View Full Version : our distracted humanity
I am older chronologically so I recall life in an era prior to constant connectivity. When out and about, it becomes apparent that the majority of people spend a great deal of their lives in their own little screen worlds. A little over a week ago, a horrible crime happened on campus and it was reported that the victim was looking at her phone when attacked at night walking back to her dorm. (as seen on security cameras). Word went out that students need to be aware of their surroundings, ie not on their phones. Yet walking across campus yesterday, every student was either listening to music or looking at their phones. I know I am an outlier in this realm kind of like when I fell into simple living years ago. Bu it really does concern me that a whole generation and beyond will not notice all the subtle and not so subtle things around them because they are basically addicted to distraction. I would like to be convinced I am mistaken...
Ultralight
4-14-16, 2:21pm
I am older chronologically so I recall life in an era prior to constant connectivity. When out and about, it becomes apparent that the majority of people spend a great deal of their lives in their own little screen worlds. A little over a week ago, a horrible crime happened on campus and it was reported that the victim was looking at her phone when attacked at night walking back to her dorm. (as seen on security cameras). Word went out that students need to be aware of their surroundings, ie not on their phones. Yet walking across campus yesterday, every student was either listening to music or looking at their phones. I know I am an outlier in this realm kind of like when I fell into simple living years ago. Bu it really does concern me that a whole generation and beyond will not notice all the subtle and not so subtle things around them because they are basically addicted to distraction. I would like to be convinced I am mistaken...
Cyborgs.
ApatheticNoMore
4-14-16, 3:24pm
Of course one could not be distracted and not paying any attention to one's outward surroundings as well. If they weren't texting and were every professor's dream student and the next genius, contemplating equations while walking between classes, they would present as plenty distracted as well, as thought itself can be distracting (but it's probably not texting). So outward observation is only one mode of non-distracted being, though a necessary and valuable one.
I find it amazing what people don't notice in their natural environment. And think they would be better off paying some attention at least some of the time, have that deep intuitive knowledge of observation of even just their trite immediate world. I notice patterns in plants, don't you?
There IS too much distraction, but I have to see texting as pretty innocent on that continuum (well unless driving). It's socializing and a natural human impulse (that can maybe be taken too far and is be over-stimulated and quite probably is).
I tend to see a much more harmful distraction in how much "news" we are presented with that we are supposed to know (know everything!) and immediately have an opinion on and classify and fit into some mental model and no doubt pressured to feel something about as well, and this often without any filter of what is important and what isn't. And that's the twitterization of everything :~)
It's made me frankly come to despise much of the web these days. I miss real blogs. It's a trap to fall into. Walk away and ....
S .... L ... O ... W ............................... D.... O.... W ... N.
I find it amazing what people don't notice in their natural environment.
Walk away and ....
S .... L ... O ... W ............................... D.... O.... W ... N.
Hey, even noticing the UNnatural environment would be an improvement over being hypnotized by your phone. When I travel on business, I'll typically leave a place, get in a cab to go to the airport and while I'm on the way, I'll be poring over all the emails I've missed while working.
On my last trip I made a CONSCIOUS effort to just look out the window and notice things instead--billboards, apartment buildings, cars going by. After all, I'm not always in [Chicago/Atlanta/Houston/Phoenix/SanFran] so why blind myself to the experience??
We are a distracted people now. When I see my dog perking up her ears at some unheard or unseen thing, it reminds me how far we've come from fully using our senses.
I guess I see 2 sides, one is the distracted nature of people right now. For example I use my phone for music but I only put in one headphone instead of 2, it helps me stay aware of my surroundings. I also set aside some time to really check in my surroundings, lots of meditation and a few retreats help with that.
In another way it is cool, I was already the 'distracted' one. By the time I got to high school I couldn't take the attention a classroom required (however I got great grades). I would bring needlepoint to class so that I had a chance of paying attention and not losing my mind. I used to read books constantly, at breakfast I wasn't allowed to have a book so I read the cereal boxes, dinner was hard and I would eat fast or try to sneak a book. It took a long time to get it across to my supervisors that I was not blowing off meetings by doodling (I don't use my phone unless it is an emergency because that looks like you are just checking facebook), I could always jump in the conversation at any time which helped. And anytime work needs someone to read and research then I am the first one volunteering.
Today I had a Mammogram. This was what I noticed, Every single worker there at the desk area except ONE and older lady, all had their iPhones in hand or next to them, playing with them. They were for the most part working but I was so offended. This is a slap in the face to the patient in my opinion. All were about 30 or under. I guess I figured the office can't beat the phone usage, so just give in.
This is the way the generation grew up, it is the normal.
BEST one or Worst. Burial two weeks ago, the two kids and spouses(I mentioned in other post). No minister just us and the fellow with the remains from the funeral parlor. OK the county worker was there with the shovel,he was back a bit but then he realized he knew us and came over. It was friendly event no tears so he talked to bil. Weird, but the worst part his phone pinged a few times, then the ringer that was a train whistle went off! He was a fireman so needed to be on call. We all made a joke or two, but really how rude and inconsiderate, but the stupid phones are everywhere even at the grave yard!
I don't see how any of this will end, just how it is today.
I do find it annoying to be in a meeting where half the participants can't resist the lure of their phones or ipads.
Ultralight
4-14-16, 6:24pm
Like I said...
Cyborgs!
I haven't been in a business meeting for decades, but I would have welcomed any and all distractions. :help:
Ultralight
4-14-16, 9:54pm
Smart phones at work: escape modules!
ApatheticNoMore
4-14-16, 10:00pm
my cynical thought was: if they don't want us to seek distraction maybe they shouldn't schedule 4 hour meetings that relate to no one's actual job ...
my cynical thought was: if they don't want us to seek distraction maybe they shouldn't schedule 4 hour meetings that relate to no one's actual job ...
And the attendees are merely "fluffers" there to stroke the convener's ego. Bleahh.
thinkgreen
4-15-16, 3:12am
Today while driving I needed to make a left turn and was waiting on a woman who was crossing the street with a small child. I couldn't figure out why she was crossing so slowly. You guessed it, she was looking at her phone. Then she noticed me and crossed normally. Honestly! With a small child crossing the road - she couldn't pick a worse time to check her texts, etc. Maybe this should be under the Daily Peeve.
Ultralight
4-15-16, 1:52pm
Texting to be allowed in theatres now?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-allowing-texting-in-movie-theaters-might-have-been-a-brilliant-idea/2016/04/15/20de9426-0293-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html
my cynical thought was: if they don't want us to seek distraction maybe they shouldn't schedule 4 hour meetings that relate to no one's actual job ...
See! this is so obvious!
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/jpatter492/14237942074_a4bb1ba092_zpsxbp90enx.jpg (http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/jpatter492/media/14237942074_a4bb1ba092_zpsxbp90enx.jpg.html)
Great photo, jp1! I admit reading anything and everything every chance I got in my youth. And listening on earphones, too. I was generally conscious of my surroundings when, say, crossing the street....
See! this is so obvious!
OTOH I agree with you both--I HATE meetings and it's one reason I left the corporate world, frankly.
BUT, I also believe in courtesy and respect. When I was going to those god-awful meetings during the time when technology was becoming part of our daily lives, I was appalled at the blatant disregard for the presenters by people sitting there with their laptops open.
Rude, IMHO, and the ubiquity of technology does not change that for me.
Ultralight
4-15-16, 3:07pm
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/jpatter492/14237942074_a4bb1ba092_zpsxbp90enx.jpg (http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/jpatter492/media/14237942074_a4bb1ba092_zpsxbp90enx.jpg.html)
The problem is, and always has been, the people.
Texting to be allowed in theatres now?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-allowing-texting-in-movie-theaters-might-have-been-a-brilliant-idea/2016/04/15/20de9426-0293-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html
I heard this morning that AMC was walking that back. They got a lot of negative reaction to the idea. I wonder if some of it came by text message.
Ultralight
4-15-16, 3:10pm
I tell yas what! If major companies and governments in this country ban smart phones at work there will be a massive resurgence in union membership, union organizing, and strikes.
Picket lines will be full of people staring at their phones though.
The problem is, and always has been, the people.
We need better people! Sounds like a Trump campaign slogan.
We need better people! Sounds like a Trump campaign slogan.
i think eugenicists like Margaret Sanger had ambitions like that back in the day.
iris lilies
4-16-16, 9:59am
I heard this morning that AMC was walking that back. They got a lot of negative reaction to the idea. I wonder if some of it came by text message.
Got to be a miserable job being the usher in the movie theater who has to scold texters.
ToomuchStuff
4-16-16, 2:57pm
An ad showing people walking into holes, or fountains, traffic, etc.
Then it shows a person with a gizmo around their neck, holding the phone and on their back as they walk forward a camera.
Introducing the new (phone name) accessory. It allows you to view your phone hands free, while using the phones built in camera to show you whats in front of you, while also showing you what is behind you and letting you view whatever other content you want on your phone. Now you can have actual social interactions, without the annoyance of actually looking someone in the eyes. (scenes checking out at grocery store, restaurant, drug dealer in Colorado, etc).
Teacher Terry
4-16-16, 3:43pm
I noticed when we go out to eat that many families are all on their phones instead of talking to one another. How sad. Eating is a time to talk to your kids and enjoy being with them. When I was raising my kids no one was ever allowed to eat in front of the TV. We sat down at the table and talked about our day.
I noticed when we go out to eat that many families are all on their phones instead of talking to one another. How sad. Eating is a time to talk to your kids and enjoy being with them. ....
I see this all the time too, Teacher Terry. The adults seem to forget that part of raising children is to socialize them and to me that includes conversation. It almost looks like they don't even like their kids and are relieved that they are not pestering them.
My own now-adult son was very verbal as a young child and we encouraged it. He also was a happy and hilarious kid so that even today we repeat things he said when he was little and still laugh about them. I can't imagine missing all of that because I stuck a tablet in his hands and let him zone out in a game.
iris lilies
4-17-16, 12:02pm
I see this all the time too, Teacher Terry. The adults seem to forget that part of raising children is to socialize them and to me that includes conversation. It almost looks like they don't even like their kids and are relieved that they are not pestering them.
My own now-adult son was very verbal as a young child and we encouraged it. He also was a happy and hilarious kid so that even today we repeat things he said when he was little and still laugh about them. I can't imagine missing all of that because I stuck a tablet in his hands and let him zone out in a game.
Dogs are the original kids.
They interact with you without stupid eletronic devices in their paws.My dog is always up for a conversation, a cuddle, a garden walk.
But they may be texting each other from across the table.
Friends of mine send me email grabs of funny text conversations they've had with their kids. They're probably being saved for posterity.
From what I can see, a lot of kids are closer to their parents than my generation was.
a lot of kids are closer to their parents than my generation was.
This has been my observation too. I would have never hung out with my parents back in the 60s-70s. Parents act more like friends these days. Or maybe it's all the so-called helicopter parenting wherein it is hard for children to establish their own separate lives. DDs new in-laws are like that. The whole family vacations together, dines out weekly etc. Mom, Dad, sibs - one big happy family (I guess).
I get to an airport about once a year and it is a great place for people watching. It wasn't too many years ago when people passed their waiting time reading books and news papers, then there were laptops where people could be working or reading or just wasting some time, then it was mostly tablets and now it's smart phones. Generally speaking it seems like a steady decline in the quality of information a person can get, although they all could go either way.
I'm way behind in my Kindle reading, so an airport would be the perfect place to catch up. Back in the day, I would bring a book and buy a magazine. I never get tired of having multiple books at my fingertips in such a compact space.
Smart phones are computers in your pocket. With books on them. And news feeds. I don't see how that is a decline from the books and newspapers of old ...
I'm way behind in my Kindle reading, so an airport would be the perfect place to catch up. Back in the day, I would bring a book and buy a magazine. I never get tired of having multiple books at my fingertips in such a compact space.
One of my guilty secrets is that when I take an especially long trip, I bring both my new Kindle Fire and my old 1G Kindle in case the battery runs down on the primary.
I don't see how that is a decline
I don't recall the vast majority of people way back when walking around or driving with newspapers or books in front of them. Perhaps while waiting somewhere or riding the bus. Change happens - if this is what the masses want, so it goes.
I don't recall the vast majority of people way back when walking around or driving with newspapers or books in front of them. Perhaps while waiting somewhere or riding the bus. Change happens - if this is what the masses want, so it goes.
My wife claims to have heard that texting while driving now kills more young people than drinking and driving.
Smart phones are computers in your pocket. With books on them. And news feeds. I don't see how that is a decline from the books and newspapers of old ...
Since I don't have a smart phone I wouldn't know a fact, but it would seem difficult to read a book or even a lengthy article on that little screen? Do people actually use a smart phone for those things. I can seen a news feed that is just blips of information.
My smart phone screen (6") is slightly smaller than the one on my 7" e-reader, which is about the size of a paperback--so not that bad, really.
My smart phone screen (6") is slightly smaller than the one on my 7" e-reader, which is about the size of a paperback--so not that bad, really.I've been known to read books on my 4.7" iPhone screen. It's not ideal, but easily doable (with the right reading glasses on these old eyes).
There was a recent NPR article about a study claiming that students who took notes via a laptop had a lower rate of information retention than the slower method of handwriting lecture notes. The premise was that the slower process allowed more of the information to sink in. I wonder what other mental processes are affected by the smart phone revolution. Much more information, but in little blips of text messages, twitters, tweets, apps and facebook posts. I suspect that there might be a general loss of attention span and situation analysis unless people also challenge themselves with in-depth articles and books.
I read 1000 page books on my regular sized iPhone. You can adjust the size of the font. Because it's on a lighted screen it's easier to see than the words in a book.
There was a study a while back that had people read a short (28 page I think) story. Half did so on a tablet, the other half in a regular book format. Afterwards they tested comprehension with a series of questions about the order of various plot events. The people who read on paper did somewhat better on the test. Of course I read the article on an iPad, so who knows if I'm remembering it correctly... :~)
Did they test a mix of ages? I imagine young people are more accustomed to reading everything in digital format.
I've noticed that my already pathetic attention span has changed for the worse since the advent of technology. Oh well.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/readers-absorb-less-kindles-paper-study-plot-ereader-digitisation
Unfortunately the articles I can find are all like this one and don't provide details about the study participants. The researchers theorized that it has to do with the growing amount of pages on the left provide yet another sensation of the passing of time to help the reader remember:
"When you read on paper you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right," said Mangen. "You have the tactile sense of progress, in addition to the visual ... [The differences for Kindle readers] might have something to do with the fact that the fixity of a text on paper, and this very gradual unfolding of paper as you progress through a story, is some kind of sensory offload, supporting the visual sense of progress when you're reading. Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader's sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story."
There was a recent NPR article about a study claiming that students who took notes via a laptop had a lower rate of information retention than the slower method of handwriting lecture notes. The premise was that the slower process allowed more of the information to sink in. I wonder what other mental processes are affected by the smart phone revolution.
Interesting to me, because when I do telephone interviews, I type my notes directly, almost verbatim, into an Excel spreadsheet (thank you, 1974 Katharine Gibbs certificate in secretarial skills). When I have support in the back room during in-person interviews, I've noticed that many people, including young people, still take notes by hand. It's annoying to me, because there's no way to share them with me easily. So I asked one of my project managers (a very, very tech savvy young woman) why she doesn't use her computer for notes and she said that writing by hand forces her to select the important bits of information and think more about it as she's writing--so pretty much exactly what the NPR article said.
Unfortunately, my handwritten notes are a complete disaster and I can't rely on them at all because I'm thinking, asking questions, listening, andmaintaining eye contact with the respondent. But when I took my Permaculture class, I took great notes.
I also feel my handwriting is degenerating because of my reliance on typing, but maybe it's just because I'm getting old.
I'm always checking my percentage of progress through the book on kindle. It's on every page at the bottom - this might be the equivalent of holding a physical book and feeling how far along in the book one is while reading.
ToomuchStuff
4-21-16, 12:01pm
One thing I HATE about digital books, is no page numbers. Yes, a digital book can bookmark, but I have been in multiple instances where I might have the book I am reading, be at some other location, where they also have the book and I will pick it up and continue, while waiting for stuff.
Also I find physical books, used, for much cheaper then their electronic counterparts, typically. (places like Project Gutenberg are exceptions)
I don't like the lack of page numbers and the difficulty--impossibility?--of flipping through pages on digital books. That's not so much a problem on light fiction, which is mostly what I keep on my Kindle. But since I rarely read fiction :D I'm developing quite a backlog.
One thing I HATE about digital books, is no page numbers.
I don't like the lack of page numbers and the difficulty--impossibility?--of flipping through pages on digital books.
While I've never used a dedicated e-reader such as a Kindle or Nook, I do read daily on one of my tablets, either an iPad or Galaxy, using either the iBook, Kindle or independent Moon Reader apps. They all display page numbers. Are you sure you're not missing a setting on your device?
ToomuchStuff
4-21-16, 1:11pm
No setting for it on my Nook. I just double checked and it seems like it is in the books themselves. Looked at a Gutenberg book and it had them, and another book I have on it (one of the released under creative commons), didn't.
Jane, on digital devices, typically you scroll through pages. On my Nook, in particular, it allows to to choose what buttons do page forward, or backward. (I left that the default since other members of my family had Nooks so if I picked one up, they would be uniform).
Unfortunately for me, technical books are the ones I would most need page numbers in and those seem to be the ones missing them.
Mine will say, for example "1% location 48 of 5799." I can scroll through, but the procsss isn't nearly as fast or efficient as it is with books.
Mine will say, for example "1% location 48 of 5799." I can scroll through, but the procsss isn't nearly as fast or efficient as it is with books.
Upon reflection, I'd think that may be the best way to maintain uniformity between devices since you have the ability to change the font sizes to suit your needs and different devices have different sized screens.
As an experiment, I just increased the font size in my Moon Reader app and the page X of XXX notice at the bottom of my current book increased.
I expect any perceived bugs will eventually be worked out. In the meantime, I have plenty of recreational reading at my fingertips.
Referring to the op...our news had a feature last night about distracted driving and some new laws for some cities. I have heard of at least one study where they say distracting driving has as much risk for and accident as drinking and driving. It seemed sort of a vague study to me, but it is a routine gripe for me. Some one is drifting in and out of their lane or swing out wide for a turn and you get up next to them and they are on their phone. I was biking down a local trail that gets some use from bike commuters, came around a curve and there was a guy texting with one hand on his handlebars! It was almost a head on. I yelled bad things.
Maybe I should have put this in a rant thread, but find it disturbing that people cannot put down their phone long enough to drive from one place to another. Seems like some laws are developing, but it's probably a hard case to prove in court.
distracted driving and some new laws for some cities
We have had no phones while driving laws for about a year. It may have helped some but many drivers still can't give it up.
It is hard to enforce but the latest tactic is for one cop to ride the bus where he/she can look down into cars and then radio ahead to another cop to ticket.
We have had no phones while driving laws for about a year. It may have helped some but many drivers still can't give it up....
In our news feature the penalty for a first offense is a $90. fine. That is not much of a deterrent and probably water off a duck's back for many.
Gardenarian
4-22-16, 2:39pm
There was a Mythbusters episode on the dangers of driving with a cell phone vs drunk driving. (http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cell-phone-vs-drunk-driving-minimyth/)
(I believe this is a shortened version of the show.)
There was a Mythbusters episode on the dangers of driving with a cell phone vs drunk driving. (http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cell-phone-vs-drunk-driving-minimyth/)
(I believe this is a shortened version of the show.)
That was an entertaining test. There are probably other tests in the works since it's becoming a hot topic, but this one says texting and driving are equivalent to drinking four beers. A DUI conviction probably costs a person 5 or 10 thousand dollars. http://www.bisociety.org/texting-while-driving-vs-drunk-driving-which-is-more-dangerous/
Sharing the road with either a drunk driver or someone transfixed by their phone is beyond annoying. I get out of the way--pull over if necessary--to avoid them. You're not in full control of your faculties when you're inebriated; what's the excuse when you won't put your *%&@#$ phone down?
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