Serious Distractions

Thoreau writes in Walden that “there is an illusion” in modern improvements. “Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.”

In a recent blog post, Cal Newport dances around the idea that society is becoming less serious. The rise of TV, then the internet, and now social media is extinguishing concentration. He despairs that Twitter is becoming the go-to forum for political and philosophical discourse. We have serious issues to solve, yet we debate them in childish ways.

Macro-level issues aside. How much time do you spend on your phone? Instead, should you be studying, playing with your children, connecting with friends, or enjoying nature? Perhaps it’s time we adopt the foyer method when at home. Better yet, leave it there and go for a walk.

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