I kind of like TV.
When I was growing up and watched TV, I was riveted to the screen. I used to run home, throw my bag and homework in a scrap heap and run to turn on the after school cartoons like Transformers and G.I. Joe. Television has always had this mezmorizing effect on me, a way that I could forget about all the stupid stuff that happened to me and that I did. It was the ultimate escapism and an affair I continue to have to this day. The outdoors don’t hold a candle to the awesome adventures I was having on the tube.
Then about 12 years ago, I got my first Mac laptop, and I was so excited. An internet machine that allowed me to escape much like the television, except I controlled where the programming went. ESPN, Entertainment Weekly, IGN, WordPress…we all have our favorite sites we go to. I loved sitting on the couch surfing while watching TV.
Somewhere along the way, it wasn’t just me, but everyone starting this bizarre attention splitting where we watched TV and were on a device, either a laptop, tablet or phone along with watching TV. TV was no longer given our complete and undivided attention. There was even a commercial that was in our local area that spoke to how we as a people do that.
It was a pitch from Comcast to get advertisers to advertise with them. A woman is sitting on the couch, watching a crime show, but at the same time, looking at a cooking website. So the show on TV combines a guy being interrogated by the police and asking him what the recipe for pesto was.
It perfectly demonstrated how divided our digital attention is these days.
Quite honestly, I am okay with that. In fact, as I write this post, I am also listening to music and avoiding work. I like the fact that people’s attention is divided. I hope you are also listening to music right now. Just make sure it isn’t any lame music because that is just insulting.
In fact, I would like your divided attention.
Exactly.
That makes my introverted self much more comfortable. If we are in conversation, I want you to be distracted enough to leave when I run out of stupid questions to ask about you.
If you are a boss and you are asking me if I got something done that I didn’t, I want you focusing on 3 other things, so my miniature thing isn’t so important and you are ready to rail on someone else for something much bigger.
If you are a laughing at a joke I am telling that is super funny, and I am out of jokes, I want you to be distracted by other things, so you can easily slip out when my material goes dry.
My favorite coping mechanism is distraction. I am an expert level escape artist when it comes to bailing social or other type situations. I can usually find ways to distract you, but when you can give me your divided attention, it makes it so much easier for me to do my escape act.
You know what I mean…what were we talking about?
Thanksgiving is coming and I could definitely use some divided attention.
What are your favorite coping mechanisms? Are you excited by everyone giving you their divided attention, or does it drive you up the wall?
ARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
Bitterly Distracted Ben
Ben's Bitter Blog 
Excellent post!
I try to give people my undivided attention when they are talking to me. I look them in the eye, acknowledge I’m listening (nodding head at appropriate times), etc.
But, people are gonna’ do what they’re gonna’ do. So I don’t mind if they don’t give me their undivided attention. It is weird to be in a room of people though and everyone has their nose in their phone. Ha. Phones are not so much for the ears anymore. š š
HUGS!!! š
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To me, phones are for anything but ears. They should be for computing and texting and everything, but not for talking on.
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HA! I understand. I’m a weirdo, I know…but I still like to talk on them to CERTAIN people. š
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I guess certain people. But honestly, I thought about that with my sister too, and about a month ago she kept me on the phone for an hour and 45 minutes. I thought I was going to die on the phone.
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Death by phone?! Wonder if that would’ve been a first. š
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I can imagine that. In fact, it reminds me of a movie I saw advertised. Not that I would ever watch that kind of movie. Snore.
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You’ve just made me appreciate other people being distracted!
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People like your boss? I just read what he said on your blog…wow.
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It’s pretty awful. But, if he’s OK saying crazy nonsense like that out loud I figure it’s OK for me to make fun of it
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Yeah, for sure. Especially if you are doing all that work for him.
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Great post, which points out the absurdities of our bloated and overly informative age. I’ve definitely become dumber by degrees, as I sit on the couch watching Netflix on TV, with a Macbook AND smart phone within reach. No wonder my attention is so fractured. I know a few young people who aren’t bothering to learn to drive as they wait for driverless technology to catch up. That blows my mind. Keep up the incisive posts that cut thru the BS more often than not!
BTW I bought an LCIII Mac in the late eighties. $2500 complete package. Gave it to my nephew a few years later.
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I know. I bought a 50 inch TV, not even HD, with a huge cabinet and it cost me $3500. It blew a gasket 2 years later, couldn’t be fixed for less that a million dollars and now I can get a 50 inch 4K for like $600-$700? Uggh.
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I literally can’t divide my attention without … oh, a shiny thing ……………………
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I know. Reminds you of that dog in…Squirrel!
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You’re selling what now? I don’t know how anyone can focus on one thing in order to get distracted, although apparently there are some people out there that only hear one voice in their head…. weirdos! So, can I place an order for 5?
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I would be glad to sell your some more voices for your head. Mine are screaming kids and people nagging me to get off the couch. Thankfully, I have learned to tune them out.
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When I’m talking to someone and they pick up their phone and start swiping, I stop talking mid-sentence and wait for a response. The sad thing is – they usually don’t notice.
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I love doing things like that. I like to stare at people with my famous bitter stare until they look up from their device. It creeps them out, and I’m just fine with that.
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Sadly, that look of censure is on the wane as we oldies transition into invisibility and rrelevancy, as one of my fellow bloggers (biff bang pow) put so succinctly.
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I know. Soon my bitter old man stare will make me irrelevant. I can’t wait for that day, when people just leave me alone to my TV and couch.
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Bad new: I only read your blog when I read your blog. However, sometimes my husband is trying to talk to me ,and I give you both my divided attention. Then I totally dump you for him, because I am that sort of a wife.
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That is bad news. I would think that people would read my blog all day, every day. How could you choose the love of your life, over the love of my life? (Just kidding, honey, I love you most.)
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You should give your undivided attention to the Great Cheese, for the Cheeseists will forgive you for all of your imperfections. Join us and become a fellow Cheeseist.(don’t worry, we don’t like cool aid)
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I do like cheese more than most humans. Seriously, I have cheese daily, either in sandwich, bagel or pizza form.
So, who is this Cheeseist you speak of?
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All people that follow the cheese. All who join are Cheesists.
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Got it. I’m a little slow sometimes.
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No one is slow in the eyes of the cheese.
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Thank goodness, but if there was, I would be that.
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Food for thought here… I am reading this as I edit a medical manuscript. How can one do both at the same time? We live in a magical age, my friend.
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Yes, we do and honestly, whoever says we can’t multitask, is kind of lying. Just because I don’t pay 100% attention to something, doesn’t mean I can’t get the gist.
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Sorry, I was knitting. What did you say?
Wait, I need to finish this row….of 1,337 stitches. 2, 3, 4…
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I’m glad you asked. So what I was going to say was…oh my gosh, new video game coming out. I forgot what we were talking about.
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This is a unique perspective and I’m impressed. I never thought of it before, but other people’s distraction has saved my ass on a number of occasions. I’m always distracting myself with a new project to avoid the one in progress. I think it’s called shiny object syndrome.
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I’m just so pumped when people provide themselves with their own distractions. I used to have someone that was a big talker on the phone, so whenever she started asking me about doing things, I would find a way to change the subject and she would totally forget about asking me. Got me out of a lot of things.
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What a godsend! We all need a bit of here in our lives. š
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Yeah, I actually have a lot of big talkers in my life, so it is really quite helpful.
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