Bravo! I have been waiting for something like this for a while! I am so happy there are a few people who understand these aspects to our human nature. Onward!
I DO hope yer right! My daughters (tho raised semi-luddite style by two avid-luddites!) have friends that are BEYOND addicted to their "devices" an' these kids have zero attention--eyes glaze even speakin' to 'em an' they don't put the danged phones down WHEN someone is talkin' to these kids. I'm not so sure we haven't lost a couple few generations despite us heel-diggin' rebels. Heck, I could never git a handle on properly swipin' a credit card at the groc'ry... an' I can "barely" manage my "dumb phone" (flip phone used only for textin' stuff like "runnin' late" and "take the chicken outta the freezer I fergot!") But kids now-days kin swipe like the dickens an' it IS like that jackpot / reward.
Our down-home (until recently citi-fried) remedy is readin' loooong books together--on paper / hardcover preferred!), watchin' operas (MET Live 'cept I won't pay fer that since they stoopidly cancelled Anna Netrebko for the "crime" of bein' Russian--criminey!), listenin' (and playin') longer music pieces, an' doin' stuff that takes TIME an' PATIENCE but is rewardin' in the end--like oil paintin' an' knittin' !
But how many folks 'at remember the 20th C pre-swipe land'o patience'll bring up kids thataway? I see mamas my age just as phone-crazy.... I just don't know...
But I agree with all ya said--I just don't see folks ('specially the young'uns) gettin' turned off by all the swipin' an' scrollin' YET. Let's hope yer right!
ps some'a my fav-o-rite old movies are under 90 minutes--nearly all the Film Noirs (eg. Little Caesar with the great Eddie G. is barely 80 minutes)--an' bein' loooong ain't always a good sign (it kin mean lack've a decent editor!)... which brings up another topic entirely and that is WITH the scroll-n-swipe "doom loop" comes ersatz entertainment an' a couple generations (genera-shuns!) sheep dipped in all that's lousy--an' that may be the crime of the century (or the last one...)
my solution is to never engage with Tik Tok, Face Book, or any other scrolling platform. I use my phone for the occasional call & to listen to classical music while walking on a treadmill. I'm sure I'm an anomaly and have been for most of my life. It's what helps to maintain what sanity I have left.
B. F. Skinner is not as highly thought of today as he was when I was in college (1958-62). We are not as susceptible to operant conditioning as Skinner thought. We’re not lab rats, to start with. Regarding dopamine, it is a significant neurological hormone but recent studies suggest it has also been overrated. It’s just one of many factors, some from the metabolic processes in our bodies and some from the external environments we live in, that affect our feelings and behaviors. And we learn more about organic and inorganic beings every day. 😎
Amen to this excellent synopsis of our current zombified culture. I’ve been rebelling against all of it even while having to endure it too. Bring it on, this human can’t wait until the Silicon Valley technocrats wake up!
I'm three weeks into an experiment... I dropped my smartphone and I'm back to using a black and white dumb phone. I am using an ipad to connect to some of the apps like my bank, but only when I'm in the need for it. Instead of swimming in the internet all day, I'm dipping into it when I need to. So far, it's working very well :-)
I’m about ready to dump streaming audio. I find the experience of finding music, then acquiring it as either files or CDs (which I usually rip), and then playing it is a much more rewarding experience. I also have hundreds of CDs from the “old days” that were personally curated for me by me, every one of which speaks to me. Next up is Netflix. I left all social media platforms a few years ago. I recently started a Mastodon account but my participation only travels in one direction, outward.
I believe that all social media platforms have a limited lifespan. As one falls by the wayside, it will be replaced by another. Anyone remember My Space? Mark Zuckerberg certainly does. And speaking of Zuckerberg, we've all seen the cracks that are beginning to show in the Facebook foundation and...guess what? Other more streamlined and less time consuming "wannabes" are already jockeying with one another to take its place. Most will not make the cut, but at least one, for whatever reason, will emerge as the new Facebook. My point? We all know that nature abhors a vacuum but so do human beings.
Very interesting article. This may sound unrelated, but I feel the same way about conferences. In my case, any songwriting conferences. I always think as a creative you’re better off spending time working on your craft than listening to someone tell you how to. I feel a lot of times those are merely avenues whereby already successful people have found a new way to take more of your money. They take advantage of the desire for a quick fix, an easy way. Just my opinion here, but I think anyone and everyone is better off finding there own way in their own way.
Great piece Ted. We totally agree and are severely limiting our Social Media exposure, with no shorts and releasing the next album only on vinyl with limited access to individual tracks via Bandcamp. I am going to share this widely- it needs to be read... Keep on going.
Bravo! I have been waiting for something like this for a while! I am so happy there are a few people who understand these aspects to our human nature. Onward!
In the future, we'll all pay attention for at least fifteen minutes.
I DO hope yer right! My daughters (tho raised semi-luddite style by two avid-luddites!) have friends that are BEYOND addicted to their "devices" an' these kids have zero attention--eyes glaze even speakin' to 'em an' they don't put the danged phones down WHEN someone is talkin' to these kids. I'm not so sure we haven't lost a couple few generations despite us heel-diggin' rebels. Heck, I could never git a handle on properly swipin' a credit card at the groc'ry... an' I can "barely" manage my "dumb phone" (flip phone used only for textin' stuff like "runnin' late" and "take the chicken outta the freezer I fergot!") But kids now-days kin swipe like the dickens an' it IS like that jackpot / reward.
Our down-home (until recently citi-fried) remedy is readin' loooong books together--on paper / hardcover preferred!), watchin' operas (MET Live 'cept I won't pay fer that since they stoopidly cancelled Anna Netrebko for the "crime" of bein' Russian--criminey!), listenin' (and playin') longer music pieces, an' doin' stuff that takes TIME an' PATIENCE but is rewardin' in the end--like oil paintin' an' knittin' !
But how many folks 'at remember the 20th C pre-swipe land'o patience'll bring up kids thataway? I see mamas my age just as phone-crazy.... I just don't know...
But I agree with all ya said--I just don't see folks ('specially the young'uns) gettin' turned off by all the swipin' an' scrollin' YET. Let's hope yer right!
ps some'a my fav-o-rite old movies are under 90 minutes--nearly all the Film Noirs (eg. Little Caesar with the great Eddie G. is barely 80 minutes)--an' bein' loooong ain't always a good sign (it kin mean lack've a decent editor!)... which brings up another topic entirely and that is WITH the scroll-n-swipe "doom loop" comes ersatz entertainment an' a couple generations (genera-shuns!) sheep dipped in all that's lousy--an' that may be the crime of the century (or the last one...)
I'm beginning to redeem my faith in humanity after reading your sub stack . People of the world unite !
my solution is to never engage with Tik Tok, Face Book, or any other scrolling platform. I use my phone for the occasional call & to listen to classical music while walking on a treadmill. I'm sure I'm an anomaly and have been for most of my life. It's what helps to maintain what sanity I have left.
Test match cricket - your time has come!
B. F. Skinner is not as highly thought of today as he was when I was in college (1958-62). We are not as susceptible to operant conditioning as Skinner thought. We’re not lab rats, to start with. Regarding dopamine, it is a significant neurological hormone but recent studies suggest it has also been overrated. It’s just one of many factors, some from the metabolic processes in our bodies and some from the external environments we live in, that affect our feelings and behaviors. And we learn more about organic and inorganic beings every day. 😎
Amen to this excellent synopsis of our current zombified culture. I’ve been rebelling against all of it even while having to endure it too. Bring it on, this human can’t wait until the Silicon Valley technocrats wake up!
I'm three weeks into an experiment... I dropped my smartphone and I'm back to using a black and white dumb phone. I am using an ipad to connect to some of the apps like my bank, but only when I'm in the need for it. Instead of swimming in the internet all day, I'm dipping into it when I need to. So far, it's working very well :-)
Can we get page turns on substack?
I’m about ready to dump streaming audio. I find the experience of finding music, then acquiring it as either files or CDs (which I usually rip), and then playing it is a much more rewarding experience. I also have hundreds of CDs from the “old days” that were personally curated for me by me, every one of which speaks to me. Next up is Netflix. I left all social media platforms a few years ago. I recently started a Mastodon account but my participation only travels in one direction, outward.
Longer movies simply mean longer escapes from mundane existance. They are not about cultural redemption.
I didn't quite read to the end before clicking "like". Am I doomed?
I believe that all social media platforms have a limited lifespan. As one falls by the wayside, it will be replaced by another. Anyone remember My Space? Mark Zuckerberg certainly does. And speaking of Zuckerberg, we've all seen the cracks that are beginning to show in the Facebook foundation and...guess what? Other more streamlined and less time consuming "wannabes" are already jockeying with one another to take its place. Most will not make the cut, but at least one, for whatever reason, will emerge as the new Facebook. My point? We all know that nature abhors a vacuum but so do human beings.
Very interesting article. This may sound unrelated, but I feel the same way about conferences. In my case, any songwriting conferences. I always think as a creative you’re better off spending time working on your craft than listening to someone tell you how to. I feel a lot of times those are merely avenues whereby already successful people have found a new way to take more of your money. They take advantage of the desire for a quick fix, an easy way. Just my opinion here, but I think anyone and everyone is better off finding there own way in their own way.
“In the future, everybody will have an attention span of 15 seconds” - Jean Marshall McLuhan Baudrillard
Great piece Ted. We totally agree and are severely limiting our Social Media exposure, with no shorts and releasing the next album only on vinyl with limited access to individual tracks via Bandcamp. I am going to share this widely- it needs to be read... Keep on going.