About Cara O'Regan

Since Facebook redesigned its messenger list this past summer, I have used the service less and less. These days, the times I use Facebook chat are the times I have found myself asking “What the [expletive deleted] was that sound?” only to discover a random message from someone in a forgotten browser window.

Having come of age during the heyday of instant messaging, it’s a wonder I retained the ability to actually speak those words, but these days my use of instant messaging has almost dried up completely. In this new age of social media saturation, I am discovering that I actually DON’T want to be connected to all people at all times, and signing off of instant messaging is a nice place to start.

When Facebook officially announced its new messenger client for Windows Monday (Mac version to come), it had everyone in our office scratching their heads as to why this was even a thing. Their dedicated mobile app made sense as a free alternative to text messages, but a dedicated desktop application just seemed extraneous. The Facebook chat service has been around since 2008, and has had integration with other applications like Adium, Pidgin, iChat et al. since 2010 at the latest, so why now? These third party clients make Facebook Messenger for Windows seem even more superfluous because they allow you to run more than one messenger service at a time, streamlining your work flow.

Curious as to why Facebook Messenger for Windows exists now, I spent the day using it—for science! I must say I was pleasantly surprised; it was actually more stable than the web interface, and features the tabbed chat windows I’ve become so accustomed to with other chat clients. What I really like about Facebook Messenger for Windows is the in-line News Feed; docked to the side of your screen, the occasional glance at the Feed scratches the itch for distraction without falling down the rabbit hole that is Facebook. There are also built in buttons for pending friend requests, messages you may have missed, and notifications, as well as a link to your own profile. I’m not sure why that last one is there, but if you like to Facebook stalk yourself, they have made it nice and seamless.

There are plenty of reasons not to use Facebook Messenger for Windows; I have concerns about data mining, and others may complain about the absence of video calling and group messaging. I’m still not sure why Facebook Messenger for Windows exists, but I don’t hate it.

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When it comes to the failing of modern technology, the truth is it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. These disasters come in many forms: hard drive crashes, failed logic boards, and no one is safe from attacks by coffee, beer or baby vomit. Sometimes things like minor software problems can snowball into full-blown nervous breakdowns.

I’ve seen grown adults cry, throw hissy fits, even violently throw their pieces of personal technology at the floor (pro tip: this helps nothing). There’s no sense in losing your mind, when you’ve already lost control of your device; these things happen and it’s important to keep your cool when they inevitably do.

Dealing with technological disruptions and disasters requires both foresight and composure—things that are easier said than done, but important all the same.

Having a backup of your data helps to mitigate the circumstances beyond your control. Repair costs and missed deadlines are bad enough; these are separate, anxiety-inducing issues that don’t need the added stress of having lost your entire digital existence. The mechanisms for backing up—whether to an external drive or cloud-based service—have been made so accessible, there is literally no excuse for data loss. NASA put a man on the moon, the least you could do is back up your data.

When you experience technical difficulties, it is important to remember that only one of these two things can be true: you’re doing something wrong OR these are circumstances beyond your control. That said, it’s important not to assault yourself, your device(s), or anyone else. Instead, you can follow these steps to technological zen:

1. Turn it off and on — This is troubleshooting 101, you’d be amazed how often this works.

2. Google — If it is user error, then it’s vital to read whatever error messages you encounter and change your behavior accordingly. Don’t be afraid to type your problem into Google; if you ask your tech savvy friend, neighbor or nephew for help, this will be one of the first things they do, so have the common courtesy to at least attempt it for yourself.

3. Whine a little — If your Googling has yielded no relief or the thing won’t even function enough for you to Google at all, maybe this actually is a circumstance beyond your control. At this point it’s acceptable for you to complain and maybe make some weird noises, but it’s best to do this by yourself just to get it out of your system. This may sound like weird advice, but it’ll help you keep it together.

4. Wait it out — Servers go down, weird things happen, sometimes all you have to do it wait. Do your dishes, throw a load of laundry in the wash, go for a walk, whatever you have to do to make you stop pressing buttons and making matters worse for 15 minutes.

5. Consult a professional — Make a Genius Bar appointment, call your IT guy (or lady), and above all, be nice!  Remember, they are trying to help you.

Whatever it is, it’s important to remember to breathe; whatever you were doing cannot possibly be important enough to cause a grown adult to freak out like a wild monkey who has awaken to find himself in captivity. So keep calm and compute on.

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When it comes to the way I consume media content, I am a highly un-relatable weirdo. I’ve lived for two years without cable television, my TV doesn’t have a digital tuner for local channels and I don’t even own a DVD player. With this spartanly bleak media landscape, one would assume I’d be a much more productive human being—but that assumption would be wildly inaccurate.

Armed with nothing but my Netflix account and a second generation AppleTV, I spend the better part of my free time pursuing what I like to consider a continuing education in media and cinema studies. You say couch potato, I concede to over-educated TV and film nerd. I’ve seen every episode of King of the Hill—all 13 seasons worth—many of them more than once. I have a few go-to shows like that (Party Down, South Park, 30 Rock); I have to, for when I’m stuck between a rock and my bloated Netflix queue. It helps to pass the time between the new episodes of Downton Abbey I’ve subscribed to on iTunes.

Do not misunderstand me, I adore my AppleTV, and I love Netflix, but solutions like the AppleTV were never meant to be a full-scale replacement for home entertainment. The single most daunting thing about living without broadcast television is the task of making my own programming choices. I miss being told what to watch.

As exciting as the prospect of original programming from outlets like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon is, it will never be an adequate replacement for coming home to find oneself at the mercy of a Law & Order: SVU marathon. If there’s one thing to be learned from my experiment on the stark frontiers of home entertainment, it’s that this is not a prescription for everyone. Because no one should ever have to watch as much Battlestar Galactica as I have.

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