What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains

[Ben]

I thought this was interesting, especially the last third. I definitely thank the Internet for being able to quickly look up such a wide variety of information that might have taken me days versus seconds pre-Internet (going to the library, finding info on where to look, looking, etc.).

I do see that I probably have a shorter attention span when I'm on the web, because I so often find myself doing what they portray in the first 15 or so seconds of the video - looking for something and then getting sidetracked by a myriad of other links. Kinda the "bright, shiny object" syndrome. Also I definitely have "Pavlov's dog" disease with the dang email alerts. I've been trying to get better with those since I quit working. There's something to be said for focusing on one thing at a time without interruption, even if you're doing it on a modern device like a Kindle (with WiFi turned off  :) ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKaWJ72x1rI

[zxcvbob]

TL;DR  you lost me after about 3 sentences.

[230RN]

^ LOL !

I've noticed that bright shiny object syndrome myself, and sometimes lose track of what the hell I was seeking in the first place.  My main concern (for myself) is that there's so many bright shiny objects "out there" that I spend way too much time on the computer --even though I'm retired.

In yore days, I'd go to the library for a particular book and end up checking out four or five after browsing the titles, but at least that involved walking around the library instead of just parking my butt on the couch for an hour or two.

...Of course, come to think of it, I lose track of a lot of stuff of late.

Terry

[fifth_column]

I've noticed that my long-term memory, never superb in the first place, has deteriorated due to the fact that I can look up whatever facts I need, essentially any time.  It's like my brain, being lazy, figures it doesn't need to exert the energy to retain knowledge, since that knowledge is retained elsewhere and is easily accessible. 

Easily accessible if I don't forget what I'm looking for . . . .

[MechAg94]

I don't know if that is the internet or just that we don't train our brain to remember anymore.  The first time it comes up to remember what you read, you look it up again rather than trusting your memory. 

[Regolith]

I don't see it as having a shorter attention span, but rather simply getting good at prioritizing my --- OH LOOK, A SQUIRREL!

[RoadKingLarry]

Bookmarked, I'll get back to this later.

[Nick1911]

tl;dr

[230RN]

I wa going to expound profoundly on something relevant here but I got an e-mail and forgot what it was.

But boy, it was good, and insightful, and rife with pith.

Or so I recall.  Oh, say, Seinfeld is on.  Gotta go.