Intention vs Attention

I'd like to share with you an answer I wrote on Linkedin Answers, in response to Bruce Kane's question. It's about Intention vs Attention. We often hear about the problem of "short attention span," yet I think a deeper problem is that of "short intention."

We don't think nor plan far enough. This planning capability -- the ability to see with the mind, rather than with the eyes or the senses -- is what humans have that sets us apart from animals.

This mind vision is also what sets successful people apart from unsuccessful people, and therein lies the secret of success: you have to be able to see your future before you can get to it.

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I think it's not the short (attention) span that concerns me as much as the long spin. Every truth and fact seemed to be spinned in society to benefit someone other than the viewer or listener. If there is a constant in society today, it is deception.

This deception doesn't occur at the image level or at the content level of any specific news program, but at the cognitive framework level.

Our kids are not taught conceptual skills, since the entire educational system focuses on facts and perception-level knowledge. They are not taught HOW to integrate all the various pieces of information and knowledge they get at school into a coherent framework or system that would empower them throughout their lives.

This cognitive/epistemological integration skill is taught, but only to elite kids whose parents are foresighted enough to predict that the new world (and new economy) will be very chaotic and fragmented (both on the screens and in the mind). Only through continuous and conscious integration of one's mind can one avoid the inevitable fragmentation of one's thoughts due to continuous exposure to the flickering and meaningless "sound and fury" raging in society.

It's not so much an "attention" disorder I'm worried about, but an "intention" dysfunction. As Einstein said, we live in an age characterized by profusion of means and confusion of ends.

Where there's no intention, attention is up for grabs (and goes everywhere).

It seems we've lost the art of intention. Since we lost the ability to consciously direct our thoughts to fruitful ends, our attention is easily "captured" by anything that moves out there (ideally, it should be colorful, contain titilatting music and move FAST -- of course, it should contain hints of sex or sexual gratification).

Yes, I'm saying that we've become unthinking animals. "Animal" is not a bad word; every animal on Earth is perfect, since it does precisely what it was programmed to do (by the Creator or the evolutionary spirit, depending on your beliefs). An animal is simply beauty unfolding itself and revealing itself to the world.

However, animals are not creative, and only execute pre-programmed automatisms.

Humans ARE creative, yet without intention or conscious endeavour, we are merely drifting wood being swept by the currents of overmediatized images and sounds raging through an expanding array of media platforms assaulting us from every corner of modern social life.

You are perhaps right that this is a new society, and perhaps the best way to deal with it is to reclaim our attention, so as to concentrate it on fewer, more meaningful pursuits. Then, intention will naturally emerge, and help the self-actualization process.

I guess life is about "becoming" who we truly are, not "watching" whatever comes along.

Great question, thanks!

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QUESTION:

Short attention span theater

I was doing my usual treadmill workout in the local YMCA with my iPod plugged in and cranked up when my eye caught one of the TV's on the wall that was tuned in to MTV or VH1 or one of those video music channels that actually plays music videos these days. (The Y has devices on the TV's that broadcast the audio over short range FM so there's no noise if you're not tuned in.)

I was drawn into the video. What I noticed was that the video couldn't seem to sit still. Every second it was a different view. Of the lead singer. Of the drummer. Of the girl on the hood of the car. Back to the lead singer. To a sunset. Back to the drummer. Guitar solo. Back to the sultry girl. More of the singer looking gloomy. I was getting dizzy just watching a video. (And no, it wasn't because of the cardio workout.) The next video was more of the same - constantly changing views and little context from scene to scene to scene. Cut to a commercial flipping back and forth between talking head and product and talking head and product and product name and close. I was surprised by how similar the images in the commercial were with the music video. Nearly enough that I could see how someone might not see the difference between the entertainment and the commercial.

Is it kids these days and at 38 (!!) I'm too old to understand? I watched MTV in the 80's and I don't remember the videos jumping this often between scenes.

We live in a society where terms like "Attention Deficit Disorder" and "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" are bandied about while doctors proscribe Ritalin and other mind-calming drugs like... ummm... candy. Which is an interesting comparison when I see parents feeding their kids sugar and caffeine and not understanding why the kids are running around, out of control.

So I ask - is it the kids? Or is it the adults? Some combination of the two? Or is this a new modern society? Or am I just too old and I don't "get" it?