What Is Internet Ramadan?

Internet Ramadan is an annual holiday. It lasts for one lunar month. Every day, once the sun has risen, observers of Internet Ramadan refrain from visiting the Internet for any purpose. If necessary, they may make an early, pre-dawn visit to the Internet. The Web-fast is broken after sunset.

During Internet Ramadan, observers are expected to put more effort into interacting with humans. They are encouraged to use other forms of technology (telephones, encyclopedias) to pursue information normally found on the Internet. They may discover that postcards are a reasonable substitute for email. Perhaps their local library still has a reference desk.

Internet Ramadan is in no way meant to seem equal to, superior to, or in any way related to real Ramadan, the Muslim religious observance during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which worshippers refrain from eating during the day, and devote themselves to following the teachings of Islam and avoiding obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Real Ramadan is the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year, one of the world's holiest rituals, and an exacting act of deep personal worship that seeks to bring observers closer to God. We probably should not have used the word "Ramadan" at all, but we like the way it sounds with "Internet," probably because both words have three syllables.

Though Internet Ramadan is not a sacred practice, it is intended to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It may also instill the values of self-discipline, sacrifice, and patience. Internet Ramadan is said to make observers more generous and charitable, especially toward those who do not have Internet access.

Internet Ramadan begins Friday, March 7, and ends Sunday, April 6.

hypocrite lecteur! etc.

Of course a weblog is entirely contrary to the spirit of IR: this is so obvious as to be almost beneath mention, since the point of IR is to log off and rediscover the print newspaper, face-to-face conversation, and suchlike. Yet here we are, bloggerating. I guess this is because (1) we are too addicted to wholly detach ourselves and (2) in order to even make some half-assed attempt it is useful, if not crucial, to find a few poor souls who will share our struggle and (3) we've forgotten how humans managed to collaborate or commiserate before modems were invented. I guess. This wasn't my idea.

Hypocrisy

Karen makes a good point, and since she's the one who came up with the idea for IR (the prophet, if you will), her skepticism tempts me to tear this blog down and rededicate myself to achieving true offlineness. But her point #3 is correct--without the blog it would take too long to tell everybody about IR. So we'll leave the blog up, but in the spirit of IR we'll strive to offer no new content whatsoever. Let this page serve only as a source of information. There is no need to return to it once you have heard the good word about IR.

Email During Internet Ramadan

Clearly, most people will not be able to refrain from using email during daytime hours for a lunar month. Those who can are praiseworthy.

Secular Shabbos

Internet Ramadan is not alone.