Internet Dependency

The Internet. How long can you go without it?
That's the question people refuse to answer. Why would they ever not need the internet? Wi-Fi is everywhere now, so as long as you have a computer, you have internet.
The Internet is becoming an addiction. Facebook, MySpace, Email, Blogging, news sites, the list goes on. 24/7 people are glued to the computer, connecting with others in real time, researching things with the push of a button. Whatever happened to books? Or telephones? Have we become so dependent on the computer that we forget everything else? Sure, you can't find everything in books, and sure, chatting is a lot easier than holding a phone to your ear, but have you ever wondered what life would be like without the internet? If that happened right now, our whole society would collapse.
I'm not critisising. In fact, I'm an example of this myself. I cannot type my story unless I have a window open with gmail and facebook. (I'm getting used to not doing this, becuase where I am there is no Wi-Fi, so I use the internet on the one connected computer, and type my story on my laptop). It's kind of unsettling without the net, because I've become so dependent on what my friends are doing, and if they've sent me any email, that I end up writing only about half a page the whole time I'm seated at the computer.
I mean, I read a whole lot. Like, too much. But I always make time in my day to check my email, look stuff up on various websites, and facebook away.
A few weeks ago we went on a trip. There was no internet, just us, nature, and some guest houses. I occupied myself with the nintendo ds, and I was doing fine without the curse of internet, untill I realised my dad had his blackberry, which can access internet anywhere. I ended up checking my email. Only once, but still, I couldn't go without it.
Maybe people can go without the internet. I find things more peaceful when I make myself not use the internet for a couple of days. I guess all people are like that, until tempted by thier computer, or a phone call from thier friends about 'Hey, did you see this?', and then the momentary peace is gone.
The world is stuck in a web. Use, the internet, if you will, but make time in your life for other things. Please.
--me