This op-ed on the Internet Age deserves a central place in the metaphysical conversation.
The Cassandra of the Internet Age
Hopefully we can slide past the few political hooks to discuss the key challenge of metacognition:
“Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.”
For reference, here is the long version of the 1997 prescient essay:
The Attention Economy and the Net
The Attention Economy
The Attention Economy
Be calm - Be clear - See the faults - See the suffering - Give your love
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Soul_of_Shu
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Re: The Attention Economy
Once I started sleep-scrolling through that 1997 essay, I switched the attention elsewhere 
Here out of instinct or grace we seek
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
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Ben Iscatus
- Posts: 490
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:15 pm
Re: The Attention Economy
Oddly enough, a great example of that very issue has appeared on the BBC website today - an argumentative parish council meeting went viral (people demanding attention and wanting power):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-55946252
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-55946252
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Soul_of_Shu
- Posts: 2023
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:48 pm
- Contact:
Re: The Attention Economy
Mindfulness redux.
Here out of instinct or grace we seek
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
-
Soul_of_Shu
- Posts: 2023
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:48 pm
- Contact:
Re: The Attention Economy
Ben ... Thanks for that telling example of the absence of mindfulness in the meeting of minds ... I prefer to pay attention to this meeting of minds and hearts bringing tears to these eyes ...Ben Iscatus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:14 pm Oddly enough, a great example of that very issue has appeared on the BBC website today - an argumentative parish council meeting went viral (people demanding attention and wanting power):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-55946252
Here out of instinct or grace we seek
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
soulmates in these galleries of hieroglyph and glass,
where mutual longings and sufferings of love
are laid bare in transfigured exhibition of our hearts,
we who crave deep secrets and mysteries,
as elusive as the avatars of our dreams.
Re: The Attention Economy
Soul_of_Shu wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:55 pm Once I started sleep-scrolling through that 1997 essay, I switched the attention elsewhere
Yup, me too! I added it in only because a friend sent it to me for original source documentation. What seems interesting is how many words it takes to speculate on something novel and unknown and later, following actual-factual experience, how much easier it seems to reduce it to pithy prose. Certainly makes a strong case for experience over speculation.
Be calm - Be clear - See the faults - See the suffering - Give your love
Re: The Attention Economy
Sometimes I think that if there's any free will ; it's in - and only in - where you direct your attention.
The thoughts you have, and the choices you make, are simply an effect of where you direct your attention.
The thoughts you have, and the choices you make, are simply an effect of where you direct your attention.
"I don't understand." /Unknown
Re: The Attention Economy
I agree. It's almost as if free will boils down to choosing the school of life lessons one will encounter, like we choose processes
more than outcomes.
Be calm - Be clear - See the faults - See the suffering - Give your love