Talk Nerdy To Me
Life After Loss (of Laptop)
On the way back to Boston for this summer, I lost my MacBook. Yes, I am careless enough to leave a laptop in a cab. In my defense, I flew back with my cat, Duke, and, having put my laptop underneath his carrier, I was more concerned about getting Duke situated than making sure I had everything.
It’s been a grueling two weeks without my laptop, and after filing police reports, I am rather convinced that it is gone forever.
Even after crashing my hard drive a handful of times, I still haven’t learned my lesson on backing up my entire computer. I am only slightly upset about losing my music; instead, I am more upset over losing my photographs and writings, particularly those involving boyfriends past. Although these relationships mean less to me now, I couldn’t help but hold onto those memories. It’d be silly if I said laptop failures happen for a reason. But now I can’t torture myself with these memories.
I’m trying to make the most of my situation; at least my cat is safe, right?
Even better, there weren’t any naked pictures!
Laptop-less at MIT can be a miserable existence. Up until now, it never dawned on me how often students sit around watching television together with their laptops. Instead of engaging in conversations during the commercials, each individual stalks the net. Laptops can be integral to the social scene here, and even though I have an iPhone, I still feel awkward interrupting someone on his or her computer.
I’ve been using desktops in the library of the fraternity that I’m staying in, but even then, it’s just not the same. I can’t waste as much time on a desktop that’s in a study setting. I’ve barely touched my blog, and for a compulsive oversharer, that’s a difficult task. While I plan on investing in a new laptop soon, I can’t get over the fact that this might be the healthiest (and mostly costly) careless error that I’ve ever made.
The Internet can create a false sense of intimacy. More often than not, your Facebook friends are not real friends. Communicating in person means there’s no backspace button or emoticons. Everyone knows no one is really laughing when they type “LOL!” Photographs can be deceptive, and they will never replace real experiences. This event has forced me to be more social, exploring Boston with my free time. So much so, I find myself wondering now why I am even on a computer typing.
There’s just so much to do in this city.
While I’ll need a new laptop for papers next term, I’m hoping that I don’t get back into the rut of being addicted to technology. While technology can enhance living life, it cannot replace it. If you just shut off your computer for a few hours a day, you’ll find there’s so much more you could be doing with that time, particularly in the summertime.