Day Without Technology

As technology is evolving into such a key impact in our daily lives, one writer will still not budge. Wendell Berry, who is a former English professor at the University of Kentucky will not buy a computer. Berry is very passionate about his poems and novels but continues to use his typewriter that he purchased in 1956. Berry wrote, "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer." In his essay he explains how his wife proof reads every one of his works and he does not need a computer to take away a vital part of his life. He makes pivotal points such as, "it should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible, it should be at least as small in scale as the one it replaces, and it should do what that clearly and demonstrably better than the one it replaces." Berry makes a great argument that some pieces of technology are just not worth buying especially when older models work just as good.

Recently over spring break I went on a trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Unfortunately, I did not have an international cell phone plan which meant I had to go five days without my cell phone. At first I felt like there was no way I could live that long without my phone or talking to any of my friends. Immediately after I said to myself, "I'm at the beach, why do I really need my phone?" Over my five day voyage without my cell phone I found ways to still talk to my friends and keep up with what was going on in the world. I still had my laptop during the evenings because I had to complete an essay over spring break. With my laptop I was able to get on Face Book and talk to friends or email people I needed to talk to.

During the five days I found many activities to do that didn't involve my cell phone. Such activities consisted of golfing at the resort, laying on the beach, and even zip lining. These activities convinced me that I can actually go a long period of time without my phone and still be content. Usually, I just sit around all day text messaging or talking on the phone when I can be out doing something. After five days in Mexico I turned my phone back on and received about twenty text messages, most of them being insignificant. Over my five days I learned that it is not a dyer need to have a cell phone and that it is very easy to manage without one.

I agree with Berry that some piece's of technology are not worth buying but I feel like a cell phone is very important because it can give you access to people, most importantly during an emergency. Berry is strongly against buying a computer which is completely understandable and his right to not want one. Although, Berry's arguments against computers can be easily countered. For example, computers can be easily purchased and repaired at many different stores which Berry said they needed to be. Also, laptops are much smaller than typewriters and a computer can be much more user friendly than a laptop. As stated before, Berry claims that his wife does all of his proof reading, but not everyone who uses computers have the ability to have someone spell check their documents. The advancement of computers have made a huge impact for the general public.