OPINION PIECE (warning warning warning)
When I say ‘slow down kids’, I am not directing it toward only youth. I mean everyone. We are inundated on a daily basis with quick fixes, headlines, shorter and shorter books; think novel > novella>novelette>short story e-book publishing … Well you know what I am getting at. I am getting at what sells. And the thing that baffles me most is that these ways of communication have developed in recent months as opposed to years. We are going that fast.
Because I’m writing a novel, my time is limited and I find myself unable to find enough time to visit all the blog posters I would like to, but I’ll be damned if I am going to fake it by scrolling through the reader, clicking ‘like’ without reading the posts. (pet peeve also)
Our collective attention span is fading and interest in the full story waning. FaceBook is a prime example of this. People jump on stories with comments based on reading only the headline or more annoying to me, based on major ignorance of the subject. (pet peeve of mine). You can’t fix stupid as they say, but allowing so many misconceptions especially about the more taboo subjects is a real pity. The delusions of the masses travel much faster and are ‘sexier’ than the facts. I feel as though we are constantly feeding into ignorance without a solution to stop the slide.
What prompted this post was, this morning while I was going through my normal routine – I came across a discovery. I have done quite a bit of content work, read what works best and applied the suggestions, from breaking up the text to bold headlines to writing lists. To further keep the reader’s interest, I noticed only today that the headline teasers screamed: 3 Ways to … 5 Quick Reasons to …, 4 Unique Tips to …
Only a flash of time ago the lists (catering to the modern reader) held at least 10-20 fast fixes to make your life better. Now, they are cut in half or less. This is really a concern for me because I ask myself what subject or problem can be fully addressed in minute segments of perhaps 3 lines each?
I am a self-confessed headline reader. Part of that early morning routine is to read the headlines that Google News provide to me. I like to know what’s going on in the world at a glance and can usually have a vague idea by the headlines alone, but won’t vice an opinion or assume I know the subject based on a quick look. If it is something of particular interest, I’ll go back to read it or look it up once I go on line. But I don’t fall for what has come to be known as ‘click-bait’. In fact the sexier (sic) the headline, the less likely I will be interested.
Writing this post will prompt me to Slow Down as well. The universe, nature, the world and humanity deserve more of our attention. Below is what I came up with when I searched this morning. It gave me food for thought. ‘Nuf said. I think I just needed to talk about this 🙂 Thanks for your TIME!
Selena Gomez age: 22 (2015)
Wonderful talented artist.
Here are the partial lyrics to Slow Down
Now that I have captured your attention
I wanna steal ya for a rhythm intervention
Mr. TSA*, I’m ready for inspection
Sh-sh-show me how you make a first impression
Oh, oh
Can we take it nice and slow, slow
Break it down and drop it low, low
Cause I just wanna party all night in the neon lights ’til you can’t let me go
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.
Hello lamppost, What cha knowing?
I’ve come to watch your flowers growing.
Ain’t cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in’ doo-doo, Feelin’ groovy.
Got no deeds to do, No promises to keep.
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all it’s petals on me.
Life, I love you, All is groovy.
Inspiration Import 
Thanks Lesley, I hope more of us read this post! I can be guilty of reading too quickly, especially if it’s an overly long post from someone whose writings I enjoy. Some posts I note have zillions of likes and in a way this puts me off it when there are almost zero comments. I also speed read the daily news on my phone first thing in the morning. On another level, there’s so much about HOW to this and that and the next thing … it’s extraordinary to me that there’s obviously a market and that the market wants quick sound bytes on which to make assumptions and thereby know it all .. no more pondering reflecting debating thinking reflecting some more – we rely on 2 sec sound bytes …
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We are all guilty at some point Susan. It is the age we live in. I do remind myself regularly to embrace the moment, but technology interferes so much that I have to schedule breaks, which is totally ludicrous! I have a laptop to write my book on but Google is so very efficient that it moved all of my bookmarks over – lead me not into temptation !!! 🙂 I vow to slow down. I vow to slow down. xx
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well said – while I do blog at times and like to follow certain people who inspire me I also tend to avoid hanging out too much on the web for my own peace of mind. as I get older I find my tolerance for news has diminished though I am happy to read a well written article about a current topic. something in my brain fizzes when confronted with those headlines that are set up to grab me- I dont want to be treated so cheaply nor do I want what is going on- the real issues – to be reduced to cheap shots.
as been said already complex issues take time to read to reflect on to digest and the quick bombardment taking place seems to me to be discouraging real thinking.
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Yes, you have pointed out the insult to the intellect factor so well. Tolerance is a worthy trait when well placed. We don’t have to be tolerant of things that are useless to our lives or anyone else for that matter.
You have brought up a good point about the logic and importance of developing ‘thinking’. Those who do are the future and many young adults are on a quest to take things backward a bit and live more off the grid. It must be so frustrating to try to ‘keep up’ and still maintain a balance today..
By the way – Your posts are always a perfect reminder to interact with the universe in a calm and peaceful way.
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I agree with you. I have a follower on WP that as soon as I post she hits like. I know some people read fast but three typed pages in 2 seconds. Example there was a post about a singer/songwriter Ne-yo. The headline was something about Bruce Jenner inspired him to come out to being gay. As soon as I opened the post is tells the reader that it was satire. Also that Ne-yo twitted that he is not gay. Not earth shattering, I don’t care one way or the other. Curiosity prompted me to open because I think he’s a wonderful wordsmith. I started reading the comments and everyone was saying. They knew he was gay. I was so annoyed that I asked did anyone but me read the article. I also agree I rather not read than to give a like because I opened your page. I try to keep up with the blogs I follow and there are a lot but when I fall behind I delete my emails and start fresh. I rather you pass over my post then to like without reading. I wrote something similar to this post. The second like reader liked the page and it was about her. I have no idea what the title was. If I find it I’ll send you a link.
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OH the irony of it all. I don’t care about anyone’s sexuality either. The GP does not belong in bedrooms. Thanks for taking the time Kim 🙂 I think Ne-Yo’s great too.
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I couldn’t agree with you more, Lesley. I think all of this rushing has several negative consequences. One of them is the inevitable stress and anxiety that comes from being convinced we’re not doing enough – not going fast enough. We put too much pressure on ourselves, our children and each other. Another negative consequence is that too often, wrong information (or flat-out deceptive) information gets accepted as gospel because people don’t take the time to read beyond the headlines and find out more. So people start believing lies, or perhaps half-truths, instead of having a solid perspective on things. Little wonder people get so unhappy: they never take the time to slow down and find contentment.
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I see this hit a nerve with you also Margot. Pet peeve doesn’t cover it. I know we are looking at different generations and historically (at our age), we hold judgements and do the tutting and shaking of the heads as far as music and fashion go at least – but this is different. This is the spread of lies, public arguments, fatal distractions (phone related), break down of family relationships and conversation all leading to apathy and lack of compassion and human understanding. It seems the more we know, the less we understand holds true. (borrowed from Einstein)
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This did indeed hit a nerve, Lesley. I see the same negative consequences that you do. What’s more, I see it starting at a very young age. Today’s children (I can only speak for the US case; I know less about children’s social lives in other countries) spend so much time in instant-gratification social media interactions that they haven’t learned face-to-face social skills. They also find it harder to learn perseverance and the confidence that slowly comes as you get better at something. It’s troubling. And that’s not even to mention the skill of taking time to digest complex material so that it makes sense. And these are the people who will one day vote for, and later be, government leaders. Not a happy thought. So yes, it hits a nerve…
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