I left the house without my phone and I lived
On the habit of technology for convenience...
The other night I was just going to make a quick trip to the grocery store. As I ran downstairs to my vehicle, I realized I didn't bring my phone. Like most people today, I always bring my phone when I leave the house.
Not because I am expecting and calls, or want to be available for any potential messages. Not because I wanted to look at it just in case I had to wait in line. Not because I don't know where I am going, but the convenience of seeing if there is traffic. Most of the time, it's for google maps. The MAJORITY of the time, that's why I bring my phone with me.
So that evening, I didn't need it at all. But I stopped, and had to really ask myself "Do I need it?" Bringing the phone is a habit. It felt like something was missing.
You know what I did, but it felt kind of weird. I literally said in my head "I guess google is not going to know where I will be for the next 15 mins to 1/2 hour."
As a person that values privacy, I stopped fooling myself into thinking that my life can be private and "anonymous". Technology for the sake of convenience has certainly ended that long ago. But "data collection" relies on participation. Not bringing my phone with me, I had this thought that I was going back to the 90s, when you would go somewhere, and no one could call you, reach you, or find you. Unless you call them (maybe on a pay phone or landline) or you actually see them in person, you could be anywhere, and people wouldn't know. That sense of ambiguity... bluriness.. and lack of control... but also freedom... That doesn't exist in today's society with all the constantly evolving technological conveniences.
So yeah, I didn't die. I made it to the store and back in one piece. There was no traffic (nor would there be since it's a low traffic area anyway and such a short distance.) I didn't wait in line because it wasn't busy, so no "unoccupied time" to fill. But without trying to sound grandiose, that small act was like reclaiming a little bit of freedom. Since I did it consciously, I was also seeing how it was affecting me. And afterwards, I felt a bit lighter. I might do it again...