Readers React: The right way to unplug from cyberspace

To the editor: Doyle McManus’ vacation strategy was to unplug — a complete “withdrawal from the Internet,” as he put it. That’s great, except maybe he didn’t take that strategy far enough. (“Can a columnist survive a two-week vacation, unplugged?,” Column, Sept. 2)

McManus spent two weeks on a remote Canadian lake, unwired, to escape the stress of modern life. The trouble is, he armed himself with issues of the Atlantic and the New Yorker. Purportedly he wanted to catch up on his reading, implying he was somehow behind and had some obligation to not be behind.

Every year I camp for a few days in the remote Sierra away from any Internet or phone service, and I don’t read anything while I’m there. Everyone knows they can’t reach me, so they don’t try. If I get there some year and find “service” has been established, I’m going to find another place to camp the following year.

If McManus really wanted to eschew his reality for a fortnight in the Canadian wilderness so as to make his mind more productive, he should try some hiking, canoeing, fishing and other endeavors in which there is no pressure from anyone, including himself, to catch up.

Mark Shoup, Apple Valley

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To the editor: McManus’ column resonated with me, as I am sure it did with others. Several years ago, reading a short book called “Hamlet’s Blackberry” by William Powers taught me the wonders of taking one day off from our devices each week — an almost impossible discipline.

One day of freedom from cyberspace and our devices, however, gives us the opportunity to engage in freewheeling ideas. It enabled me to find awesome peace, quiet and relief from my wonderful, modern communication tools.

McManus has made it crystal clear that it is not easy. While I was writing weekly for the North County Times, I took Saturdays off because my deadline was Thursday.

McManus is right when he states, “A vacation is supposed to help you reset your brain to become more productive.” Hats off to him for learning how.

Agnes G. Herman, San Marcos

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