Computers are Distractions

[ethics]

<i>The New York Times</i> has a very <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/technology/circuits/10info.html?ei=5090&en=7a999c4499970da6&ex=1265691600&partner=techdirt&pagewanted=all&position=">interesting article about computer distractions</a>. There have been articles about this before. Thanks to computers and the internet, it's so easy to be doing something else, whether that's checking email, instant messaging, fiddling with your music collection, or just surfing the web.

The Times piece focuses on the idea of getting people into a "flow" state and making sure that interruptions and distraction only occur when people aren't in a flow state. For example, emails only get delivered after you hit "save" on the document you're working on.

This seems a little backwards to me. As the article notes, when people are in a state of flow, they barely even notice outside distractions. So, saving things like email notifications until later aren't necessarily going to do anything. The real issue is that these aren't so much distractions, as they are the result of people procrastinating.

In other words, it's often not proactive distractions that are the problem, but people's inability to get themselves into a state of flow themselves. In such a state, they go looking for distractions, rather than being interrupted by them. If someone wanted to have software to deal with that, it should simply prevent a user from accessing certain features until they complete certain tasks, or for a certain period of time.

[Steve]

Why not just close one's mail program, chat client, browser, etc.?

What "genius" came up with the idea of separate software to prevent these things from creating distractions?

But I do agree that distractions tend to fade away when you're "in the zone".

[Piobaireachd]

I saw this on Tuesday when MSN was having problems with Windows Messenger. People kept calling and emailing us in the server room to tell us that they couldn't log in to Messenger.

Half the time they were trying to IM someone across the room or in the next office (on the same floor). :rolleyes:

[amjezioro]

and what about the people that use their computers as the distraction from the rest of the world?

the people that rush home to see if there are any new emails or any new posts on the numerous forums they are a part of?

they spend their time clicking and typing away oblivious to what is around them in the "real" world because the cyber world is safer- they can lie about what they really look like or sound like and feel secure that no one will see them for what they really are. So they can be appreciated for their brains and not hear any of the digs that they hear through the normal day- so these people pull away from all of the real flesh and blood people in their life and would rather talk to their cyber friends about anything and everything -so the cyber world knows more about them than the person they live with does because who is the first person they tell- the forum, not the person they claim to love- Does anyone see a problem with that besides me?

While I see the good computers do- god knows its how I make my living- I also see the bad in them- especially for the people that have addictive personalities and they don't know it.....they end up losing all the important things in their life because IM'ing and Emailing and posting on the forums become all they think about and all they do until they have nothing left except the computer.

[ethics]

and what about the people that use their computers as the distraction from the rest of the world?

the people that rush home to see if there are any new emails or any new posts on the numerous forums they are a part of?


Yes. Sometimes, pending on the discussions, I would rush home to see my family and my kids and then sit down and defuse with email and other distractions. I don't see anything wrong with that but would definitely have problems if my wife didn't understand that I would like some time to myself and how I choose to utilize that time is up to me, as long as it meant no harm to anyone?

One thing that's a huge turn off with my past ex-girlfriends was how leachy they were. I had to devote all of my time to them and how dare I have other interests, hobbies, and "escapes". Fuck that, they were dropped faster than a hot potato.

So they can be appreciated for their brains and not hear any of the digs that they hear through the normal day- so these people pull away from all of the real flesh and blood people in their life and would rather talk to their cyber friends about anything and everything -so the cyber world knows more about them than the person they live with does because who is the first person they tell- the forum, not the person they claim to love- Does anyone see a problem with that besides me?

Nope. I see nothing wrong with escaping the real world.

While I see the good computers do- god knows its how I make my living- I also see the bad in them- especially for the people that have addictive personalities and they don't know it.....they end up losing all the important things in their life because IM'ing and Emailing and posting on the forums become all they think about and all they do until they have nothing left except the computer.

Who are you to judge what is important to THEM? Your priorities of importance may not match theirs but that doesn't mean that their behavior is wrong, "addictive" or anything of the sort.

I don't know who you have in mind and MAYBE you are right, but I see above as a rant from one of my ex-girlfriends. Sorry, didn't mean to be offensive or personal. ;)

[Fiona]

I'll officially go on record as saying, computer and internet access should not be restricted (much.) An employee's ability to get the job done should be what is looked at. Being a net junkie I've often had employers who assumed because I was online, that I was not working. At this point we have three choices, prove to them I AM doing my work and NOT surfing porn, only get online during breaks, disconnect the internet.

I had one employer for each of those situations. Since then I've had many who understand you can be online all day and still get your work done. It depends on the employee. Sometimes GA gets a tad distracting... if I think I'm falling behind I simply "exit." And I AM an addict so... it's the person.

As an employer or Human Resource person I would certainly have high security, firewalls, and such, like they do here... I have full access to the internet, always. However, "questionable" material goes to a wall and I have to specifically request access be granted. Therefor, if it's porn, it's got my name on it. And if I let in a virus they know who to come kick in the ass. LOL

[amjezioro]

Yes. Sometimes, pending on the discussions, I would rush home to see my family and my kids and then sit down and defuse with email and other distractions. I don't see anything wrong with that but would definitely have problems if my wife didn't understand that I would like some time to myself and how I choose to utilize that time is up to me, as long as it meant no harm to anyone?
I'm not talking about having time to yourself- I am talking about when there is no time for you and the S.O. because from the time the person walks in the door until the time they stumble to bed from being tired- they are at the computer, because all the time is their time every day.

One thing that's a huge turn off with my past ex-girlfriends was how leachy they were. I had to devote all of my time to them and how dare I have other interests, hobbies, and "escapes". Fuck that, they were dropped faster than a hot potato.
I'm not talking about not having other escapes- when the relationship suffers because all the person wants to do is escape- and that is the only thing they do- all their time is devoted to the computer and none was to me- there has to be a balance- and unfortunately the situation I am talking about I was the one that got ZERO attention and all their "my time" was all the time.


Who are you to judge what is important to THEM? Your priorities of importance may not match theirs but that doesn't mean that their behavior is wrong, "addictive" or anything of the sort.
Not judging- going from what they said was important to them as opposed to what they were doing- which were total opposites. When they can't make it through a day without doing it- what else would you call it besides addiction?

I don't know who you have in mind and MAYBE you are right, but I see above as a rant from one of my ex-girlfriends. Sorry, didn't mean to be offensive or personal. ;)
if you didn't mean for it to be personal then maybe you shouldn't have taken that way- I was talking about a situation that happened to me- being neglected by someone who said they loved me for people online in chatrooms/forums/ICQ/IM/ whatever- I was lucky if I got a hug and a smile- there were days when even that was too much to ask for them to step away from the damn computer for a hug. This is at the opposite end of the spectrum of what you are talking about- I don't want all the time- I just wanted some time...but apparantly even that was too much for them

[ethics]

Priorities are different for many people. I don't know you nor your partner so just offering my personal experience from what it was like for me. Part time distraction is ok, even good. Full time, from dusk to dawn? Don't know.

[Biker]

If one is using the computer/internet as an alternative to a relationship, both parties need to take a good hard look at what's going wrong in said relationship. I can think of a few things that will trump computer time in a heartbeat. Just as long as the kids aren't in earshot. **grin**

[amjezioro]

If one is using the computer/internet as an alternative to a relationship, both parties need to take a good hard look at what's going wrong in said relationship. I can think of a few things that will trump computer time in a heartbeat. Just as long as the kids aren't in earshot. **grin**
unfortunately, biker that is exactly what was happening- the only interaction they had outside of work was on the computer and in the case I am speaking of- nothing trumped computer time. I tried asking for time to be set aside as "us time" and even that fell to the wayside -really good way to keep someone with you right? If I even tried to get their attention it was with a disgusted "what now" tone in their voice because the way it felt I was interrupting the only thing they wanted to be doing- and since there are no kids involved, that wasn't really an issue. There was a time when I even went and took a nice hot bath, did all my shaving(we'll just leave it at that) put on really nice smelly good lotion that made my skin really soft walked up to them, grabbed their hand slid it up my thigh and all I got was a "that's nice" and they turned around and went right back to the computer to all of their online friends which made it feel like they rated higher than me in the interesting column- needless to say I didn't bother with it anymore

The old saying actions speak louder than words is very true in this case- they showed me exactly what they wanted, which wasn't me- and then acted surprised when I said I was leaving.

ok- that's way too much about me- but thanks for letting me get it off my chest.....

[SixofNine]

When I get home my wife runs to the computer, but she deserves to as checking e-mail and doing a little web surfing during the day is a lot harder for her with three kids underfoot.

Brian

[Biker]

I have to admit as well, first thing I do when I walk through the door is fire up the PC. It then gets turned off when someone else gets home. :drool: :angel: