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Have we lost all ability to focus?
- Thread starter project_c
- Start date
I can't speak for everyone but my fat fingers don't work so hot on cramped virtual keyboards. I do believe in complete sentences though.
I will opine that the dumbing down of the population in general is moving forward apace on a rocket sled. Why pay attention when a device does the work?
The big rage among my friends is cars equipped with back up cams. More dumb down, and underdevelopment of real skills. It's pitiful. People seem to still be able to feed themselves, if the food is already prepared. Don't count on the counter person getting the order right , though.
They are experiencing separation anxiety while they have to put their smart phone down...
I will opine that the dumbing down of the population in general is moving forward apace on a rocket sled. Why pay attention when a device does the work?
The big rage among my friends is cars equipped with back up cams. More dumb down, and underdevelopment of real skills. It's pitiful. People seem to still be able to feed themselves, if the food is already prepared. Don't count on the counter person getting the order right , though.
They are experiencing separation anxiety while they have to put their smart phone down...
If you were to leave out words such as "the" and "or" here and there, the brain in its wonderful way just fills it in for you. The Brain is your friend that does stuff for you
I was thinking about this today, because I have the worst attention span of anyone I know, but then I don't really know many folks, or even socialize.
but that's another story...
Today i put in "Rogue One" & said to myself, "I'm really going to watch this & not surf the web!"
Well, that didn't last long. The next thing you know I'm looking at my alerts on FB & TB, and missed some stuff in the movie.
Previously I believed having the world at my fingertips was a good thing. I could play video games, watch TV, or use my computer, all from the same seat.
In the past I even had my amp right beside my chair so that I could play any time I liked & my guitars or basses weren't more than 10 - 12 feet away, the closest being only about 4 feet away.
In retrospect, this has probably been detrimental to my attention span. It would probably be better to have a completely separate space for activities.
but that's another story...
Today i put in "Rogue One" & said to myself, "I'm really going to watch this & not surf the web!"
Well, that didn't last long. The next thing you know I'm looking at my alerts on FB & TB, and missed some stuff in the movie.
Previously I believed having the world at my fingertips was a good thing. I could play video games, watch TV, or use my computer, all from the same seat.
In the past I even had my amp right beside my chair so that I could play any time I liked & my guitars or basses weren't more than 10 - 12 feet away, the closest being only about 4 feet away.
In retrospect, this has probably been detrimental to my attention span. It would probably be better to have a completely separate space for activities.
I think you mean "PANdemic"
This has been my experience communicating with people, pre-dating smartphones. I can't see it getting better. What bothers me as much is not being able to VERBALLY get a point across - if I need to communicate an idea that takes three whole sentences to convey, forget it - we'll be off topic after the first.
Sounds like you're going to need a Ukelele room..
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No, I meant epidemic. A disease that is spreading rapidly to many people. But I guess it's all over the world so pandemic also works.
I would think the fault lies with Rogue One there more than you! Off topic but it's a weak movie, I struggled to find any love for it after the initial excitement turned to 'here we go again'..
I only read the first part of the first sentence and I vote "yes" for the Internet. This reminds me of the
"Have we lost the ability to focus?"
Some of us have. And some of us always will, for one reason or another. When people lay down The Law - you know - those hard facts and certain truths - sometimes, they'll necessarily be turning their backs on another focus. Sometimes, they'll be ostensibly or literally blind to a better focus - one more worthy of our gaze. Weasel wording wonders, they sometimes may be. If they're not, they could possibly get out a bit more., socialize a bit, with the hoi polloi, the great unwashed. Stray from your path a little and you're likely to discover others.
Some people for instance, those who play some of the more challenging computer games available, have an immense ability to focus, like elite athletes or soldiers or scholars do. These are the types typical of people now under the spotlight - and gaming, game theory, and learning is, today, occurring - sometimes, in epic proportions. Often, this sort of thing's been going on for decadesSo, it's safe then, 'though I may be mistaken, to bellow an emphatic "No.", in answer to the OP's question. We haven't lost our ability to focus. Some of it just may sometimes be a little misdirected
Keeping to the question, grammar and typographic errors are really no real, steadfast indication of a loss of focus either. Sometimes, words left out, or left in, are an indication that editing, to a degree, is present. Sometimes, people do this stuff just to frustrate the incurable pedants, sometimes as a more insidious provocation. Not very nice. Sometimes, we're, many of us, just plumb-tuckered-out - nothing left in the tank for any redrafting.
But most times, thinking and striving for better ways to say something presents other challenges in the flow of logic in the vicinity - points attained can be softened or corrupted in the ensuing confusion and this can be easily missed by the sometimes, but not always, lazy, sometimes, but not always, time-poor author. Small screens, 'noise', baby buttons, fading eyes, a less-than-conducive domicile, and crossfire are also culprits, sometimes
Another point, before I pull the ripcord: Having good ideas is not solely the domain of the erudite, although some would dearly like it to be that way, for one reason or another, again. Anyone can have good ideas, great ideas. Getting the message across then, is the fun part. Learning about the intricacies of language helps but, by hook or by crook, we should always make the effort. Communicate. And, good grammar be dammed.
Great post!
I was just being cheeky - smilie did not post for whatever reason
Either way - yes, I was momentarily confusing endemic...
Heh - and you read my whole post! I feel like we're all making progress here today
Anyone have an opinion about twitter and the 144 character limit? I heard, at one time, the limit was going to be increased. I personally think that working within a limit forces the writer to get to the point.
Am I the only one super analyzing my post for typos and faults now???? "Slap me with the splintered ruler"... Alanis Morrisette.
Am I the only one super analyzing my post for typos and faults now???? "Slap me with the splintered ruler"... Alanis Morrisette.
Um, what were you asking? I was looking at the TV and reading a magazine and forgot what this was about. I know I could have looked at the top of the page to see the thread title but while my eyes were scanning up the computer screen I noticed this book over to the side (about 75º to my right) and then I forgot what I was originally looking for so I looked down to notice that my shoes were untied, but then I realized they were next to me (I wasn't wearing them) so I put them on so that I could tie the laces but while doing that I remembered that I was reading a thread on TB, but not which one, so I did a search to see if I could find the one I was reading when I saw a cool thread on cats that I just had to check out..................................
Hello? Hello? Is there any one there?
Hello? Hello? Is there any one there?
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Not really, no
There's a form of micro fiction now apparently, called twitterature - everything in the story has to happen within twitter's word limit. Quaint idea but somewhat baffling. In this world of huge storage capacity and speed, twitter doesn't make all that much sense and seems just a little out of step. Short stories are cool, though. Maybe twitterature will pass muster but it does seem a bit faddish - too squishy. You're right. The word limit can be a good foil against wordiness, and other bad habits, and should help to bring a greater efficiency to writing. But some ideas, especially the not so black and white ones, the more nuanced ones, could always do with a little more air - a little more freedom, a little less muzzling
IMHO The twitter restriction contributes to the problem.
It forces serious shortcuts or the use of imojies in place if words.
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