Lisa Piccolo
Peace and Justice Editor

Lisa Piccolo conducts experiment on modern media in our daily lives

24. The number of hours that are included in a day. How many hours do we spend talking on our cell phones, on the Internet or listening to music? Recently, for an assignment for Intro to Electronic
Journalism and Social Media, we had to keep two logs. One log was how many hours we spent on each medium in a day, and the second log was what it was like to go a day without media.

In thinking about mass media, I would include television, internet, print and music. Here is what I found.

11 a.m.

I woke up.

11 a.m. – Noon

So far, so good. I haven’t had any kind of contact with mass media. Now, I am thinking that this shouldn’t be so bad. I have Apple Jacks and Gold Fish to get through the day.

12:27 p.m.

I’m starting to feel alone in the world. Silence is bothering me. I see so many people pass by but I can’t talk to them.

1:46 p.m.

Just got back from eating lunch at the cafeteria, where music is always playing and communication was not totally unavoidable.

4:35 p.m.

As I try to make it through the day without communication, I feel like such a failure. For only one day I have to keep silent, not checking Facebook, email, not watching television, movies or talking on the phone. I did all that successfully, and I haven’t listened to my own music, but was in situations where music was playing and I was there. At lunch, I was writing notes for others to read. I wrote a note to my friend to tell her I was hungry and sorry I couldn’t talk as well as a couple of other things. I failed and said a couple of things. Otherwise, I have been trying to be good. But, I am not quitting.  I just have to believe I can do this and I will persevere.

5:35 p.m.

The epitome of bored. I have spent the past 20 minutes spinning coins. No communication in the past hour.

5:50 p.m.

Make that coin spinning for 35 minutes.

6:30 p.m.

Thinking that in the next few days I am going to talk and listen to as much music as I can to get over this whole silence thing. I don’t understand how our lives became so wrapped around communication and mass media that without it we falter.

7:25 p.m.

Ready to crack, but not going to. It’s really not the Facebook, email, or phone that’s killing me. It’s the music and the talking. But I have made a promise to myself not to quit. So, I will keep up the silence until tomorrow.

I, Lisa Marie Piccolo, can do this.

8:23 p.m.

BAHHH!! I now know how Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” feels when she lost her voice and was unable to communicate! However, given something other to do than meditate and reflect would have made today better. My meditating and reflecting has led to thinking about all the embarrassing moments I have had, including all of the bad times and bad things that have happened!

Therefore, Lisa Marie Piccolo should never have an idle mind because it leads to her deep, dark secrets. Bah, Humbug! I miss my music!! But, I will per- severe. It’s only a couple more hours. I will get through this (I hope)!
10:15 p.m.

Ok. So I finally said enough and broke my silence at 9:00 p.m. I just couldn’t stay quiet anymore. Nevertheless, I still have not done my homework, talked on the phone, listened to my music, watched a movie or television and I haven’t been on Facebook or my email. I am waiting for tomorrow morning to do all that. I am proud that I stayed silent for almost 10 hours.  While this was one of the hardest days I have ever faced, I am glad that this assignment was given. I learned a lot about how media really does play a part in my life. It was nice to not have to do anything. So now I encourage you to go out and just be. Take away your cell phone, iPod and Internet for a few hours. After this, life may just feel a little less stressful.