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I think its easier to shout "bollocks" about this than it is to consider that there is probably truths as well as over-exaggerations in this article. I do beli

I think its easier to shout "bollocks" about this than it is to consider that there is probably truths as well as over-exaggerations in this article. I do believe that the plethora of instant stimulations is having a major impact on our cognitive processes. Some good, some bad. The bad I see is that it seems that people have a much more difficult time quieting down their minds or enjoying peace. If you watch people, there is a subtle but strong constant desire for stimulation. In fact, its almost odd to see someone waiting for anything without pulling out their smartphone and poking at it. How this is impacting everyone on a macro level - not entirely sure but hopefully were not on an unstoppable road to the idiocracy scenario.

srl 14y ago
Get your pitchforks, everybody! He criticized the internet! (For the record: at the time of writing, this comment is -1 or -2, judging by the color.) I've become genuinely disturbed recently by how many people simply cannot stop using their cellphones. You'll be talking to someone, and every 45 damn seconds the thing is out to reply to someone else. This isn't one or two people - this is maybe a third of all people I know. "Bollocks" this article is, but there's no doubt in my mind that the generations growing into universal electronics are developing different (probably in a bad way) cognitive processes. I've solved the problem for me by cutting myself off, as much as possible, from the world of electronic communication. I avoid my cellphone (which is a dumbphone, and will so remain), I don't use IM or IRC, and so on. (I can't believe I'm writing this paragraph on HN, of all places. The shame! The hypocrisy!) I now have the self-control to go without constant stimulation, and to relax and let my mind wander. Most people I know, sad to say, do not. I don't think it will turn out to be a good thing, and I think it's something we should, in fact, be worried about.
- Jare 14y ago
  Nah you're just addicted to meditation. :)
ktizo 14y ago
Bollocks! This article is based on the premise that 'guys' are being destroyed by technology addiction amplified by a confluence of games and porn. Firstly it is a sexist argument, and secondly, a confluence of games and porn sounds like a good description of the majority of social obsessions throughout history, especially in male dominated environments. [edit] I just thought about this and realised that the hero in nearly every western ever is a guy with a technology addiction amplified by a confluence of games and porn, usually in a saloon with swing doors, cards instead of consoles and the porn is live.
deleted 14y ago
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iamgilesbowkett 14y ago
"I do believe that the plethora of instant stimulations is having a major impact on our cognitive processes. Some good, some bad. The bad I see is that it seems that people have a much more difficult time quieting down their minds or enjoying peace. If you watch people, there is a subtle but strong constant desire for stimulation. In fact, its almost odd to see someone waiting for anything without pulling out their smartphone and poking at it." This. PG did a good blog post about this a while back, "The Acceleration of Addictiveness" or something like that. If you're building stuff, and what you make is habit-forming, you win. So people build habit-forming things and create habits in other people. So most people have habits that are not necessarily beneficial for them at all, but which are beneficial for whoever built their favorite app, or game, or gadget. How many people check Hacker News more often than they really want to? I regularly uninstall my Twitter clients because they're too habit-forming. This is my third or fourth Hacker News login; I get disgusted with the sheer amount of time I spend on here, I sign out, throw away my password, and then come back anyway. Porn and video games make better link bait than Hacker News or Twitter, but the truth is that habit-forming entertainment is a serious problem. Also, as an aside, I fucking hate how people use the term "addicting" when they really mean "habit-forming." The technical meaning of addiction requires a physiological change where the body cannot function without a given substance. I think I'm on the losing side of this battle, but I haven't made peace with it. I'd even agree that "addiction" in the more general sense is a bigger problem than pure addiction in the literal sense, but it still just drives me fucking nuts.

srl 14y ago

Get your pitchforks, everybody! He criticized the internet! (For the record: at the time of writing, this comment is -1 or -2, judging by the color.) I've become genuinely disturbed recently by how many people simply cannot stop using their cellphones. You'll be talking to someone, and every 45 damn seconds the thing is out to reply to someone else. This isn't one or two people - this is maybe a third of all people I know. "Bollocks" this article is, but there's no doubt in my mind that the generations growing into universal electronics are developing different (probably in a bad way) cognitive processes. I've solved the problem for me by cutting myself off, as much as possible, from the world of electronic communication. I avoid my cellphone (which is a dumbphone, and will so remain), I don't use IM or IRC, and so on. (I can't believe I'm writing this paragraph on HN, of all places. The shame! The hypocrisy!) I now have the self-control to go without constant stimulation, and to relax and let my mind wander. Most people I know, sad to say, do not. I don't think it will turn out to be a good thing, and I think it's something we should, in fact, be worried about.

Jare 14y ago
Nah you're just addicted to meditation. :)

ktizo 14y ago

Bollocks! This article is based on the premise that 'guys' are being destroyed by technology addiction amplified by a confluence of games and porn. Firstly it is a sexist argument, and secondly, a confluence of games and porn sounds like a good description of the majority of social obsessions throughout history, especially in male dominated environments. [edit] I just thought about this and realised that the hero in nearly every western ever is a guy with a technology addiction amplified by a confluence of games and porn, usually in a saloon with swing doors, cards instead of consoles and the porn is live.

deleted 14y ago

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iamgilesbowkett 14y ago

"I do believe that the plethora of instant stimulations is having a major impact on our cognitive processes. Some good, some bad. The bad I see is that it seems that people have a much more difficult time quieting down their minds or enjoying peace. If you watch people, there is a subtle but strong constant desire for stimulation. In fact, its almost odd to see someone waiting for anything without pulling out their smartphone and poking at it." This. PG did a good blog post about this a while back, "The Acceleration of Addictiveness" or something like that. If you're building stuff, and what you make is habit-forming, you win. So people build habit-forming things and create habits in other people. So most people have habits that are not necessarily beneficial for them at all, but which are beneficial for whoever built their favorite app, or game, or gadget. How many people check Hacker News more often than they really want to? I regularly uninstall my Twitter clients because they're too habit-forming. This is my third or fourth Hacker News login; I get disgusted with the sheer amount of time I spend on here, I sign out, throw away my password, and then come back anyway. Porn and video games make better link bait than Hacker News or Twitter, but the truth is that habit-forming entertainment is a serious problem. Also, as an aside, I fucking hate how people use the term "addicting" when they really mean "habit-forming." The technical meaning of addiction requires a physiological change where the body cannot function without a given substance. I think I'm on the losing side of this battle, but I haven't made peace with it. I'd even agree that "addiction" in the more general sense is a bigger problem than pure addiction in the literal sense, but it still just drives me fucking nuts.