I'm trying to simplify and want to thank you all

[Muley]

This will be my last post on WG. I intend to wean myself from the computer altogether.  I am, quite frankly, fed up with our computer society.  The first to go will be e-mail and the internet.  More difficult will be adapting, or perhaps re-adapting, to not having the tools at my disposal which I've used in my business for around twenty years.  My contracts, timber  inventory programs, gps mapping ability, word processed letters, invoicing, etc. will all be phased out somewhat slowly while I move back towards use of snail mail, hand drawn maps, typewritten correspondence, a copy machine, and banking by mail.  I won't have fax service at home but might occasionally go to a FedEx or similar if the need is great.  My digital pictures will be sorted and mostly deleted, maybe having a select few printed on real paper.  Online banking will be tough to give up, but I can still balance a checkbook most of the time.

Why am I doing this?   I am thoroughly frustrated with the massive amount of time I spend in front of this screen, the downtime when my computer refuses to work properly, the ease of ordering things I really don't need and can't afford, watching children with their heads buried in smart phones oblivious to anything around them, ditto for all ages - folks who won't even look up long enough to have a conversation at a dinner table, people looking at smart phones at a theater (I sit near the back and see all of this).  This is a disease, and I hope it's curable.  Like heartworm treatments for our dog buddies, this will probably be painful but worth it in the end.

I could rant forever, but I'm sure you get the gist.

Thanks to all of you for the friendship, technical advice, humor, wit, picture sharing, storytelling, jokes, etc.   I have personally met many on this forum and hope to see you again someday.  Please look me up if you're ever near the exact center of Georgia.  We have plenty of room here.

Good bye, good luck, and ride safe!

Muley on here, but you can call me Russ from now on.

[Triple Jim]

That's sad Russ, but I think I can understand what you mean.  Best of luck with everything you do, and maybe I'll hear from you again one way or another.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I feel your pain, Russ.. I see it, too. We are raising a generation of idiots who's only knowledge is "Hey, Google."
I am quite cognizant of the problem, but not willing to make a clean break. I *do* make it a point to not be looking at a phone all the time.. many times I don't know where it is.. which is horrifying to a couple of kids that work for me. <shrug>
Best of luck! It's been a pleasure to know you, sir.   

[Zoom Zoom]

Well, you have to do what you need to. There are so many great people this device has given me the pleasure of meeting, including you Russ. Hopefully I'll see you somewhere along the line.

John Henry

[balvenie]

Sorry to see you go, Muley but good health, good luck and Happy Trails

[tazio]

Russ, I still fondly remember the coldbutt ride to the top of Alabama (Cheaha Mts-Bill,Wayne..)
I was on my '97 Sport I (Mellow-Yellow).
 The Pea Gravel gave me fits, but you and the boys weren't fazed by it!!
Gonna miss you here...

[Wes Stephens]

I am moved to make a comment, which I seldom do, and that is BRAVO for a very good decision.
Wes

[guzzisteve]

Russ, been a slice! Nothing wrong w/being analog, not at all. If you have a craving you could go to library, take a calendar to mark down the rally dates for the year. You don't need a puter to go to some rallys. Keep the EV rolling along. Ride Safe

[kirby1923]

Don't know if your still there Russ but I feel your pain. There is entirely too much noise in the modern world, gotta get away from it sometimes.

Tail Winds and Rain Bows.

Good Luck.

[ITSec]

Russ, every sword has two edges, and if you feel you are better off laying this sword down I respect your choice.

There are many, many people I know and respect, most of who I call at least a friend, whom I would never have met without the Internet and communities like this one that exist because of what the Internet has allowed people to create. I do have to create Internet / real-life balance, just as I have to create a balance between work life and personal life. It's not always easy, but the return on every investment depends on both the original input and ongoing management of the investment.

I hope your choice results in the things that you find most rewarding. I'll be working to make sure my own choices do the same. If we both are lucky, those choices will reward not only ourselves but our friends, family and community as we contribute back to them.

[pehayes]

Side B.
Turn the record over.
Computers made my personal life and business life.  I know they can be distracting, but they can also serve.  YOU, not the machine, are responsible for the controls.
I have hosted motorcyclists from all over the world in my home.
I have traveled across the world and stayed in their homes and learned their culture and diverse political attitudes.
I have learned to speak a second language reasonably well.
I have traced my personal ancestry as far back as paper recording would allow.
YMMV.
I have no intention of going back to a pre-computer existence.
I never would have met Pete Roper (maybe extract that last line).

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[troyhamilton]

I once stayed away from the wildguzzi 5 years. hope hes ok. i get tired of social media also.

[Lannis]

I only went halfway there in the first place ....

I have this iMac desktop, and that's pretty much all.   I don't have a cell phone, a smart phone, or GPS.   In 2016, I went cold turkey off WG for six months just to be sure I could do it - turns out I can if I want to, so I'm not too worried about it.

I see the same thing you do.   Like going to Atlantic City and seeing pathetic zombies just automatically pulling the handle of a slot machine for hours on end, or seeing a wino laying under a bridge, living for his bottle, I see addicted people every day on smart phones and social media, who will literally get the shakes and start crying if they lose or break their phone.

Yes, I know it's just a tool, and yes I know I'm the one "in control", but I know exactly what you mean when you look around and see millions of people "out of control" and unable to imagine a world like in 1991; they literally believe they would die if they had to "go back".

I can fully understand not wanting to be part of that game.   People went to Guzzi rallies for many years before the Internet, and they can do it again!

So good luck with it - if you want to talk or write for any reason, I'm still "in the book!"

Lannis

[oldbike54]

 Russ , if it's something I said I take it back 

 I'm really am not sure WG fits into the social media world . So many of us actually know each other that no one really gets away with spouting nonsense or exaggerations .

 "I had one of those 19 and 63 BMW White Widows that was so fast the Gubmint outlawed them"

 "Yeah , sure you did there Bunky" 

 Dusty

[Gliderjohn]

Wish you the best Russ. Have enjoyed many of your posts. Will miss your input.
GliderJohn

[lorazepam]

I understand completely. I got rid of facebook, and several websites I used to frequent. I applaud your voyage back to simplicity, and really wish I could join you.

[LowRyter]

I'd say goodbye but you're never going to read this. 

[Lannis]

I'd say goodbye but you're never going to read this.

It was only 3 hours ago that he posted, I doubt if he's smashed his computer and burned his modem yet.

Probably will wait until tomorrow morning!

Lannis

[Tom H]

Hope you read this.

In this day and age, what used to be a thumb through the phone book, is all on the internet. My phone co. phone  book is a 1/4 of the size I remember before internet.

Many businesses like banks, investments, insurance, ect. like to work with email rather than slow mail.

I do understand the frustration, I do understand what your saying. But..

Give it a day or two before dumping your internet connection. Or at the very least, have a Netzero free dialup account, provided they still do that.

Good luck with your choice!!!

Goodby (or not),
Tom

[John Ulrich]

Russ,

What the kids do is not your problem.

That you spend too much time at the computer "diddling" is something you can modulate.   Do your banking etc and leave.

It's like drinking.  Know when to walk away.

You'll be back.   
 

[Muzz]

Russ, I for one will miss your contributions.

All the very best for all you intend to do in your future.

[JayDee24ca]

Russ
I understand your desire to de-link. But I sure hope you clients are okay with hand-bombed maps (which I actually prefer, as they actually take some skill to produce) instead of digitally derived ones, or can afford to wait for hand calculated forest inventories  instead of computer crunched ones. Using a compass and tight chain can be as accurate as a GPS derived traverse, but takes so much more time and money to do correctly. Good on you if you succeed, though.
John D.

[Sheepdog]

If something doesn't serve you anymore, you should put it aside. I dropped all the news sources and social media stuff for the same reason that you are retreating from the digital world. However, there is a great deal left that can make your life better. You named several: online banking, email, references...all useful and economical to access. Careful that you don't throw out the baby with the bath water...

[John A]

Its just a tool, use it or don't. Its not an umbilical cord, although I see your point. next I suppose Ill see you at a rendezvous with a flintlock and a bunch of knives. Ill be the one with two tomahawks looking like I came in from 1830

[severely]

Charge many windmills lately? Good luck?

[bobrebos]

I own/run a small business.  I wish you the best BUT, I have no idea how I could stay in business without answering our clients email questions, doing invoicing on the computer, working with GPS Map software/google maps etc.  My customers would quit our services in a heartbeat.  Homeland Security, DOT, other Government agencies mandate that we use certain software programs etc, so I have no idea how we would stay in business.

We use computers and powerpoint presentations, videos etc.  Man....I have no idea how I could make it anymore without technology. 

[fotoguzzi]

this thread needs a pic, Thanks for the best Muley dog ever!

[gearman]

What will you do with all your money if you don't throw it at modern technology? Luddite!

[Lannis]

Russ,

It's like drinking.  Know when to walk away.

It's like drinking, but not in the sense you mean.   Some people can walk away from drinking without severe mental and physical consequences.  Some cannot ....  And I believe it's getting to be the same with computer technology.

Lannis

[kirb]

I feel your pain, Russ.. I see it, too. We are raising a generation of idiots who's only knowledge is "Hey, Google."

It's often worse... some under 30 want an answer so quick that they won't even bother to research it before asking. My google-foo is WAY better than the people who grew up with it... The key to using technology efficiently is to understand how it works.

Everything in moderation. I understand that the computer can be a major time suck, but it does do things much quicker in a lot of cases. The user chooses how much or how little to integrate it. Going back to typed letters? Yea, no thanks.

I find it amazing that people will choose to select omission over self-control. I was lucky enough not to have an addictive personality. I can only imagine what that must be like to control.