You have probably noticed the paltry number of news postings here. This is because there are very few events that I consider newsworthy. And yet--how is it? --we live in an age of news. But is there really more "news"in our age? We are addicted to something, that's certain, as we show all the jittery symptoms of addiction: divided and ever waning attention, the inability to shut off our minds, attenuating connection with those close to us.
We skim. We don't really read. We skim.
What is the quality of the information we allow and trade every day? Is it worth our mental and emotional effort? Does it promote meaningful connections? Are we addicted to the messages or to the novel technologies delivering them?
How well are we tolerating this age of reverberating chatter?--an age where news can be fiction and fiction very often makes the news? How many hours will you spend watching strangers gain weight in order to lose it in front of you? When will you have your fill of fame-seeking families and their conflicts aired for anonymous multitudes? How many more rehearsed reunions, rehearsed arrests and rehearsed celebrities can you stomach? How many more staged autopsies will keep you fascinated?
What is the quality of the stories you seek?
I don't blame the technology. It's neutral. But its novelty and ubiquity have changed our behaviors and priorities for the moment.
We can't afford to consume such quantities of "information" while skimping on depth and meaning. We can't keep opening another bag of chips, hoping to feel full.
Can we throw the switch for awhile and quiet the chatter?
That's my "news" for now. Hope you've skimmed it. It's made of nothing.
