As I See It / March 2007
Sound Effects
Work smarter, not harder, is the obvious solution to increasingly complex situations. With the accumulated knowledge of the past 3000 years virtually at everyone’s fingertips, it should be easy. Even without a computer, the sheer number of how-books on every conceivable enterprise should provide the necessary weaponry for a battle of wits against foes or faucets.
In the late 1800’s, only about sixty of the known elements had been discovered. Scientists believed light traveled through an invisible, essential medium known as luminiferous ether that permeated the world.
Ambitious students of mathematics were advised to pursue some field other than physics since because all the real breakthroughs had been accomplished. And yet, an American high school graduate was expected to know algebra, geometry, astronomy, French, Latin, Roman history, Greek history and
English literature as well as be able to read and translate Homer from the original Greek and be familiar with the works and philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.
Collectively, we know so much more now than we knew then. Individually, it is hard to believe that we could know so much less.
One of the incredible benefits of living in this century is complete access to the greatest ideas and all of the information accumulated in the history of mankind. The best–and the worst–of everything that has ever been seen, done or thought is there to draw from and build upon. In every endeavor, the starting place is one step beyond where the very best minds have gone before.
The response to such astounding opportunity seems underwhelming in its general manifestation.
Men, women and children eat, drink, drive, work and walk with a phone in their ear, engaged in aimless, never-ending exchanges that ensure no participants will be forced to direct their full attention to any task or stray thought. Headphones, earphones, and remote speakers make certain no one misses a beat, a tune or a call. Cell phones, camera phones, text messages, instant messages keep everyone in, and on, the loop.
The technology of communication-faster, smaller and multi-colored–isn’t about science, its about marketing. It is more devices, providing more distractions in as many different modes as possible.
Oddly enough, human beings don’t actually crave constant sound. And the penalty for embracing it is painless but severe. Whether it’s rock or rap, good stuff or bad, the insistent constancy extinguishes all possibility for reflection, dreams or contemplation. It drowns out pleasant memories, new ideas, and innovative thoughts. It is sound without fury, but also without passion or purpose.
The insidious, incessant backdrop of noise, from phones, radio, tv or the succeeding reincarnations of iPods and MP3’s, has become this generation’s lumiferous ether, invisible but pervasive, stealing time and occupying space it doesn’t deserve. Like the empty calories of a shimmering meringue, it provides no fuel, no food for thought.
Despite the expansive buffet of knowledge within easy reach, way too few step up with a plate. Maybe everyone filled up on appetizers. Maybe there is just so much on the table, it’s overwhelming. Maybe no one is hungry for information anymore. But, life just keeps getting more complicated, with more to do and less time to do it. That’s the physics problem this generation created. We have to work smarter or drown in increasingly convoluted trivial pursuit. But, before anyone can work smarter, they must find the smart way. They must consider the problem, look at past and alternative solutions, consider conditions, consequences and resources, do some research, make some decisions.
They have to think about it.
Working smarter requires getting a little smarter.
It won’t be as easy as it sounds, but it certainly isn’t as hard as we have made it. There’s a catch, of course. Silence may not be golden, but it is an environment that can stimulate the appetite for information. Before partaking of the buffet, we’re going to have to sit down and shut off. PL
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