http://www.theawl.com/ Be Less Stupid Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:55:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65946 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65946#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:55:50 +0000 Arkansascharlatan http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65946 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65946/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65945 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65945#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:48:46 +0000 Arkansascharlatan http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65945 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65945/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65869 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65869#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:30:28 +0000 vespavirgin http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65869 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65869/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65750 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65750#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:20:42 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65750 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65750/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65517 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65517#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:07:07 +0000 JamesNYC http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65517 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65517/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65442 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65442#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:03:08 +0000 barnhouse http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65442 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65442/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65395 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65395#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:10:27 +0000 lbf http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65395 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65395/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65342 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65342#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:53:26 +0000 Moff http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65342 are online, the long, dull periods between interesting content appearing that makes you wonder why you were so worked up. I just know when I take a week off from the computer, I feel better mentally and physically.]]> are online, the long, dull periods between interesting content appearing that makes you wonder why you were so worked up. I just know when I take a week off from the computer, I feel better mentally and physically.]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65342/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65332 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65332#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:16:34 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65332 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65332/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65331 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65331#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:15:58 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65331 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65331/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65330 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65330#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:15:34 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65330 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65330/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65316 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65316#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:43:58 +0000 barnhouse http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65316 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65316/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65299 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65299#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:57:47 +0000 barnhouse http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65299 memory prosthetics. Yikes.]]> memory prosthetics. Yikes.]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65299/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65298 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65298#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:56:59 +0000 barnhouse http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65298 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65298/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65286 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65286#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:32:35 +0000 Baroness http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65286 so much you speak of- well, my head spins, I can't sleep well because of the thousand things I read that day. The body rests but the mind still clicks and whirrs. Our Net habits are a lot like craving hits of novelty, it lights something up in the brain, and one wants more. And I get your point too about the social aspect too- so many opinions, so many cretins with something to say (and that's just youTube commenters!). But ultimately, you learn to like certain people, see them as individuals, with their own voices, and on the very positive side of all this, it's been a delight to see an awful lot of craft and humor and superb writers out there. It's no real substitute for actual friends, but there's something immensely positive in relating to people of like minds, solace and cheer. But yes, my attention span is shot- a 2 hour movie is forevah! I miss the simplicity of ..not so galactically many choices, sometimes. Getting deeply into that novel, immersively, without the peripheral gremlin impulses of what I'm missing that's new online. Hm.]]> so much you speak of- well, my head spins, I can't sleep well because of the thousand things I read that day. The body rests but the mind still clicks and whirrs. Our Net habits are a lot like craving hits of novelty, it lights something up in the brain, and one wants more. And I get your point too about the social aspect too- so many opinions, so many cretins with something to say (and that's just youTube commenters!). But ultimately, you learn to like certain people, see them as individuals, with their own voices, and on the very positive side of all this, it's been a delight to see an awful lot of craft and humor and superb writers out there. It's no real substitute for actual friends, but there's something immensely positive in relating to people of like minds, solace and cheer. But yes, my attention span is shot- a 2 hour movie is forevah! I miss the simplicity of ..not so galactically many choices, sometimes. Getting deeply into that novel, immersively, without the peripheral gremlin impulses of what I'm missing that's new online. Hm.]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65286/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65284 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65284#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:21:46 +0000 Moff http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65284 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65284/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65266 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65266#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:58:28 +0000 the Loud Coast http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65266 might be trying to remember at any given time based on the context they were in. After a lot of practice with the device, the users eventually would be unable to tell the difference between information in their own memory and information provided by the system. Their media experience was very self-centered, but the delineation of that self identity got pretty shaky the more engaged they were. the motto for this is: "machines become us", and it's something I think about aaallllll the time.]]> might be trying to remember at any given time based on the context they were in. After a lot of practice with the device, the users eventually would be unable to tell the difference between information in their own memory and information provided by the system. Their media experience was very self-centered, but the delineation of that self identity got pretty shaky the more engaged they were. the motto for this is: "machines become us", and it's something I think about aaallllll the time.]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65266/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65255 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65255#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:44:54 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65255 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65255/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65242 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65242#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:30:55 +0000 HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65242 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65242/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65232 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65232#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:16:02 +0000 winchesterwolcott http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65232 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65232/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65229 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65229#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:14:07 +0000 LondonLee http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65229 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65229/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65206 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65206#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:50:40 +0000 Ribs http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65206 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65206/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65205 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65205#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:50:20 +0000 KarenUhOh http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65205 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65205/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65201 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65201#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:49:05 +0000 Regina Small http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65201 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65201/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65197 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65197#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:47:15 +0000 brad http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65197 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65197/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65189 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65189#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:39:37 +0000 SemperBufo http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65189 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65189/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65183 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65183#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:33:56 +0000 Moff http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65183 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65183/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65178 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65178#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:30:40 +0000 pocket shelley http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65178 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65178/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65177 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65177#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:30:33 +0000 HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65177 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65177/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65170 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65170#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:27:34 +0000 Moff http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65170 this, which bears out my own experience, though I have no better answer to the chicken-egg question than the researchers do. Talking out of my ass, though, I think the issue with Internet addiction is that while the Internet is ostensibly about connecting with other people, practically speaking it's really me-centered. Sure, it's great for maintaining friendships and even cultivating them! But it's also very much about the responses to whatever you put out there, the reward you get every time someone else notices you in the ocean of electrons. Ultimately, it can be fun, but it gets hollow. And then there's just the fact that there's so much information that it both overwhelms you and paralyzes you. If a book is a closed medium that generates a single point of view, the Internet is so many points of view that your frustration goes beyond not being able to sort them out; you feel like it's not even worth trying, because there will always be another dumbass who won't get it. I think this will eventually be good for people, because I think the Internet gives us a much better idea of what's really going on in each other's heads (as appalling as that is, sometimes). But I sorta miss the days when everything looked more simple, too.]]> this, which bears out my own experience, though I have no better answer to the chicken-egg question than the researchers do. Talking out of my ass, though, I think the issue with Internet addiction is that while the Internet is ostensibly about connecting with other people, practically speaking it's really me-centered. Sure, it's great for maintaining friendships and even cultivating them! But it's also very much about the responses to whatever you put out there, the reward you get every time someone else notices you in the ocean of electrons. Ultimately, it can be fun, but it gets hollow. And then there's just the fact that there's so much information that it both overwhelms you and paralyzes you. If a book is a closed medium that generates a single point of view, the Internet is so many points of view that your frustration goes beyond not being able to sort them out; you feel like it's not even worth trying, because there will always be another dumbass who won't get it. I think this will eventually be good for people, because I think the Internet gives us a much better idea of what's really going on in each other's heads (as appalling as that is, sometimes). But I sorta miss the days when everything looked more simple, too.]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65170/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65165 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65165#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:23:41 +0000 brad http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65165 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65165/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65156 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65156#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:16:41 +0000 bong hitler http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65156 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65156/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65150 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65150#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:09:35 +0000 HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65150 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65150/feed 0 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65140 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65140#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:57:52 +0000 gnarlytrombone http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65140 http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-high-speed-overload#comment-65140/feed 0