The Sirens' Call

 

 An early quote from William James demonstrates the importance of attention; "My experience is what I agree to attend to."  As technology advances everyone gains access to more information with more competing for our attention.  What you agree to, shapes your life.

 Our attention is gathered in three ways.  First we voluntarily focus on something of interest to us.  Second we are abruptly distracted by something like a siren. Third you react to something of personal interest such as your name even if barely heard. 

We would like the time and context to focus on things of value or at least of interest, but literally millions of others would like to grab your attention.  People have developed some defenses.  The Walkman head phone at first was seen as anti-social, but is more acceptable today.  There is infinite information and finite attention.  Many look for summaries and others how to sort out what really matters.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/05/the-signal-and-noise.html

Attention has been commoditfied.  Newspaper circulation has been a basis for advertising rates for many years.  Television has ratings in great detail.  The claims can be difficult to verify as for example one study showed that 2/3 of television viewers reach for their phone during a commercial break.  Others take a bathroom break or do some household chore.  

Google has developed a more sophisticated system:  when you click on any link you help them develop a profile identifying what interests you.  Advertisers can bid for links to likely profiles and the advertiser only has to pay when the consumer clicks on their links.   

One advantage others seeking your attention have is that humans dread boredom.  Many humans feel alienated and without a sense of purpose.  Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi is known for the concept of flow that many of us strive for.  One is happiest when one is engaged in an activity where they are so engaged they lose concept of time.  One example was riding horses where some are so engaged that is what they think of most of the time.

A model for communicating ideas was in 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas had a series of historical debates.  They would each be given an 60 minutes opening statement a 90 minute response and finally a 30 minute rebuttal.  There would be a series of debates with each man given opportunity to make their points and refute the other's points.  Today with lots of commercial pressures, political debates are more narrowly restricted.  Chris points out to understand the issues in depth we have lost.  Neil Postman in 1985 thought these debates illustrated how we have lost our ability to pay attention;  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/05/amusing-ourselves-to-death.html

Along side he points out that in society we have taught children to wait their turn and wait for a sign for them to talk.  Nowadays interruptions and time restrictions have set different standards.

Chris Hayes has a unique position being a cable newscasters as he has to contend with what news gets covered.  To stay in business and keep his job he has to find news that gets attention.  Too often he has to deal with mass shootings.  At first a lot of attention was given to the perpetrator, but realized that a key motive was to draw attention.  Shifted the coverage more to the victims.  It is still news.

Donald Trump has the biggest megaphone in the world.  He seeks recognition but achieves attention.  He has learned how to be provocative.   Almost every day Trump creates attention that is difficult to ignore despite the fact that it is nonsensical it still seems to benefit him (or his ego).

One issue that doesn't get enough attention is climate change.  A flood, fire or drought is news and does get some coverage, but usually not much for long.  Logically the issue deserves much more attention.  You cannot actually see the climate changing and while some activists are creative, they are up against well financed fossil fuel advocates.

Multi tasking has been developing with the increased access to information (and entertainment), but it obviously results in divided attention which ultimately means each focus is diluted.  Along with Chris this is a bad habit and I am conscious that something is lost in the effort, but the fear of missing something drives me on.  How about you?

Chris pointed out that each of us have a desire for recognition.  As a newscaster he has found fame among strangers.  He found himself checking ratings and his social media responses.  Personally I check blog stats and Facebook responses.  Social media encourages such behavior.

Jonathan Haidt wrote about how smart phones and social media have quickly gained the attention of our youth.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/the-anxious-generation.html

Chris admits that technology increases all the time, but there have been some interesting rebellions.  One was vinyl records that provide cover art and sound better.  Most people read news online, but he has discovered that print newspaper offer something different.

There is a lot of meat in "The Sirens' Call "and it is not too practical for my summary to give an in depth understanding.  Hopefully my description has drawn your attention and if you want a more in depth understanding you need to read the book.