I was playing Scrabble with my 14-year-old yesterday. He multitasked and listened to his iPod and watched something on TV in between turns. I learned a couple of things while we played.
1) Some people choose to "do" other things in the midst of enjoying something. We all do this to some extent. I think kids today are more likely to do things that we older people think of as actively engaged tasks. Some examples would be watching TV and websurfing at the same time. Doing email and chatting on Facebook might be another good example.
I know that I find I am better able to concentrate when I put my mind to one task, easy or difficult with the exception of perhaps listening to music or talking while I wash dishes. Are we so very busy that we can't "do" one thing well at a time? Has our world become so complicated that we can't do just one thing? We text and drive (even though illegal) and rationalize our behaviors for reading books and the paper while talking to others. We talk on the phone when we are in the bathroom taking care of physically important needs. We drive and talk on the phone.
We interrupt each other mid-conversation, often because we simply are afraid we might forget that all important quip. We all do it. Try as I might, I find myself also "trying to make a point". When did discussion turn into debate or persuasion? When did the opposing view have less value than your own opinion? Ask yourself!
2) I added a word that I was certain of - nadir - and Marcus looked at it quizzically. He wasn't sure that it was a word, but did not want to risk the challenge. This morning another person asked me about the word. I explained to her what it meant, then ran for the dictionary to show her.
There are likely many others who don't know where to turn in our discussions of economics and politics and general philosophy. Since so many of us don't have "references" we trust or can be deemed impartial, we have trouble having a serious but civil conversation. If (name your pundit) said it, it must be true.
I think that is how we are being taken advantage of here. We have self-appointed "experts" offering information/opinion as truth that is not challenged. The myriad reasons for failing to challenge are not as important as that we so simply accept opinion as "fact". Historically, that has not been a harbinger of something good for the general population. Think "Dark Ages" prior to the Renaissance.
Think Hitler before the war. Think Salem witch trials. Think slavery before abolition. Think Trail of Tears. Think weapons of mass destruction.
Maybe if we all slow down and simply work on becoming informed, we can decide where we focus our energy and attention. We could decide if the Republicans or the Democrats have the best ideas for reform. We could even choose to vote independent of party affiliation.
Seek knowledge; engage in conversation versus debate. Always hear the other's side and respect that they came by that opinion honestly. You always have the option to walk away or to not accept that opinion.
Take a few minutes daily to establish your own priorities and make time to see them fulfilled.
1) Some people choose to "do" other things in the midst of enjoying something. We all do this to some extent. I think kids today are more likely to do things that we older people think of as actively engaged tasks. Some examples would be watching TV and websurfing at the same time. Doing email and chatting on Facebook might be another good example.
I know that I find I am better able to concentrate when I put my mind to one task, easy or difficult with the exception of perhaps listening to music or talking while I wash dishes. Are we so very busy that we can't "do" one thing well at a time? Has our world become so complicated that we can't do just one thing? We text and drive (even though illegal) and rationalize our behaviors for reading books and the paper while talking to others. We talk on the phone when we are in the bathroom taking care of physically important needs. We drive and talk on the phone.
We interrupt each other mid-conversation, often because we simply are afraid we might forget that all important quip. We all do it. Try as I might, I find myself also "trying to make a point". When did discussion turn into debate or persuasion? When did the opposing view have less value than your own opinion? Ask yourself!
2) I added a word that I was certain of - nadir - and Marcus looked at it quizzically. He wasn't sure that it was a word, but did not want to risk the challenge. This morning another person asked me about the word. I explained to her what it meant, then ran for the dictionary to show her.
There are likely many others who don't know where to turn in our discussions of economics and politics and general philosophy. Since so many of us don't have "references" we trust or can be deemed impartial, we have trouble having a serious but civil conversation. If (name your pundit) said it, it must be true.
I think that is how we are being taken advantage of here. We have self-appointed "experts" offering information/opinion as truth that is not challenged. The myriad reasons for failing to challenge are not as important as that we so simply accept opinion as "fact". Historically, that has not been a harbinger of something good for the general population. Think "Dark Ages" prior to the Renaissance.
Think Hitler before the war. Think Salem witch trials. Think slavery before abolition. Think Trail of Tears. Think weapons of mass destruction.
Maybe if we all slow down and simply work on becoming informed, we can decide where we focus our energy and attention. We could decide if the Republicans or the Democrats have the best ideas for reform. We could even choose to vote independent of party affiliation.
Seek knowledge; engage in conversation versus debate. Always hear the other's side and respect that they came by that opinion honestly. You always have the option to walk away or to not accept that opinion.
Take a few minutes daily to establish your own priorities and make time to see them fulfilled.
1 comment:
Excellent post! I often find myself trying to do too many things at once. Slow down, concentrate and think. :-)
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