Have you 'unplugged'? Could you?

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:47:03 -0400

This may be a somewhat sacrilegious topic for an online forum, but here goes…

I’ll be taking a trip soon to an area where wireless service has been described as “spotty at best”. This bothered me at first since I, like most of our society, have become reliant on being ‘connected’ at all times. The idea of not being connected for several days just seemed unacceptable to me, but then I decided that I would just try to embrace the idea and not even attempt to get online for the period that I’m there. Granted, I do have some doubt as to whether or not I will succeed, but I’m looking forward to trying to ‘unplug’ for a few days.
Here is the question. How many of you have “unplugged” (not due to deployment or duty related reasons) and would you do it again? How did it go for you?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 11:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:54:56 -0400

While I do participate a lot on here, I do not do very much (if any) online on the weekends. I would be perfectly fine being "unplugged" while on vacation.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 16 at 2014 12:06 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:06:41 -0400

I think I have fallen into the trap of being plugged in and needing to be plugged in, a common plight for my generation.

If I managed to be completly unplugged for about a week, I think I could continue on at that point.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 12:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:51:44 -0400

Back in around 2008 I worked up on Mount St. Helens doing research and we'd have to stay up there for a week or so at a time, multiple times over the summer. No electricity, no internet, no radio, no TV, no computer. It was definitely an experience. Was kind of nice to just read a book vs the high speed 24/7 information that comes via fiber optic lines.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 6:27 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:27:46 -0400

First of all, I'm one of those who grew up "unplugged"....so it's not hard to imagine and it's definitely a pleasure when I do "unplug".

The primary thing I believe the has to be done prior to your "unplugging" is to give those who rely on your timely responses a "heads up". Normally, I give my "hot list" a timeline....or countdown. The day before I unplug - I send out a blast and inform those who might still need a decision a list of those who might be considered an alternative. If there are subjects/issues that cannot be delegated, then I contact those who might be in that situation with a method to contact me and a fairly good idea of how important the subject matter should be prior to the individual contacting me. It's not perfect, but it's worked fairly well so far.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 16 at 2014 6:54 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:54:29 -0400

Would you mind sharing the location!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 16 at 2014 8:06 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:06:01 -0400

For a camping weekend with my scouts, yes, but after 48 hours I start going through withdrawal, especially after adding this new drug called "RallyPoint" to my daily regimen.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 8:17 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:17:49 -0400

This is going to be hard to handle for younger generation. I mean we've been plugged now for almost 20 years and they don't know any different.

I lived the first half of my life unplugged so it isn't hard for me. I'd probably see it as a 'refresher' that there's still an unplugged world around me just like it was at the beginning.

Thumbs up if you want to go unplugged sometimes

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 8:30 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:30:52 -0400

I love sailing and flying both of which often take me pretty far off the wirelees grid. My aircraft have HF radio and satellite phones. My sailboat has VHF/HF radios. I also carry an Iridium 9575 satellite phone / extra batteries in my bag.

Obviously, it is very hard for me to completely unplug from the wireless grid.

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Jun 16 at 2014 8:42 PM

MSgt Lancia Stewart — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:42:25 -0400

Yep, sure can. Especially after a trip to my favorite Half Proce Books.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jun 16 at 2014 10:36 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:36:18 -0400

Yes, I am generally good for about 3-4 days, then I want to know what's going on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 1:00 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 01:00:16 -0400

MSG Huffman,

You posed an interesting and timely question. I use Twitter, FB, FourSquare, etc., every day. In a few weeks, I'll be going offline for about 30 days and my biggest concern is, "How will I get my news?!" The last time I unplugged was for Basic Training in 2011 and I went through major (to me) FoxNews withdrawal symptoms. Other than reading the news, my biggest on-line concern is maintaining my grade point average at school.

To answer your question, yes I can unplug, but it will be rather uncomfortable. If I had to choose between eating or getting on-line, I'd probably starve to death.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 11:16 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:16:05 -0400

I've done it before, I went on vacation overseas and chose not to update my phone plan so it didn't work while I was there. It was tough at first but I rapidly got over it. Plan on doing it again in Dec while I'm crusing the carribean

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 11:27 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:27:48 -0400

Unplugging from the internet is a bit difficult especially since i love to be on Rally Point. But I try to unplug from the world by rarely carrying my cell phone with me. It bothers me that even when I go to a nice restaurant with my parents they have their phones out and are either on twitter or texting someone.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Jun 17 at 2014 12:08 PM

SFC Stephen Carden — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:08:19 -0400

I unplug every chance I get! If I could get rid of my cell phone, I absolutely would. I have nothing against electronics, I love my video games and such, but I hate being connected all the time. This past weekend, you did not see me on RP. I barely even knew where my phone was most of the time. I just worked around the house for four straight days! It was glorious!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 1:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:53:17 -0400

I resently returned from a four day, three night camping trip. While on the trip the service was spotty at best and too be honest it was great. I do enjoy jumping on here or facebook from time to time, but going the four days with not hearing a phone go off or telling someone to put the phone down was a great feeling. Those are one of the best parts of camping, fishing, and hunting in my eyes being able to "unplug".

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Jan 23 at 2015 5:54 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 17:54:46 -0500

I live in the Philippines most of the time and have a home there, so I do know about being "unwired", a good Internet connection there is about 2mg, shared, so to download a mp3 can be 1-4 hours. I guess we just have to fall back on our training and "learn and adapt".