By I.J. Hudson
Bring on the torches and pitchforks! I’m ready to lay it out and urge disagreement.
Several weeks ago, I contacted Frank Connolly, a longtime professor at American University and a gentleman with whom I had put together computer-related stories when computers were merely --- computers. (If you think computers are still just computers, please stop reading this and switch to cable TV.)
Back in the late 80’s, viruses were contained to floppy disks, labs and the beginning of the “network of networks.” Wow, have they changed and very quickly, the social networking sites have (IMHO) gathered the fish into the proverbial barrel. That’s fodder for another post – coming shortly.
While I asked Professor Connolly about the advancement in viruses, he raised a different issue that I think is worthy of our consideration: “I believe that we humans need to go through a digital desensitization, wherein we learn to ignore digital stimuli,” said Connolly. “Instead of being overwhelmed by communications similar to the infant overwhelmed by stimuli, we need to develop the ability to ignore much of the digital stimuli we are receiving - thus enabling us to be present to the world and life of the present.”
Let me translate for a moment. Haven’t we all been at a social gathering where someone just-can’t leave-his-BlackBerry-alone? Every time it vibrates, they must (apologies to Pavlov) check for emails/texts/tweets/FB status updates/Google alerts - I CAN’T miss anything from the outside - despite the fact that I am in human company that expects my attention and participation.
Who are those other people (FB friends/Twitter Followers) that you really don’t know? Can’t they wait until you’ve detached yourself from us human folks? Too many of us are walking around now wirelessly tethered to another world.
Frank goes on to describe a social occasion in his home. “While three of us chatted and enjoyed each others' company, one guest spent most of his time sending and receiving messages -- for all intents and purposes he might just as well have not come. He came to our home intending to be involved and stimulated by our company and conversation, but the digital stimuli overwhelmed his ability to stay in the instant.” (emphasis mine)
Does that resonate with you? Have you had similar experiences?
Professor Connolly says we need to develop the ability to recognize important stimuli such that we are able to identify ones worthy of our attention and ones that can be ignored or deferred.
Perhaps technology is addressing the problem: the new Windows Cell Phones. In the commercial, people are oblivious to the world around them despite rather obvious stimuli nearby – ranging from people bumping into each other and tripping; a man seemingly unaware of a young woman in lingerie. Another man drops his phone into a urinal (in use), and quickly retrieves it to presumably continue texting or tweeting. Each scene ends with normal people remarking, (with incredulity, and some anger) “really??”
Newer phones will allow us to set profiles that define how and when we want to be notified of different channels trying to reach us – other factors in the profile may include time of day and/or location. Some of those profiles may be learned by the device as we use it; others may be preset by our employers. We may even “buy” profiles that will make us more attentive to the tangible world and less responsive to a buzz or vibration.
It might be easier in the long run simply to learn to ignore less important stimuli? Connolly calls it “a necessary maturity that comes with the realization that a tweet or a buzz can be ignored just as we ignore our socks - unless they really hurt.” That’s a reference that many of us have personally experienced. You often don’t notice things until someone or something calls it to our attention. The example Connolly uses is the doctor. He/she says breathe normally. I was!!! Until the doctor said, “breathe normally.”
There’s not much normal left.
Wait a second, I think a “friend” just changed his status on Facebook and more email is coming in on my BlackBerry.
Naw – they can wait.
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