Going Amish

Andy, nice article. Thanks for the mention. There is no doubt that Going Amish is happening, even if it is just for short periods of time (in which people just need to get away from being so plugged in). Others who were raised in a time when *privacy* was a term with real meaning may opt for a longer-ter­m commitment­. In the old days, we'd have called them "hermits," but today they are just pseudo-Ami­sh - still liking community but wanting to be able to walk down main street without 300 security cameras publishing their whereabout­s to the cloud.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Charlie Sheen should Go Amish

Is it possible for one to be a meglomaniac and Go Amish? Probably not. After all, who would be more comfortable with the idea of living under a spotlight than a person who drinks tiger blood and whose cognitive dissonance capabilities translate even the most tragic outcomes as examples of #winning?

Even so, when the spotlight cools (or begins to blister the skin - something that for Mr. Sheen will likely happen right after he sleeps for about 12 hours, has a cup of coffee, and maybe finds someone who will show him a mirror - perhaps the '10s version of a Betty Ford retreat will be an escape from reality through a combination of Facebook/Twitter abdication, a disconnection of all networked devices, and perhaps a long-term cabin rental somewhere in Ted Turner's private estate (a/k/a "Montana.")

We used to see TV and news specials with the theme of "whatever happened to _____?" Perhaps the problem today is that we know exactly what has happened to him or her, what they are doing right this second, and how we should feel about it. With no room for speculation or mystery, could the global appetite for second-chance celebrity dissipate? Perhaps the publicist community will find that getting their clients off the grid is the best possible way for them to ensure that their asset has a chance for long-term value sustenance.

How to Go Amish

Facebook has instructions about deleting your facebook account. Note - the real answer is YOU CAN'T, at least not through them. You can deactivate, but your stuff is still there, waiting in the wings, and you agreed to do it. Some believe (and it may be true) that after 2 weeks of going completely dark on Facebook (including not visiting the site AT ALL) your record will be deleted from their systems, but why would this have to be true.

OK, I am starting to sound like a conspiracy wonk. Not the plan. Plus I use Facebook all the time, so I have no intention at this point of doing this. Irony abounds.