I've taken the opportunity recently with a potential house move to get ahead with all those accounts that are linked to particular address or a particular provider, which may or may not be available to the next place, and streamline my digial lifestyle.

I'm not on Facebook and only have a Twitter account that is linked to my food blog. I don't have a personal mobile phone either. I am on literally dozens of forums under various pseudonyms and some my own name, and it's those which I have slimmed back to a mere few which (1) feed me and I am able to contribute back to, and (2) I am able to directly instruct and help others with skills and knowledge with which I am advanced.

The process was liberating. I have a lot more time and can concentrate my time of a few areas which I consider truly important.

Chatting with a pal over lunch today, we were discussing free online services, the state of constant advertising and the likes of forums, social networking and so on, and came to the conclusion that if you do not pay for a service then you are neither client nor consumer; YOU are the product.

This may, or may not be, a bad thing, particularly if you have something good to say and especially so if you are the product for a larger corporation like Google, Facebook or Twitter. If you have something truly good to share then you are a good product, regardless of the fact that they are making money off you. Thank goodness we're liberated from the notion that money is the be all and end all of living.

Once you are streamlined you have a lot of time to do things the hard way ... just for fun, for the challenge, to push beyond your abilities and above all, to avoid laziness which is a whirpool of a downward sprial. A challenging post - many thanks.

As for mind-control, maybe not aliens, but corporations. Just look at all those poor food zombies shambling around, "GRAAAIIIINNNNSSS!!!!" 

OBEY!

While it is ironic, it's also perfectly sane. Modern hunger/gatherers have mobile phones nowadays!

The internet is not a bad thing. Computers are not a bad thing. These are tools and means of communication. If anything, this IS what the internet was founded for - people in diverse locations coming together to share knowledge, experience, skills and to build each other up.

I like the internet - I spend a lot of time building relationships on the internet and in many communities take that into reality, meet up and become strong real friends. I like to take online groups and have them meet up be it the local Flickr group, a national car forum, some geeky car detailing types, paleo and paleo curious people, whatever. The internet is a means to an end.

Most of the internet is rubbish - it's ... what 90% porn? and that last 10% drivel on social networks along the lines of "should I have KFC or Pizza Hut tonight?" and that last 0.1% people like us who are making some real use of the technology.

Given the digital alternative of TV, I'd rather be on the internet chatting or gaming.

Given a real alternative, I'd rather be outside walking, running, talking to neighbours, washing and polishing our cars, maintaining the house or cooking.