Addicted to Distraction

Addiction is the relentless pull to a substance or an activity that becomes so compulsive it ultimately interferes with everyday life. By that definition, nearly everyone I know is addicted in some measure to the Internet. It has arguably replaced work itself as our most socially sanctioned addiction. […]

Denial is any addict’s first defense. No obstacle to recovery is greater than the infinite capacity to rationalize our compulsive behaviors.

Oldie but goodie from the New York Times, Addicted to Distraction.

6 thoughts on “Addicted to Distraction

  1. Good read. I think this is one of several articles that ultimately led me to uninstall Facebook and many other apps from my phone. Even if I haven’t fully succeeded I’m reading books and longer form content more.

    1. I agree with Koke, unless you have a fixed goal and a guiding principle, the depths of the Internet may drown the casual adventurer in myriads of distraction. Nothing beats a good hard cover book.

  2. Paradoxically I read this article in one piece without any distraction.
    And your related content from Joe Kraus (Culture of Distraction) and Blaise Pascal’s Quote (The Joy of Quiet), who not only was a philosopher but great matthematician too, are worth reading or watching. Thanks for that.

    Also philosophizing about the possible german translations for the word “distraction”
    (= Zer_Streuung or Ablenkung/Umleitung) are well worth ways of thought.

    One could end up scattered in a chaotic enviroment or be led into a certain, alternative direction.
    As the internet was originally invented for war communication causes (Arpanet) it still seems to have an underlying destroying nature; with decline of manners in modern society.
    This must not B … that way …
    🙂

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