Time
14. TIME
Change is a constant. A paradoxical oxymoron. It’s all about time. Modern life has fundamentally changed our sense of time. “We all live hectic lives these days” I heard Brian May, of Queen, say recently. Do we? Why? Is being “busy” a virtue in itself?
But even as we live longer, we seem to think shorter. Is it because we cram more into each day, or because the next person seems to cram more into each day? Everything is happening much faster, and more things are happening. What are we trying to prove by consuming time in this way? Are we seeing everything and understanding nothing?
In the 60s we were taught that, in the future, machines would automate work, giving us more leisure time. But now machines automate the production of attention-consuming information, which takes up all our time. Every minute of everyday life is to be used productively or it’s an opportunity lost.
Businesses focus on short-term results; politicians focus on elections; school systems focus on test results. Everyone knows about the big problems, but their behaviour focuses on the here and now. Best to concentrate on the current quarter, because who knows what job I’ll have next year, Best to pass that test, because what I actually learn, won’t be worth much, ten years from now.
We are information-rich but time-poor. We’re bombarded with so much information, from so many sources - video, audio, flashing screens - it’s like being fed too much processed, sugar-rich food. We no longer can easily discern cause and effect, put together a coherent story line, think scientifically, read a book with a single theme. We click, click, click our way through the world. What’s all the rush for? Is it a fear of running out of time? Is “hectic” a good thing? Something to be admired in itself? Does it make us happy?
When I get the time I’ll have a look into all this.
Change is a constant. A paradoxical oxymoron. It’s all about time. Modern life has fundamentally changed our sense of time. “We all live hectic lives these days” I heard Brian May, of Queen, say recently. Do we? Why? Is being “busy” a virtue in itself?
But even as we live longer, we seem to think shorter. Is it because we cram more into each day, or because the next person seems to cram more into each day? Everything is happening much faster, and more things are happening. What are we trying to prove by consuming time in this way? Are we seeing everything and understanding nothing?
In the 60s we were taught that, in the future, machines would automate work, giving us more leisure time. But now machines automate the production of attention-consuming information, which takes up all our time. Every minute of everyday life is to be used productively or it’s an opportunity lost.
Businesses focus on short-term results; politicians focus on elections; school systems focus on test results. Everyone knows about the big problems, but their behaviour focuses on the here and now. Best to concentrate on the current quarter, because who knows what job I’ll have next year, Best to pass that test, because what I actually learn, won’t be worth much, ten years from now.
We are information-rich but time-poor. We’re bombarded with so much information, from so many sources - video, audio, flashing screens - it’s like being fed too much processed, sugar-rich food. We no longer can easily discern cause and effect, put together a coherent story line, think scientifically, read a book with a single theme. We click, click, click our way through the world. What’s all the rush for? Is it a fear of running out of time? Is “hectic” a good thing? Something to be admired in itself? Does it make us happy?
When I get the time I’ll have a look into all this.