Attention Span, the internet and LOA

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Permalink Reply by Christine on August 9, 2008 at 6:02pm

I do not agree that Google is making us stupid.

I still read quite a bit. And I can concentrate on a book just fine thank you. Now I did have a hard time concentrating on the two articles listed above LOL. But maybe that's because I didn't like them very much!!! LOL some more.

Yes some of what I read is on my computer.

However--I also read slower on my computer--and plan to one day have enough ink to print out anything that I wish to!! Oh I will still read on the computer even then--for there's simply too much to print out everything--but I like printing the best stuff out on actual paper!!

I LOVE the internet!! I feel connected to the world in a way that I don't feel without it!!!

I love being able to search on anything that I want to know about. And I've learned quite a bit too!

Plus it connects people. It connects people in a way that nothing else does. I found out that things that I have struggled with--and thought that I was alone in doing so--I was not!!!!

This was HUGE for me!!!!!

It REALLY does help to not feel alone!!

So--no--I don't agree with the notion that we are damaging our attention span through our use of the Internet!!!

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Permalink Reply by Deliese Eros on August 10, 2008 at 11:07am

I wouldn't say we are damaging our attention span, but I think our attention span maybe changing. We have so much stimulation around us from TV, Internet, video games, newspapers etc..that bids for our attention. We have access to so many more activities than ever before. I believe it makes it more challenging to keep focus. Focus may need to be more deliberate

Things that once held my attention for a long time no longer do. I find myself attracted to new and different things. I do know to keep from getting to scattered I have to quiet myself more often and just be.

Namaste
Deliese

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Permalink Reply by Pat on August 10, 2008 at 5:34pm

I think I agree with Christine. I didn't read the articles, but just in reading what she had to say I probably wouldn't have liked them either. I believe in self-discipline -- each of us is responsible for what we do or don't do, including what information or NON-information with which we choose to inundate ourselves.

If all you do is play games, that's all you'll know. If you read for enjoyment alone, that's all you'll know. If you seek knowledge and wisdom, you'll find it. And you can choose to focus or not focus on a particular subject or problem, regardless of the existence of the Internet. It depends on what you decide to do with your time and energy.

And that's MY two-cents' worth.

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Permalink Reply by Audrey Louise on August 13, 2008 at 11:01am

I have to agree with so much of what has already been posted by others about this topic.

As Deliese had put it, with so much stimulation in this technological age that surrounds us, our focus really must become deliberate to maintain the attention to exactly what we are wishing to focus our energies towards. But valuable resources, such as the internet, to seek out information, greater knowledge, conduct research, or interaction is a tool that exists for our benefit if we choose to view it as such. This goes the same for TV, newspapers, books, and even the friends we choose to associate with and how long we choose to have that association with all of these things. Just like Pat said, it is all our choice in what we decide to do with our time and energy.

And if we feel that our attention span is somewhat lacking perhaps it is because we are choosing to focus on too many things at one time. I find myself scattered sometimes with an absolute overload of information. And it is at these times that I have to reevaluate what is really valuable information towards the manifestation of my goals, or is it an unnecessary component? This can sometimes be tricky because there are things that present themselves that, at the time, seem unrelated to ANYTHING I am working towards. Only later, I will come to realize that this information or this person who entered my life was an invaluable resource that was needed at that time (or to be viewed at a later date) for further understanding to reach my ultimate goal. This is where I believe that there is nothing that has happened or has entered my life without reason or purpose. An unnecessary component? Perhaps, for whatever my immediate intentions are. But what are my long-term intentions? And was this tool presented for the higher purpose to reach these intents?

So I understand the feeling of overload, and the feeling of scattered-ness, and the feeling of a very short attention span to any of the various resources or people I am surrounded by....and at these times I have to really drop back....I have to prioritize, to focus on the highest level of what I feel is valuable at the time...and as for the rest....I just let it fall into place at a slower pace, knowing that if it is a necessary component, I will 1). remember it, B). come back to it, or 4). it will present itself again. :-) If it was unnecessary...it will fade away, never to be heard from again.

What we do each day to focus, to guide our direction clearly aligns us with what manifests and presents itself for us to view towards our goals. And when we are off-track in some way, we tend to get a re-direction. I have seen this happen numerous times in my life. My focus will waiver, and I will suddenly be brought back to that focus by something someone has said or a billboard sign I have passed on the highway or a vivid dream that is a reminder of where I was placing my intents. These little re-directions are not always conscious and can easily be discounted. However, I feel like a purposeful focus towards my intents allows me to keep my direction and continue to be re-directed as is needed.

Happy Googling,
Audrey Louise

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