Now, after a few years of this, I realize that when I look up from the screen I know almost nothing. And maybe that would be fine if the absent phone numbers and upcoming dates were freeing space for deeper and more introspective thought. But I sense that my addiction to the realtime stream is only making room for more consumption...
Because of Facebook app privacy rules, I choose not to publish my birthday on Facebook. This year, even close colleagues were startled to hear it had passed unnoticed. The reason was universally the same: "But my calendar didn't tell me!"
Dave Pell's article resonated with me as yet another illustration of the digital altering the organic in ways we may not notice until they're missed.