the words I put out into the ether have little consequence in the big picture. Certainly, they get more worthless every day. But that's because new experiences, time with family and friends, trying new things – maybe doing some old favorite things – that's what I'm striving for. We're all moving forward, might as well limit our time during which we look back.
You'll never convince the "physical" pack-rats to get rid of anything "virtual." You said it...look at Google's G-mail.
As far as blogging--it depends. Some people (like me) blog to put their fiction or political commentary out on a site, so when editors/publishers ask for "clips" you just give them a link.
Others, write instead of handwriting in a journal. I'd venture to say that most blogs wouldn't warrant being re-visited.
I'm all for throwing away most "stuff." Even pictures; I've parted with so many of them.
I once trashed all my art (all the stuff I painted, EVERY canvas) into a city dumpster because I didn't feel like taking it w/me during the move I was making to another state.
I actually regret doing that now...but I have pictures of all the things I painted/charcoals. Of course, I may have thrown those pictures away...cannot find them for the life of me.
Hmmm, Physical & Digital collections.
For physical items, my Aunt is the Queen of Clean. She will go through her stuff (from clothes to garage items) and ask, “Have I used this in the last 6 months”? If not, it goes in the trash (aside from holiday items).
For digital items, I only keep important documents and my digital photos. About 3 years ago I started putting photos in chronological order, into yearly folders. I’ve cruised through them on many occasions.
Your bottom-line is right, “does it really matter”? More than likely not, live in the now.
You certainly have hit the nail right on the head. We watched our wedding video (which a friend did for us unsolicited) exactly once.
So, here's to the future.
Cas
I guess I'm here to speak for all the packrats--virtual and otherwise. Today I'm wearing a sweater I haven't worn in three years. Last night I watched a video of a dance recital from my senior year in high school. This morning, I read two months' worth of my own blog archives. I have boxes and boxes of old movie tickets, birthday cards, fancy-folded notes passed to me in junior high, magazine articles, personality tests I took when I was 11, and trinkets and momentos from special times or special people. Yes, this weighs me down and makes moving a real bitch, but its greater purpose is that it makes me happy, and thus I continue to hoard stuff that should mean nothing but actually means a whole lot. As long as I don't forget to collect new memories along the way, I don't think I'm doing myself too much damage...
Yay, Leah! Exactamundo. I am a Proud Pack Rat. I will make this observance in support of those of us who chronicle family trees - every little bit of saved information on our lives might one day be very cherished by our great great offspring. As an amateur geneologist, I delight in finding old letters, scrapbooks, photos, and any memento I can find that gives me a window into the lives of my ancestors. We are such a throwaway society now, it has crossed my mind that the next generation of bone hunters won't have much to remember us by. Technology changes, so the VCR tape of a wedding might not be viewable. Photographs are fairly lasting if handled properly. Same goes for electronic notes - paper preserves those memories much more surely, especially the new acid-free stuff. On the blog note, I have begun to print out my blogs, and save them in a large three-ring binder. My daughters love them, and it is a diary of sorts. One man's trash is another man's treasure, right?
Yay for Leah and Cowtown Pattie and Gmail (which I don't have) and photo albums and wedding videos (which my kids think are hysterical) and all sorts of things that serve to remind me or humor me or whatever.
I hate keeping stuff, I try to remove as many messages from my Gmail account. I like things to be organized, but with electronic it does get hard to have a reason to not store stuff.
Some very thoughtful ideas on information and technology, T-bone! I've always been a packrat, but the older I get I find the less clutter I want in my life (physical and otherwise).
I've kept a written diary since I was 6 years old. I have over 100 volumes now. But I throw out old bills almost as soon as I pay them. So I'm selectively pack-rattish!
Technology was initially supposed to save us time. Now it just hogs up time (if you let it). It's easy to get into blog-reading or surfing and forget that your kid is in the living room, drawing by herself. =(
The voice mail thing....
A couple years ago my cousin Chad died (he was twenty) and my Uncle Wes (his Dad) still had a voicemail from Chad on his cell phone from a few days previous. It was worth saving - it was Chad at a Nascar race and he was so excited saying "Dad! This is SO AWESOME! Man I wish you were HERE! What a GREAT DAY!"
It was played on the speakers in the church during Chad's funeral and it made everyone smile.