People give up all sorts of indulgences and behaviors for Lent, which runs for about 40 days depending on the religion. One friend gave up drinking at home (successfully) and another gave up smoking (unsuccessfully).
But even more interesting was Sura Faraj’s temporary purging of Facebook. Faraj says she was spending "too much" time on the social networking site and that she decided to give it up for two reasons: to gain back control of her time and to see what replaced it.
During her Facebook-free time, Faraj says she organized a neighborhood event in Riverwest that was extremely successful.
During Lent, Faraj’s computer crashed and she lost all of her e-mail addresses as well, leaving her without any form of electronic communication. Normally, she would have contacted event participants via Facebook or e-mail, but says she interacted face-to-face instead.
Faraj says she got the idea to bag Facebook for Lent after reading multiple friends’ status updates complaining about time lost perusing pages.
"People posted about having a Facebook addiction," she says. "It’s wild."
Mike Dasher gave up his cell phone for Lent. He admits it was easier for him than it might be for others because he did not have a media package.
"I don't use my phone for anything other than to call friends and family, but it was still really hard," he says. "I actually used a pay phone once, but there really aren’t many of those around anymore."
Dasher says he gave up his phone because he was sick of his exorbitant phone bills.
"I was spending a small fortune. So I scaled my minutes way back. But then I decided to try living without one all together, and it was Lent time, so I though ‘what the hell,’" he says.
So is he going to remain cell phone free now that he made it through Lent?
"No way," he says. "And I’m going to complain less about my phone. It was really annoying not using it."
Faraj returned to Facebook after Lent was over, but says she is way less enthused.
"I posted a few times, but I’m not reading other people’s stuff," she says. "I got a puppy yesterday and now that’s taking up all of my time."
"It makes me sad. Face-to-face experiences are so much more. We’re missing interactions and settling," she says. "Facebook is an amazing tool, but it’s not a replacement."
Faraj -- along with hundreds of other Milwaukeeans -- will take the technology fast to the next level during Power Down Week, June 21-27, 2010.
People all across the country will "go off the grid" and participate in power-free living on all different levels.
Faraj says the most hardcore participants like herself -- and what she estimates will be a few dozen other Milwaukeeans -- will give up all of their electronic devices including computers and phones, along with electricity and running water. Some will attempt to adhere to a strict diet of food that was grown locally.
"We’ll offer solar showers in backyards or community gardens," she says.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
