Giving up Internet Forums (including CAF) for Lent?

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I won’t give up CAF for Lent.

My family and friends aren’t Catholic and CAF is the only way I know that let’s me talk with likeminded people.
 
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I won’t give up CAF for lent. I’ve already cut back from the news forums for my mental health. What I am going to do is some research on a way to put a substantial donation to good use. My health limits me from doing much more than I already am at my parish, but I can help in other ways, within my parish or elsewhere.
 
Two words: Get Kindle. All the fun of online—I can haz book store?—and you get to read again!
 
I’m going for a modified giving up; no electronics after 6 p.m. starting Ash Wednesday. And that includes the Kindle (weep, but I do have a very extensive print library as well). IOW, time to check email after work or the iBreviary, but not 4-5 hours of evening CAF along with gobbling books on the Kindle. Instead, peaceful hours with no distractions to pray, knit for charity, write letters, etc. Too often I’ve tried to justify hours online or on Kindle because, “but I have so many great religious books on the Kindle” (true, but I also have plenty of secular favorites and I’ll get caught up with those far more than going through Lamentations or The Imitation of Christ), or “but there are so many wonderful tools on the iPad and I need to keep informed about my faith (right, because checking the Plant Hardiness zones, reading on-line catalogues, etc. are really helping with that NOT)”. I might not be fully addicted but I’m sure ready, willing, and able to spend a couple hours a night looking up the latest posts here!
 
I’m giving up Facebook. I recently found myself missing a sense of community from a real life/Facebook group I had to quit. I joined 2 other Facebook groups trying to fill the void. They are both dedicated to crafts made from things at the Dollar Tree. I’ve only been in the groups 3 days but I’ve seen so many wreaths that I’ve been totally recalibrated when it comes to what does and doesn’t look good and how many wreaths a person should have. 3 days in and I made one for Lent…🤦‍♀️ I need off the Facebook.
 
I’m not giving up CAF (because I see it as part of my apostolate - but I might lessen it), but I am considering giving up Twitter.

That can be toxic.

But Twitter has become my main source for news, so I’m a little conflicted 😪
 
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I gave up Twitter and Facebook in 2016. People be crazy!
My only online worlds are CAF and an early retirement forum that I’m really not that involved with.
 
I did that too until I got the Kindle. No more having to get up and look for the book on the shelf. Actually the first year I went with having a Kindle on my laptop (you can do that, have books without having to buy the Kindle itself). That might be a good start for you because if you have your laptop or IPad already on your lap and you have ‘your Kindle’ on the same, you can go right to your books and read on your screen!
 
I won’t be giving up the forum. It’s my only way of discussing with my fellow Catholics and it is for the most part a very positive experience.

I’ll be working on ridding myself of pride and praying the Litany of Humility daily.
 
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Yes, I’m giving up CAF for Lent. I do most years. Sometimes I even take a break mid-year. I’ve tried giving it up permanently but clearly never succeeded. I have an addiction. 😒
 
PetraG said:
I have a little note on my computer that says “WHY am I here, again?” but I don’t notice it often enough.
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Thanks for sharing that @PetraG . It might help me if I personally adopt that practice.

I went through a period where my internet access in general was very limited, then for over a year I had no internet access at home at all (not some super will power at work there - much more a case of the required financial outlay being beyond my pay grade).

It was difficult at first, but then as I started to embrace some of the advantages, there came a type of freedom. Our world doesn’t make it easy for us to do without internet today.

What I did find (routinely - in my own personal case) is that my overindulging in the internet usually renders a direct consequence of less time being available for personal prayer, and, in particular, my prayers for the souls in Purgatory.

When I finally came back with limited internet access, it still seemed easy enough to fall back into old habits.

All that being said, I find that the prayer thread for the souls in Purgatory here at CAF in particular, has spurred me on more to pray for the holy souls than not to pray for them.

Great topic for the thread. And great timing. 👍 👍

God bless.
 
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Shasta-Rose said:
Rather than giving up wasting time online, I’m just giving more time to helping out at the church.
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That’s a good approach. I may steal it. 🙂 For me it’s not so much that the time spent on CAF is wasted, rather it’s that I spend time here when there are other things I should be doing instead.
 
I will miss Petra’s posts and also Tis Bearself’s. I think it’s better to give up sugar for Lent.
 
Quite the opposite. I think that for Lent I will commit to attempting to give more thought before posting, and have more research available to explain anything needing it.
A priest last night mentioned during a meeting that putting in more effort works too. He was speaking of the group’s volunteer to help others efforts, but clearly more work on things can be a “sacrifice” for Lent as well. So there is my reasoning as it applies to posting. Of course there are other areas in which I can work harder as well, and have those on my list…
 
Months ago I gave up Facebook and glad I did…I also agree that the internet is addicting and I feel I don’t like that kind of addiction! It interrupts my life! I will give up CAF for Lent! My knitting project has been neglected…my housework is waiting for me…my flowerbeds have more weeds than plants! I am receiving my book to read for Lent, “The Imitation of Christ” today. 🧶 📗 🌻 🌼 🌷
 
Lara said:
I will miss Petra’s posts and also Tis Bearself’s. I think it’s better to give up sugar for Lent.
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It’s not either/or, though. Honestly, I think it is a matter of making a personal assessment of “what direction do I need to go to accept more grace, and what is interfering with doing that?”

I try to write thoughtful posts here and I try to read what other people write with some care, but that takes a lot of time for me. I have also tried to just reduce the amount of time I invest. It hasn’t worked very well. Either my posts aren’t very constructive or I start spending a lot of time I don’t have to spare.

That isn’t some blanket condemnation of the site. It has to do with my ability to focus and the kind of ways in which I get distracted. Mileage does vary, and by a lot! For instance, I could easily see someone deciding to come here instead of spending time in the comment forum for their local newspaper. (Talk about a near occasion of rash judgment, lol…)
 
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I also like to put talks and books onto my little MP3 player, because it helps me to stay on track with what I’m doing. I put the little earbuds in my ears on low, put those big can earmuffs over that (like for shooting or running heavy machinery) and vacuum away.

This site has many, including Fr Hugh Thwaits (may he rest in peace!) reading The Imitation of Christ.
http://www.proecclesia.com/ (go to the free audios…)
 
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I’m still unsure if I will give it up completely or just restrict my time spent. Going cold turkey might make my head explode…
 
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