There are many good things about the internet. The internet has allowed us access to more information than ever before. Sure most of it’s crap but if you have a discerning eye you can find the nuggets of gold within the mountains of shit (if you know where to look). However with that being said there are many downsides to the internet. Even when you are plugged into good sources only the internet can still have more cons than pros. And this is coming from someone who makes a good chunk of his income from the internet.
The internet is great in that it allows us access to information. Like I said if you know where to look you can find many great things. This blog itself would have not been possible if not for the information that I’ve found either through reading websites or through finding books on Amazon to read about topics that interest me. Nor would have I been able to connect with like minded people and expanded my influence and help change the lives of men all over the world. But those are the good things, now for the bad.
The Internet
The internet exposes you to a lot of different things, a lot of different ideologies, and what’s going on with the world. This can be good but mostly is a waste of time. For example what’s a better use of my time seeing what city leftists are burning this weekend or practice point shooting? Hearing some pointless debate about ideology or talking to pretty girls? Hearing about inner turmoil in a group that I’m apart of or making a sale? As you can see other than information gathering and spreading the vast majority of what goes on in the internet is pointless.
At best the internet is a great source of information, however it is much more likely a waste of time. When doing anything on the internet (or life) you have to ask yourself is this a productive use of my time? And will what I’m doing help to accomplish the goals that I have set for myself? If not then move on. Don’t get me wrong I like interacting with other like-minded people but honestly unless you’re networking and working towards a collaboration or something of some kind that can be wasted time.
The People
The internet also exposes you to all kinds of people. I’ve “met” (become aware of is a much more accurate term) some awesome people spreading some great content that will improve the lives of men and society. I am also always honored to hear from you my reader. Without you none of this is possible. I don’t say that as some cheesy line but rather because it’s the truth. However with that being said the internet is full of three toxic types of people. Those three are whiners, losers, and haters.
By all means get some haters, but don’t engage with them. Likewise the losers and whiners don’t engage with either. But even if you don’t engage with them they can get annoying. I don’t know if it’s the anonymity of the internet or what but you hear they seem to make up a sizable portion of any online community. I’m focused on positivity here, positivity, growth, and advancement. And sometimes to really focus on those things you have to get away from the maddening crowd. And the most maddening crowd by far is the internet in general.
A Double Edged Sword
The internet is a double edged sword. If you use it for information gathering then it’ll add untold riches to your life. It’s like going into the greatest library that has ever existed and being able to read all the greats and interact with many on some level. However for anything else besides information gathering I would say the internet is going to do more harm than good. Including “socializing” on social media. Social media is good for business purposes and stay abreast of information. But don’t fool yourself into thinking you are socializing.
To get the most out of the internet you have to learn to be discerning and even then it’s good to go monk mode every now and then. It’s important to have solitude every now and then. To be alone with your thoughts. Unplugging every now and then is a must, and this comes from someone running a blog (schedulers come in handy). So to answer the question posed in the headline yes you should take a break from the internet every now and then.
Summary
The internet can be a tool, it can also be a source of enslavement as well. It all depends on what you do with it. I’ve found great things from the internet and became aware of some great people and at the same time I’ve noticed when it’s sucked away my time or I’ve wasted it. Use your computer for information gathering then go out into the real world and apply it. Don’t get sucked into pointless drama, fights, or other useless shit. If it doesn’t add to your life then cut it out ruthlessly.
If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a future post send them to me at charlessledge001 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you found value in this post then I would encourage you to share this site with someone who may need it as well as check out my books here. I appreciate it. You can follow me on Twitter here.
-Charles Sledge
