Media is Inescapable

I was very skeptical about my media deprivation day. I knew it would be a very difficult task for me because media is such an everyday part of my life. I am constantly on my cell phone, searching the internet, listening to music, and watching television. While completing this assignment at my home in Frederick, Maryland I found it extremely difficult not only to avoid my personal temptation, but also to escape from my family’s use of media.

The day started for me when I woke up at two o’clock in the afternoon. I was extremely tired and I figured it was a great way of passing the time. My mother called me from work and I contemplated answering it, but I felt I should answer it in case it was an emergency. Then, I ate a bowl of cereal. It was strange to sit there in complete silence without the television glaring in the background. I decided that this would be a great day to get some of my homework out of the way, so I proceeded to take out my Sociology textbooks and my notebook. I sat in silence, reading and taking notes.

My mother came home at four o’clock. Within a few minutes I could hear Oprah from my bedroom. My mom was preparing her delicious Thanksgiving pies while watching her daily Oprah program. It was so tempting to go into the living room and watch it! I asked my mother to turn it down and she did, but it was still loud enough that I could hear it from my bedroom. Distracted by the noisy television, I decided to stop and take a break in order to clean my room that desperately needed it. I organized my closet and put away the clutter engulfing my room. Then it was back to my homework.

Later in the day I rode with my mother to the airport to pick up my brother who was flying in from Chicago for the holiday. The forty-five minute drive seemed like forever with no radio on! Before reaching the airport, my mother insisted that I call my brother to find out if his flight had landed. I didn’t want her to try and talk on the phone while driving, so I called him. The drive back home went by much faster because we were busy talking. Once we arrived back home my parents, my brother, and I spend some quality time catching up and introducing my brother to our new cat, Othello.

Knowing that I had homework to complete involving the computer and family gatherings to attend that would involve music and/or television, It would be almost impossible to complete my media deprivation assignment another day. After completing this assignment I learned just how much media is a part of my life and my family’s lives. I agree, however, with the students mentioned in “The Longest Day” article, that it is nice to have some peace and quiet for a while.