Deleted
January 28, 2008 | Filed under: Humdrum
“Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.” ~Michel de Montaigne
The first half of the weekend was spent employing the Hair of the Dog method. One that comes down to an exact science of sticking with vodka or champagne (blood orange Bellinis to be exact) but NEVER, EVER wine at a certain time; brunch usually does the trick. The second half was spent repeatedly hitting the delete ke; 3ach time with more force than the last. I still find it fascinating that with one flick of the wrist or a quick tap with the index finger, it’s as if entire histories can be sent to the trash and then erased. The act of deletion always feels so cleansing to me. Ridding myself of the junk mail and things that have piled up. I do the same with text messages and every so often I do a clean sweep. We live in this day in age where things are hardly written long hand anymore. Most communication is done via instant message or a string of gmail conversations. Even photos are stored on laptops in files on a hard drive. All of it can be done away with almost immediately accidentally or otherwise. There’s this part of me that feels refreshed when the messages are gone especially when I’m trying so hard not to think of something or someone. Then there’s that tiny bit of me that feels sad even though nothing is completely indelible. The memories are always there. There’s probably a way to go back and find it all but do I really want to? Never mind that I’m far too lazy to even try.
Diane Mandy says:
I’ve had some of those some feelings when I’ve been cleaning out old messages–especially when I was trying to forget somebody. I’ve often wondered what the impact of electronic storage of communication and photographs will mean down the road for people trying to understand our society without as much of a paper trai. And my guess is that we will become even more dependent on paper communication as time goes on.
PS. I found very interesting and enjoyed your thoughts about all the recent editorializing of black women and the election. Well said!
Aimee Greeblemonkey says:
I have this 100 message limit for my inbox. If it goes over that, I start to shake. It’s an arbitrary # too - WTH? And I have 3 email accounts. Well, more like 6 but 3 major ones.
So, anyway, I delete alot.
It *is* refreshing.
P.S. I am queen of saving important email in folders on my hard drive though. Cause I am not THAT free.
She Likes Purple says:
I do the “clean sweep” act every now and again too. But I am such a firm believer in the written word–it’s why I’m slowly putting us into more and more debt with my card collection.
heather anne says:
I have never regretted deleting something.
Miguelina says:
I’m always clearing space on my computer - probably because it’s easier than cleaning actual physical things (like a closet, or a house) but I find it just as satisfying.
Angella says:
I am a fan of the Clean Sweep, even though I have pack rat tendencies.
It is freeing, somehow.
Loralee says:
I never delete anything.
Damn Gmail and their huge storage capabilities.
(Speaking of…I hope to have a torrid email session with you sometime this week. Let me know what is good for you! Did that sound pervy? Hee!)
Camels & Chocolate says:
I never delete anything either (perhaps it comes hand-in-hand with my pack rat nature?). Instead, I have way too many laptops and external hard drives filled to capacity - which was never really a problem (despite the fact I live in a typical Manhattan shoebox) until now when I’m making a cross-country move and shipping everything. Monitors and electronics do not an easy shipping process make.
ali says:
oooh… i would totally make out with my delete key. i love her so. and use her often.
kat says:
i’m such a paranoid packrat. delete freaks me out. thank GOD for undo. which sometimes works.
tesco says:
I know exactly what you mean, though my every now and then is everyday… if I don’t delete the messages right away, they’ll drive me nuts- unless I can store them in folders. Of course, Gmail doesn’t have folders so at the moment, my inbox is killing me! I gotta go delete
Nice site - and I LOVE your header picture!