Attention and Distraction
The idea of whether the Internet is making us more intelligent or less intelligent, more vulnerable to distraction or more capable of skillful multi-tasking, seems to have obsessed the majority of print and online media journalists lately. No doubt these journalists are concerned with the fate of their jobs, as print media dwindles and people become increasingly less likely to pay for reporting that often costs thousands of dollars to accomplish. Out of this so-called “crisis of attention” has emerged a new genre of writing, a kind of meta-reporting in which journalists, distracted by the swarm of new media overtaking print, are focusing their attention on new neurological research and technological advancements to try and figure out where the future of their own profession, and indeed the entire globalized world, is headed.
One of the more notable recent articles to address this topic was Sam Anderson’s New York magazine piece called “In Defense of Distraction.”[1] Basically Anderson says that the amount of distracting media content available these days (through iPods, iPhones, 24/7 cable news, multiple email accounts, YouTube, etc) may, over time, enable human beings to be better at “paying attention.”
He begins the article by citing a number of scary statistics about the toll the Internet and streaming media has reeked on human beings: Young adults in South Korea have perished from exhaustion after marathon “gaming” sessions; distraction is a “full-blown epidemic” akin to smoking years ago, when people didn’t understand how unhealthy smoking really was; Einstein, were he alive today, would have been too distracted to come up with the theory of relativity. But Anderson soon comes around to say that attention is actually a kind of concentrated form of distraction. Focusing on a pen on your desk, for instance, is a way of harnessing your distractions around a single point. You start to think interesting thoughts about the desk, the pen, ink, the act of writing, etc. You become distracted, in other words, by concentrating on the pen.
We’re always distracted. It’s our natural condition. But too much concentration, Anderson says, can actually be a bad thing. Adderall, for example, often causes people to think mechanically, as if with blinders on, limiting one’s ability to be distracted and thus think creatively. In a recent article in Slate,[2] Joshua Foer spent an experimental week taking Adderall, and found that he was much less likely to be distracted by email, but also less likely to think outside the box. To experience the random associations or sensations that can often trigger a cool new angle on an idea, he needed to be a bit more distractable. Anderson uses the example of Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, Proust’s giant seven-volume masterpiece of reminiscence that was initially triggered by a random sense memory—the taste of a cookie dipped in tea that transported him back to his youth. Had Proust been taking Adderall, Anderson writes, he might’ve been so caught up in whatever conversation he was having or book he was reading that the memory of eating his “madeleine,” as the cookie was called, may not have registered at all.
Nicholas Carr, a former IT consultant who writes periodically for The Atlantic, made some darker prophecies on the subject of attention and distraction last year in an article titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” [3] Taking the opposite track from Anderson, Carr starts by addressing the benefits of the Internet. People may be reading more than they used to in the seventies and eighties, thanks to the web and other text providers. And deep research is gloriously simpler thanks to Google. Whereas before you might have to spend a day in the library stacks to find a relevant quote, you can now search for it in Google and shazaam, there it is. Three seconds versus 5 hours. But Carr is infinitely skeptical of the toll this ease-of-access may be taking on the biological network of our brains. Technology may not only be influencing what we think, but how we think:
[W]hat the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.
Carr foresees a time not unlike that portrayed in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 Space Odyssey, in which the most ostensibly “human” character turns out to be a machine. The essence of Kubrick’s prophecy, Carr writes, is that “as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.”
In my own life, I’ve noticed a decreased ability to pay attention to books and magazines the way that I used to, before the Internet became such a big part of everyone’s life. There’s always something else to do, to look up, to watch. Spending an hour reading a novel or a long article in the New Yorker is becoming less and less feasible. I find myself getting antsy, losing my place, drifting off, especially if I happen to be reading in the same room as my computer—that portal to the land of universal knowledge and, of course, distraction. Granted, there are a lot of great things on the Internet, things that have certainly changed the way I think about the world in a positive and beneficial way. Never have human beings been able to connect with one another so easily, and connect to ideas so easily, which hopefully increases our wisdom and ability to empathize with the rest of the species.
And yet, it’s hard not to feel like a kind of lab rat, punching the feeder bar for more and more input, more content, more blips of temporary pleasure from videos of cats in funny costumes. And the sad truth, as Carr makes clear, is that companies like Google have an economic interest in making us more and more distracted, so that they can learn more about our interests and personal habits and then advertise accordingly. They don’t want concentrated thinking; they want you to continue hyperlinking and surfing wildly and constantly, instead of spending thirty minutes contemplating an author’s intentions. That gets them nowhere. They, too, are thirsty for input.
For the moment, the solution for many ambitious Americans seems to be neuro-enhancers, drugs that increase out ability to pay attention and perform complex tasks more efficiently. But again, what part of ourselves are we losing by taking these drugs? The long-term consequences of Adderall addiction can be just as devastating as an addiction to speed—the gradual burning-out of important neural circuitry. Perhaps the best solution is to take up meditating, or make sure you get some weekly exercise, or just continue to think about stuff and have face-to-face conversations about non-technological subjects. Unless some apocalyptic event wipes out the whole mainframe Internet circuit board, we’re going to be living with frighteningly advanced technology for millennia to come. We better start learning how to ignore it from time to time.
[1] http://nymag.com/news/features/56793
[2] http://www.slate.com/id/2118315
[3] http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google
Posted: June 25, 2009
Filed under: Jays' Letters
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24 Responses to “Attention and Distraction”Tell us what you're thinking...
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Wow after reading this I kinda feel guilty for interrupting what I was focusing on. This article is so true and should also sound an alarm in an Internet Marketers brain.. It’s not traffic we are fighting for anymore, it’s attention.
Free your Mind, and the rest will follow! Great stuff JK
Right on Jay! Meditation and exercise are key. I think going outside and spending some time in nature helps too. Turn off the iPhone and take a stroll through the park
See you next week in the DR!
I’m reading a book, Yes, that’s right, a real book.. called _Awakening to Zen_ by Roshi Philip Kapleau. Here a some verses that speak of what you’re saying, p29 “..true creativity is possible only when the mind is empty and totally absorbed in the task at hand. Only at the point where one is freed of the weight of selfconsciousness is there transcendence and the joy of genuine fulfillment. In this natural creativity our intuitive wisdom and joy are released and brought into play.” p27 Our true nature is like a circle to which nothing can be added and from which nothing can be subracted.”
I am finding consolation in these words. For me this means why search? I have the answers within me – I already know.. Also, it means to me – be in the moment. This is helping with my focus problem by quite a bit. It certainily helped me read your article through to the end… Take care. cw
What a great article, and NO, I shouldn’t even be taking the time to write this as I have a ton of “to do” tasks to get done.
However, you are so right, as my cousin was commenting the other day that part of the problem with the way we live our lives now is because we never have “quiet” time. If we don’t have a cell phone handy, the TV to watch our favorite programs, and all the technology on the market now that is deemed “necessary” to have when realistically, we would survive w/o the internet, our iPod, our cell phone, and the never ending “gadgets” that fill our lives these days. Myself, I would go into withdrawal if I couldn’t get on the computer every day and do whatever I need to do, although I am trying to learn a home business; it’s not as though I get on here to have “fun,”; I HAVE to get on here to study and learn how to make money. But kids and teens these days feel like if they don’t have their own cell phone, their own TV, etc., that that are abused, but the real problem is their young minds are constantly in a state of distraction. If they’re not busy texting or talking to someone on the phone, if they simply sat down and had NO gadgets around them, I and my cousin would like to know what they would do if all these gadgets and distractions were taken away from them.
They are under a constant siege of technology every waking minute, and you can’t tell me that this issue must do something to their still growing minds, and the outcome of what their minds would focus on if they did NOT have any distractions might not be a good thing. When I was a kid, we had no TV until I was about 13, I certainly had none of the gadgets available today, and yet I an remember being happy and did not feel like I was lacking for anything. I spent a lot of my time studying and ending up graduating second in my high school class. I was “allowed” to go to a movie once a week, and that was it; that was the sum total of my “social” life. But at no time did I feel deprived, and I’m wondering if young people these days could even survive w/o a computer, an iPod, a cell phone; the list is endless.
Well, need to go as I allowed myself to get distracted and write this; it’s a good thing I’m a very fast typist -;)
C. Larimore
Ibelieve the full consequences of the internet are still not fully known. However as time goes by it will become more clearly known and we may be quite surprised as to what the consequences really turn out to be. A good article. thanks jjmagee dmd.
The simple solution here is balance. Spending time family and friends, proper exercise, and focused down time allow us to get the best of both worlds.
Hi Jay,
I am a new internet user therefore can not comment at this early stage.However,I was benifitted to some extent through yahoo and google.I hope to comment at a later stage.
Ragards.
Thanks for the article Jay
I tend to agree with the dangers alluded to. I love the ‘freedom’ and potential within the internet but am uneasingly becoming aware of the disengagement aspect of being in front of the machine and not attaching myself to other real people and the physical world. I think we need to consciously balance our time and efforts to interact and impact with the ‘real world’ otherwise we could easily be dominated by the technology that is supposed to serve us. Technology should help us connect and enhance the quality of our lives for the common good of all. It behoves us to have those values that will not make us slaves to systems that we have created. God help us if we lose sight of our relationship with one another and yes God Himself, maybe that should be our focus as we need to be lifted into the higher purposes of why we are here and where we are going.
I find that my real life, filled with lots of activity, with face to face conversations, basic chores etc. gets put on the back burner when I spend a complete day on my computer. Then I am running around at the end of the day wondering how I am going to catch up with all that didn’t get done because I was so caught up in cyber land. It’s about finding balance between the cyber world and the so called real world….Next will be a chip implanted in our brains at birth so that we won’t have to spend all this time writing,reading,texting,etc. We will just be able to tune in to our favorite program, book, newspaper, person etc. and we will automatically be able to download whatever we want onto our personal auto-telepathic-chip-enhancer.
Thanks Jay for your thought provoking letter. Yes, the way technology has impacted into peoples lives is far reaching. As a secondary school music teacher (UK)I’m aware that the youngsters concentration span is getting shorter all the time and they expect to be ‘entertained’ by fast moving graphics,images and sounds. The dilemma is do we give what they want and move homework and studies on-line (easier for the teacher)- or hold out for the thinking skills based group work and creative pursuits? It seems both avenues are currently being developed. Personally, I think each person needs to preserve some non-tech time to reflect on life, and enjoy just being!
Yes, infomation is ready aviliable every where. The problem being how much can one absorb and put to use. I for one, being Retired and Newbie are having difficult
time to understand and put the system to good use. I only hope and seek a more simple way/system to work.
I enjoyed reading the article you wrote. I am a teacher currently in a master’s degree program that integrates technology and curriculum. There is much controversy regarding the use of technology in the classroom and its future effects on the children. There is not enough data on the effects as of yet. Some research says technology integration using the internet develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. Other researchers say it’s the teacher who makes the difference in what and how the students learn and technology integration makes little difference. I think it’s a combination of both. The internet is not going away. I think children should learn everything they can about it. But it is ultimately the family’s responsibity to set proper examples, provide learning experiences in the outside world and provide opportunities for creativity. Loving and giving parents make all the differences in the child’s life more than anything. Good Article and good research…..
Thanks… Jeanie Hamblen
Hei
Thanks for your email read now i am new net maker and also interest in net system your provedure is very nice in the world for every person.
Raza Khan
I agree totally with this Jay. We must maintain our perspective. The computer has robbed us from spending time on the important things. The most important being time in Prayer to GOD, and time with our Families. We must remember to keep things in order of importance, and to spend quality time with them. We cannot allow our obsession with the internet to rob us of these relationsips, and to keep them alive and well. After all, when everything is said and done, they are all that matters. Wayne G
Due to my old-fashioned nature and stable, conservative family heritage, I, at 55, am struggling to learn internet “things” so that I can be a successful marketer. I find the distractions irritating, rather than appealing. I reared my five children in the country, home-schooled quite a bit (some years the children attended a private, Catholic Academy), and taught my children to be able to entertain themselves with very little. We were close, and I was always there. My eldest son is now a novice technical trader, and his two brothers are working on rational wealth strategies because I guided them in that direction. I may be old-fashioned in taste, but I’m very realistic about life. I have had to gently monitor and guide my family away from becoming too involved with internet distractions and computer games. We have to consider the consequences of our actions and how we live, and consider the big picture. We must always have a sincere and compassionate consideration of others, especially those with whom we are in close, day to day contact. We must consider what good or damage we are effecting with our lives, and life is really short, after all. Time is infinitely valuable, and we would all do well to evaluate more objectively how we spend it. I am so grateful for how my five children “turned out.” We would not be close now if they had been able to overdose with the net.
Jay, I do agree that we have to learn to be balanced and to organize our distractions. However, please keep in mind that the only people who should be taking Adderall (and other medications) are those who can not control their attention in other ways and without improving their attention they would have far less success in life. I do agree with you that medication should the last resort, as it should always be in any situation.
I am always impressed with your articles and look forward to reading more. Can’t wait to meet you in Vegas.
The one word that keeps shouting to me is balance, balance, balance.
I think modeling balance to the up and coming is going to be paramount too.
Put another decade into technology and what they’re going to be doing on a daily basis might make us look like we’re standing still.
Hi Jay,
This was a great article. I am inclined to believe that every author you’ve cited has some astute observations, but I’m not so inclined to think that google is making us stupid, however, there are certain sites, google included that tend towards making us think less critically, taking most things we find on the net in a “sum total” fashion, as if that were the end all be all of the definition of our search.
The overload of information that people can find on the internet can of course be something of a cause to this, however, another thing that I am finding more and more disturbing, is really that with this technology comes the marketing. Now being a marketer, it might seem odd to say this, but has anyone really paid attention to their television lately? Most commercials tend to cause that all desired urge to want what is offered, whether what is offered is really good or not. Not to mention the speed at which technology develops continues to cause an overloading bombardment of “you gotta have it”. This combined with the entertainment factor in a commercial, a viral video on the net, a humorous article, all add up to a pull of our collective senses towards the acceptance of the message.
I think that in order for Google to have made anyone stupid, they’d have to have allowed it, and it’s less likely Google than more passive modes of information bombardment, such as television commercials.
All in all, I think that perhaps people do need to realize that everything we create might make our lives easier, but we also need to be mindful of the fact that as human beings, we are designed to be active, to be thinking, to be creative. In order to do this, we must be aware that unless something is proven with empirical evidence, we have to think critically about it, and draw our own conclusions. If we fail to keep doing this one thing, we fail to continue to grow and expand as the species we are. Technology, for all of its benefits, is only beneficial if properly used. To use anything properly, we must balance it with other things that other commentators on the subject have touched on already. Downtime, exercise, real life experiences, reading a book, taking some time contemplating and critically analyzing what we read, hear, and see… Regardless of the agenda of Google, Wikipedia, Myspace, Facebook, or any other commercially driven machination of our modern tech.
We are human, and as such, we are easily distracted. Therefore, we should harness that to be distracted by our reality, and affect change within it in a way that benefits us, our environment, and utilizes little technology as often as possible.
Great article Jay, and I hope my post made sense. Peace.
Jamie
I’m with Parky on this one. Balance is best.
Meditation 100% works for me. I meditate every day and use the “theatre of the mind” to bring myself to focus on 1 task at a time…I NEVER try to multi-task and because of this I get an enormous amount of stuff accomplished. Also, I do not watch television – that eliminates a lot of distraction right there.
hi jY, RHnk you for the letter,,, i am a stay at home mom looking to further my families life quality. the other day i was on the computer for no more than 20min and wihtin that time, my kids had been sititng with me doing work , eating and chatitng, i realized i truely missed the evtire 20 min,,, i was so into the computer and what i could learn i didnt hear my kids although i was with them. wow , made me realize how to prioritize and schedule my computer time,,, to all the moms out there who are trying to help the husbands financially, i know and understand but remember, your children are your first priority, lov eand laugh often,,, aloha
Hei
Thanks for your email read now it best for us improve our business/
Raza Khan
So refreshing and true. Yes, laugh often.
This is it !
Gaspar Almeida