Greetings followers,
Today is the last day of the social experiment! It’s been 6 months on a farm with nothing but a twitter connection. No electricity, no running water; just me, a barn, a trailer, and a phone with 0 talk time and an unlimited texting plan.
Looking back to when this experiment begun, @nonfarmer did not have a hard time convincing me to accept. I actually jumped at the chance. My life had been quite monotone the past few years, trying to work through college and bouncing between part-time jobs. Then all of a sudden, the quarter-life crisis snuck up on me. And I began to think about where I was headed, and what the next ten years would look like. It’s scary stuff…becoming an adult.
Then this opportunity came up. It got me thinking that ten years down the road, rich or poor, steady job or not, single or with family, I want to have ventured, tried different things, and gotten some good stories out of it. And holding that attitude, I just hope that everything else will simply fall in place. If it doesn’t, I at least have my stories.
The experiment seemed easy enough in the beginning. Weather was nice. Plenty of farmland to work with. And I was meeting new people everyday, commending me for my courage, while also opening a window into their own lives. I dont know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that. It was my first time on Twitter, and the power of technology to change how we communicate started to become apparent.
And as such, a month passed. Then two more. Then the loneliness kicked in. Halfway through the experiment, my nerves start to get at me. I kept thinking that as hard as it has been since the beginning, I have just as much hardship left. My followers were great for humor and the much-needed daily interactions to convince me I still mattered, but texting through a phone does little to replicate the warmth of in-person interactions. The weather reflected my mood, and the nights got even colder.
I took to reading more and more. I have probably read more books this past 6 months than my entire life. (I realize how sad that sounds, and I will make up for it as I continue reading in the future.) The books were an escape from being alone (imprisoned almost!) in the middle of farm country. The boredom brought forth a renewed interest in art design, and a completely new hobby in photography. I now see a future for myself along those lines.
The last two months have been terribly difficult. The amusements of social networking have all but worn off. I now realize how under-appreciative I was of face time with friends and family. It’s weird because the more you have it, the luckier you are, but the less you appreciate it. Nature’s balance? Anywho, I find it quite fitting that the experiment ends 5 days before Christmas, because I look forward to being with family.
I am not up to date on the advancements of technology. Never been an active participant of any social network. Not even a tv watcher. But this experiment has helped me put technology in perspective. I realize I cant go on avoiding it as I have because it enables a greater volume of interactions with convenience. Beyond that, its changing the way people communicate and to accept that, you must accept the technology.
But now Im also wary of the other extreme. Fully embracing techology makes us less likely to take the extra time to meet in person. After all, texting someone is easier than calling them, which in turn is easier than meeting for a drink. But I believe a little bit of us dies with each neglect, stripping away our sense of belonging. And its so gradual that you dont notice. In my extreme situation, it took 3 months to come to that realization; who knows how long it could take in the real world…
I figure thats my great learning. I dont know if thats what @nonfarmer intended to prove. Or maybe this whole experiment was just for kicks! Hes hella hard to read. Anyways @nonfarmer, I think Im about ready for my exit interview.
I want to give a most heartfelt shout-out to all my fans and followers that joined me on this journey. I dont know what my next steps are, maybe write a book about it all. (I already have the title: @SocialFarmer: The Escape to Nowhere. Haha!) I appreciate all you have done for me, and I will certainly keep you informed. Right now, I just want a break from it all, and enjoy the holidays with my family. I wish the same for you. Happy new years, and Ill see you in 2012.
I am the @socialfarmer. The social experiment is no more. Good riddance!
