The Internet has destroyed my sense of time and place

July 24th, 2008 View Comments

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, CA, USA
Ahead | Golden Gate Recreation Area, San Francisco, CA, USA | April 2008

The Internet has destroyed my sense of time and place.

I am guided by the presumed ability to be anywhere, to instantly communicate across time and place and access information whenever and wherever; these misplaced expectations have nonetheless become the foundation of my daily life.

It has uprooted my ability to devote patience, reflection and critical thought when faced with the Skinner-like variable ratio positive reinforcement created by the Internet’s flow of information. The promise of the silver bullet lies behind every link.

Finding the long path has become harder and harder over time for me. More ideas, more information, more tasks, more goals to share my “continuous partial attention.” Focus comes only long after the lights turn out, when I can feel I’m not missing anything.

How can we reset our expectations and focus our attention on the here and the now? Ask yourself:

“Is this a priority or a goal?”
“Is this what I want to be remembered for?”

Set your time, energy and passions toward your priorities and focus, energy and life will return.

Sounds simple…

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View Comments to “The Internet has destroyed my sense of time and place”

Sloane Berrent Says:
January 13th, 2010 at 17:58
Interesting when we're online we try to remember to be off and live an offline existence and when we're off we feel like we should be on, sharing those great experiences and journaling them on the blogs we so lovingly put care and time into.

I could almost be tempted to say “find a balance” but I don't think that's true. Extremes can be a good thing (total TD line I know). Enjoy your time on or off, and just appreciate and be mindful of the moment for what it is.

What do you want to be remembered for? #conversationforanothertime
Taylor Davidson Says:
January 13th, 2010 at 18:22
An odd old post to resurface…

For each, a time and place; just like there's a type of music for every situation, a type of food that just “fits” with an experience, a mix between online and offline that fits; mindfulness, a sense of “be here now”, whatever the situation, time or place.

Is “extremes can be a good thing” a TD line? :)

Balance, a weighty topic. That, as well as “what I want to be remembered for”, multiple #conversationforanothertime
Anonymous Says:
January 14th, 2010 at 1:58
Interesting when we’re online we try to remember to be off and live an offline existence and when we’re off we feel like we should be on, sharing those great experiences and journaling them on the blogs we so lovingly put care and time into.rnrnI could almost be tempted to say “find a balance” but I don’t think that’s true. Extremes can be a good thing (total TD line I know). Enjoy your time on or off, and just appreciate and be mindful of the moment for what it is.rnrnWhat do you want to be remembered for? #conversationforanothertime
Taylor Davidson Says:
January 14th, 2010 at 2:22
An odd old post to resurface…rnrnFor each, a time and place; just like there’s a type of music for every situation, a type of food that just “fits” with an experience, a mix between online and offline that fits; mindfulness, a sense of “be here now”, whatever the situation, time or place.rnrnIs “extremes can be a good thing” a TD line? :)rnrnBalance, a weighty topic. That, as well as “what I want to be remembered for”, multiple #conversationforanothertime