By making fungible that which was once not (eg: waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store couldn't have been used to respond to an email, or check a few tweets), technology that promotes...
By making fungible that which was once not (eg: waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store couldn't have been used to respond to an email, or check a few tweets), technology that promotes "convenience" has the insidious tendency to absorb every nugget of human attention. Coupled with the business model where companies directly monetize the attention rather than any other part of the "transaction" (much older than modern smartphone technology), we've unwittingly set up a bad evolutionary race to the bottom. The heart of the problem is that the system is eroding every bit of "slack" in human attention and cognition -- kneecapping opportunities for the kind of silence and reflection necessary for deep awareness, creative realizations, etc.
PS: The Adam Curtis documentary The century of the self has an interesting take on the historical evolution of this drive towards ubiquitous marketing. I'd also like to hear about other treatises on the subject, and thoughts on how we might move out of it.
In checkout lines, before we had smartphones, we had the headlines of the National Enquirer and other trashy newspapers. Also candy. I don’t remember where the cigarettes were but I think there...
In checkout lines, before we had smartphones, we had the headlines of the National Enquirer and other trashy newspapers. Also candy. I don’t remember where the cigarettes were but I think there were at least ads for them?
I agree. I see it in myself. But so what? How do we reconquer that? How do we get into that mental state intentionally? Is intentional boredom the only option?
The heart of the problem is that the system is eroding every bit of "slack" in human attention and cognition -- kneecapping opportunities for the kind of silence and reflection necessary for deep awareness, creative realizations, etc.
I agree. I see it in myself. But so what? How do we reconquer that? How do we get into that mental state intentionally? Is intentional boredom the only option?
Honestly, I think intentionally slowing down, taking pauses, etc. Intentional boredom if you want to call it that, is the only way. But I'm not bored in those moments, I'm thinking, reflecting, etc.
Honestly, I think intentionally slowing down, taking pauses, etc. Intentional boredom if you want to call it that, is the only way. But I'm not bored in those moments, I'm thinking, reflecting, etc.
I'm at war with this. I accept that given the opportunity, this system will erode one's patience and attention. So I leave the system as best I can - at least temporarily. Switch off the power. Go...
I'm at war with this. I accept that given the opportunity, this system will erode one's patience and attention. So I leave the system as best I can - at least temporarily. Switch off the power. Go camping. Walk anywhere. Lose the phone(!). Whatever is necessary to hamstring stimulus other than your immediate physical surroundings.
It's not gonna change the system but helps me feel reflective and more creative.
I think the solution to this lies in the past and the evolutionary history of human race; why did we have such longer attention spans to begin with? Was it because in the good old days we were...
I think the solution to this lies in the past and the evolutionary history of human race; why did we have such longer attention spans to begin with? Was it because in the good old days we were habitual to consuming longer content formats like novels and published books instead of blog posts and short videos? If so, can we try and correct the present anomaly by again cultivating the habit of longer content formats? Maybe, we also need to be more vigilant of at least some components of modern tools like social media which are designed to unwittingly absorb "every nugget" of our attention? These are perhaps some questions in the direction of solving this.
I don't believe any genetic changes have been found having to do with literacy? It's too recent. But it seems like there's a lot of observant waiting involved in hunting and fishing.
I don't believe any genetic changes have been found having to do with literacy? It's too recent.
But it seems like there's a lot of observant waiting involved in hunting and fishing.
An interesting theory if true, but I suspect they made it up.
Did you know that marketers lobbied for underground design and architecture? Long labyrinths and slow escalators allow marketers to exhibit hundreds of hypnotising billboards. And monochrome walls make every ad a high-contrast object that immediately draws the eye.
An interesting theory if true, but I suspect they made it up.
While I can understand the interior design being lobbied by them, I agree that the whole architecture of underground stations are a bit of a stretch. I'd love to see articles/documents/books...
While I can understand the interior design being lobbied by them, I agree that the whole architecture of underground stations are a bit of a stretch.
I'd love to see articles/documents/books proving otherwise, though.
By making fungible that which was once not (eg: waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store couldn't have been used to respond to an email, or check a few tweets), technology that promotes "convenience" has the insidious tendency to absorb every nugget of human attention. Coupled with the business model where companies directly monetize the attention rather than any other part of the "transaction" (much older than modern smartphone technology), we've unwittingly set up a bad evolutionary race to the bottom. The heart of the problem is that the system is eroding every bit of "slack" in human attention and cognition -- kneecapping opportunities for the kind of silence and reflection necessary for deep awareness, creative realizations, etc.
PS: The Adam Curtis documentary The century of the self has an interesting take on the historical evolution of this drive towards ubiquitous marketing. I'd also like to hear about other treatises on the subject, and thoughts on how we might move out of it.
In checkout lines, before we had smartphones, we had the headlines of the National Enquirer and other trashy newspapers. Also candy. I don’t remember where the cigarettes were but I think there were at least ads for them?
I agree. I see it in myself. But so what? How do we reconquer that? How do we get into that mental state intentionally? Is intentional boredom the only option?
Honestly, I think intentionally slowing down, taking pauses, etc. Intentional boredom if you want to call it that, is the only way. But I'm not bored in those moments, I'm thinking, reflecting, etc.
I'm at war with this. I accept that given the opportunity, this system will erode one's patience and attention. So I leave the system as best I can - at least temporarily. Switch off the power. Go camping. Walk anywhere. Lose the phone(!). Whatever is necessary to hamstring stimulus other than your immediate physical surroundings.
It's not gonna change the system but helps me feel reflective and more creative.
I think the solution to this lies in the past and the evolutionary history of human race; why did we have such longer attention spans to begin with? Was it because in the good old days we were habitual to consuming longer content formats like novels and published books instead of blog posts and short videos? If so, can we try and correct the present anomaly by again cultivating the habit of longer content formats? Maybe, we also need to be more vigilant of at least some components of modern tools like social media which are designed to unwittingly absorb "every nugget" of our attention? These are perhaps some questions in the direction of solving this.
I don't believe any genetic changes have been found having to do with literacy? It's too recent.
But it seems like there's a lot of observant waiting involved in hunting and fishing.
Yes, but everything you do changes your brain, so that's not saying much. What you're good at depends on what you practice.
An interesting theory if true, but I suspect they made it up.
While I can understand the interior design being lobbied by them, I agree that the whole architecture of underground stations are a bit of a stretch.
I'd love to see articles/documents/books proving otherwise, though.