We’re All Getting More ADD!!!
October 10, 2008 9:56 am Random Observations
So I was thinking about this the other day and would love to hear what other people think about this. Here’s the question that’s been on my mind:
Is technology making us all more ADD???
I think another way to ask this question is that is it making us more rude as a people?
For example, how many times have you been standing in line to buy something, and the person in front of or behind you is yapping away on their cell phone oblivious to anything else around them? Then when they talk to the checker it’s like “hang on, I have to talk to a real person for a sec” then they quickly conduct their business and go about their way. Ever seen that? I think it’s one of the reasons why people who always wear their bluetooth earpieces drive me nuts!!!
There is a point where you need to stop multi-tasking and actually focus on one thing. But with all the things going on at one time, I think it’s making it harder for all of us to focus! Maybe you’re writing something, then an IM pops up on your screen and you attend to that really quick, then get back to work. You just broke your focus!
I’m not sure what to call this exactly, I think ADD is a pretty good term for it since with all the different technologies and interruptions we don’t focus well. At least I know I struggle with this. Anybody else have this problem or have any thoughts on it?
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tags: opinion, technology
having worked in both retail and the financial industry I completely agree with how annoying cell phones can be! Get off the phone before you get into the store or don’t come in at all. Either the phone call or the shopping can wait.
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Dan Reply:
October 13th, 2008 at 5:58 am
it reminds me of the movie “The Kid” where the secretary says to him something like “Take your phone off, you’re with a human now!” People just aren’t giving the people in front of them the respect they deserve.
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I think my biggest problem with technology is it’s priority over real life. It doesn’t matter if you travel 2 days to visit a friend, if their cell phone rings, text message comes in, or their just near the internet to IM someone they will over talking to you. It’s changing the way relationships are built.
The other factor I notice is people are losing the ability to learn facts or knowledge because as soon as they want to know something they jump on the net from the hardware of choice and answer their question, then quickly forget it.
Great, now I’m all fired up again.
Thanks for the random thoughts.
-Bill
Who writes his own random beginner stock market thoughts
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Dan Reply:
October 13th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I totally know what you mean about the IM/text thing. In fact I’ve been guilty of that before as well! Every time I do it lately though I think, “Ah! What am I doing?!” Thanks for motivating me again to change in that regard.
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Yes! My attention span is that of an ant now that I’m used to hi-tech for everything!
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Dan Reply:
October 13th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Hey Jennifer, I feel your pain. But at least if we can admit it we can change it right?
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We all get distracted with all these gadgets. I have often missed my freeway exits when I am on the phone.
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Dan Reply:
October 13th, 2008 at 6:01 am
LOL, that’s pretty funny, although I’m sure it wasn’t at the time. But it just goes to show what a major distraction they can be!
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Technology is making all of us very short on attention as well as memory.
A perfect example is I can still remember my childhood phone number because I dialed it so often. Yet I do not know my fiances phone number since I only dialed it once and from there it went into memory on the phone.
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Dan Reply:
October 13th, 2008 at 6:01 am
yeah, I think that’s a huge problem. I don’t really know my sister’s, mom’s or dad’s cell phone numbers because they’re just on speed dial! So if I was in a real emergency and couldn’t get a hold of my wife, I’d have no one else to call!
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I agree, technology is really annoying, especially cellphones, people can’t get out of it. Maybe some business are done through cellphone. huh!
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Dan Reply:
October 14th, 2008 at 11:24 am
they’re a great tool, but you have to know when to disconnect!
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Technology is making us more ADD, more isolated and even fatter.
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Dan Reply:
October 15th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
yup, even more bad side effects of too much technology!
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This is so true. I went on a weekend vacation this past week and what do you know I was with my friend and we were laying on the beach (THE BEACH) and what do you know she was on her phone the entire time! Yes I brought mine down to the beach, but it never came out of my bag! We just can not function without it, heck my cell phone sits out at work all day long…but what can we say…when you do not have laws about no talking and driving…and society is on the go 24/7…this stuff happens!
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Dan Reply:
October 20th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Yeah, the talking and driving thing really is a huge problem. Almost anytime I’m behind a driver that’s driving like an idiot they are on their phone.
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I’ll say AMEN to all comments. Not only does technology makes us more ADD, it also ruins personal and intimate relationships. People are less affectionate because they think one SMS can replace personal touch or physical presence. Sad but true.
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Dan Reply:
October 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
You really do have to have both. Technology is great for connecting with people, but not in a deep real way. They both have their place.
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