For months now, when I asked myself a question, I would have only one answer.
No matter the question, the answer was the same.
Let me give you an example:
It's Monday, should I Gather? Or not?
It's Sunday, should I Gather? Or not?
It's midnight, should I Gather? Or not?
It's 4 a.m., should I Gather? Or not?
I'm on my lunch break, should I Gather? Or not?
It's time to fix dinner, should I Gather? Or not?
It's time to eat dinner, should I Gather? Or not?
The cats don't have any food, should I Gather? Or not?
The floor has stains, should I Gather? Or not?
There's no food in the house, should I Gather? Or not?
I should go to the health club or go for a run, but should I Gather? Or not?
I haven't read all the articles published today, should I Gather? Or not?
I haven't commented on everything, should I Gather? Or not?
Well, you see how it goes.
Here's the rub: My Gatherholism has begun to affect every aspect of my life.
My family sees me on Gather, they groan.
I've been late to work, a lot. My fault, certainly.
The house got way too messy, with very little help from anybody in the way of cleaning up.
In fact, the house got so messy, nobody would come to help, even if I paid them.
Or begged them.
So, last night we all spent several hours cleaning.
Things are looking good, but there's still a long way to go.
Eight months (nearly nine, by now) of neglect is a long time for clutter and dust to lie around the house.
I have been getting more sleep, which was a large part of the problem. You can't (I can't, anyway) function on 3 to 5 hours of sleep. 6? Yeah.
But 8 and sometimes 9 or 10 is delicious.
It gets embarassing when people have thought I'm on 24/7 - now, why would they have thought that?
Just because I would get up at night - check comments and articles - and make a few comments? Sure. It would often take at least 30 minutes...
Times that by two or three times a night, plus before work, before dinner, after dinner and a couple of hours (or 3 or 4) hours at bedtime.
I probably logged 5 to 7 hours a day...And, on days off, I know it was more...Perhaps 10 hours, some days...
It's so difficult to keep track of Gathering, the clock ticks by, as the clicks keep on clicking, such that I really don't know how much time I've spent here.
Well, vacation has a way of bringing back the delicious quality of the real world.
Sleep, delicious sleep in a down comforter or cool cotton sheet, with a cat or two at my feet, head against the pillow, luxuriating in the feel of sleeping in.
Vacation also has a way of bringing home to roost the joys of connecting with people you can touch, not just click.
Hugging my family, laughing or arguing, ah, that is the good stuff.
Even the joys of housecleaning and cooking - it's even better than when life is just a click away.
But, as far as my question of old: Should I Gather? Or not?
My answer is simple: Of course.
My motto? ToGather, ToGather, ToGather.
The more we get ToGather, the happier we'll be.
But, as far as the over Gathering I've done - well, the free ride is over.
I'm maintaining my limits.
Yesterday, I was on only about 3 hours out of 24.
That's a start.
Only a few more minutes, and I'm out of here for the day - or I'll turn into a pumpkin.
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Comments: 71 ( 2 removed by Kathryn E. )
The dial up. I have Firefox, so I have multiple tabs open for long comment threads, photos, and for getting to several articles at a time.
Thanks, Beryl...Now, I'm getting my coffee and going to WORK !
I do believe that to you Gather is like drug... ;O)))
i gather, too - but real life comes first!
As to housework.....what is that? ;-)
Of course, I'm kidding....., (maybe?) .......but I do leave the computer from time to time to read the paper, do the crosswords and daily cryptoquotes......I read a lot at night and do all the other daily stuff that makes up my life......but yes, sometimes it seems as if I was spending all my time at Gather.....It is definitely addictive!
I think they add something to this site to make it more addicting, kind of like the cigarette manufacturers used to do.
Arielle, GLAD I can get you to laugh at WORK. You wrote an article about your boss, I think?
Vicky, absoutely correcto.
Oh, and real life occasionally intrudes, like when I was at a cabin without internet access last week. My hands were shaking only slightly...
My articles take a lot of WORK (midnight - 4?......) groan #*$&#$&#%(
Glenda. oh yeah..and from one so recent as you. It only takes ONE puff of Gather....
I like Gather for the company she keeps.
Thank you for your thanks.
Think I'll be up at night tonight, later, because I go into work late tomorrow, after lunch.
ADHD/ADD was bad enough as a cause for having to focus on things online, and focusing on the internet didn't make things any better.
At that time I didn't know about Gather, or perhaps Gather hadn't existed when I was let go from my job I had taken after 15 years at the University. I took a new position, and the boss wanted me to function and take the brunt of blame of his lack of performance, and unwillingness to give me the info I needed to be successful.
Now I only have craft supplies and books cluttering my place, and my computer on 24/24.
I have someone who is to help me organize my things. I live with my cockatiels and budgies and they don't pull tricks on me, or complain that my place is disorganized.
And I find out today that you collect points on Gather to earn gifts. Ugh, I don't know if I'm going to get hooked more on gathering points, or what.
I like what you wrote.
I truly hope you stick to your plan to keep the hours manageable. I think you'll enjoy being that nice balanced well-rounded Kathryn person again. the one who enjoys 'the good stuff.' very well put!
So go on Gathering, love, because now you're a very special icon to so many of us!
I can answer that easily. In some sense we didn't. We wanted it to be completely user-driven, we wanted it to be completely engaging. We wanted it to be juts a neutral platform - and we knew that our target audience which we defined as 25-65 year old educated, engaged, opinionated, creative people just needed the right venue. But we didn't know how much of a hole there was, or that there would be this kind of addiction. And frankly - we spent alot more time discussing the theoretical and political aspects of user-driven media and conversely, the practical development side of building gather - than we did worrying about people gathering too much. Some evening over drinks I'll tell you everything.
I've been keeping with my promise fairly well. Most days, I'm not exhausted....sleeping, cleaning house, spending time with my kids,eating healthier foods...
Comment when you can and on whom you want to...that's all anyone can do...if people have enough connections and always add new ones, everybody should have enough interesting commenters...enough to go around...
How about another round of "A History of Orstralia?" You could republish !!! SUCH a hoot !
...this site, which feeds and sucks the creativity right out of me...your sophisticated take on articles so welcome and unique in this Gather world...
Even I had to step away. It did me a world of good.
Thanks for being my Gather friend.
When there's a crunch, as for mid-terms or finals, or to get the report cards done, I straight-out resent the time I need to spend at work! I look forward to days off, and to retirement. Until then, I just spread myself pretty thin!