I could write a treatise here, but don't want to waste more time of my life on this.
I had a week off to sit a bit, think, listen to God, and my own heart. I need to be done with MTBR for the following reasons:
1. It is a huge time drain. 1-2 hours a day.....come on. I have way too many other things to do that are way higher on the priority list. Things that are suffering due to my addiction. Things like family, sleep, work, a clear mind, maybe even a run or two. All of us only get so much time in our lives. It is by far our most precious resource. I believe my time is God's time, time he has loaned me to live for his purposes on this earth. For the most part, when I blow my time on MTBR, I have not been wise in my use of it..to my shame. Blowing something that is yours is one thing, but blowing something you are a steward of is a much bigger deal.
2. I am an addict. I can not seem to use the boards in temperance. Even a peek leads to way to much time. Addicts need to avoid the addiction, period. I think the photo posts and race reports are inspiring, but not sufficient to keep me there. The temptation is to use the boards as an avenue of escape instead of engaging in the real life I live with excellence in every area. I don't suck as a husband, father, bond slave of Christ, or surgeon, but I am not living up to anywhere near my potential in any of these areas partially because I escape in my mind daily via MTBR. I want my life to be about engagement in the world, not escape from it.
3. MTBR has at its core a culture of consumerism/discontent. That is not what I want my life or my desires to be about. Reading the boards leads to discontent. You are always looking for the next best thing. If not the next best thing, you are looking for that next best riding spot, or riding achievement ("ooh, he cleaned that", or "wow, he finished that race" or "check out this place to ride"), or riding vacation. True peace, true contentment comes from wanting what you have, not having what you want. What you have in equipment, what you have in fitness, what you have in riding spots or time to ride, or folks to ride with.
I have enjoyed the last three years, but enough is enough. I can't say I won't ever go back, but I am taking an indefinite hiatus. If I do come back, it will be under strictly limited circumstances to post specific reviews, to research specific trails or equipment or ask specific questions. I no longer feel the need to be a "netspert"
Random thoughts.
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2 comments:
Interesting observations on mtbr and time spent online there. You kind of put down in print some of the discontent that I have had with myself and that time sink. I do enjoy geeking out there, but also can see the addiction side of it.
I'm trying to learn moderation. Two months off was a good start.
MTBR for me is sort of a mirror, I see in it what I bring to it. Good or bad.
Thanks for the comment.
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