Comments on: Switching off the phone http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/2010/05/17/switching-off-the-phone/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 17 May 2012 09:35:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Carl http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/2010/05/17/switching-off-the-phone/#comment-251 Carl Tue, 18 May 2010 15:10:02 +0000 http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/?p=375#comment-251 This obsession with being constantly connected is beyond absurd. MPs tweeting and emailing during parliamentary debates? I mean, no wonder they make so many mistakes. One thing at a time: that's what the brain science tells us. Even the high-tech companies are warning us to switch off more. Hewlett-Packard published a report recently concluding that the constant barrage of electronic interruptions - email, Twitter, phone, fax, etc - cause our IQ to fall 10 points. That is DOUBLE the effect of smoking marijuana. In other words, being "always on", answering every email instantly, picking up every phone call on the first ring, juggling various conversations at the same time, does not turn you into an uber-productive master of the universe. It turns you into Cheech and Chong. And though both Cheech and Chong have their charm, I'm not sure we want either of them running our countries. Or running anything, for that matter. This obsession with being constantly connected is beyond absurd. MPs tweeting and emailing during parliamentary debates? I mean, no wonder they make so many mistakes. One thing at a time: that’s what the brain science tells us.

Even the high-tech companies are warning us to switch off more. Hewlett-Packard published a report recently concluding that the constant barrage of electronic interruptions - email, Twitter, phone, fax, etc - cause our IQ to fall 10 points. That is DOUBLE the effect of smoking marijuana.

In other words, being “always on”, answering every email instantly, picking up every phone call on the first ring, juggling various conversations at the same time, does not turn you into an uber-productive master of the universe. It turns you into Cheech and Chong.

And though both Cheech and Chong have their charm, I’m not sure we want either of them running our countries. Or running anything, for that matter.

]]> By: Yasmin http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/2010/05/17/switching-off-the-phone/#comment-250 Yasmin Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:53 +0000 http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/?p=375#comment-250 Wow! That's a great step ahead! In Portugal the new trend for politicians is being in the Parliamant Twittering what is being discussed and having multi-paralel discussions on Twitter, Facebook and... with the PM! Please... this is too much... Wow! That’s a great step ahead! In Portugal the new trend for politicians is being in the Parliamant Twittering what is being discussed and having multi-paralel discussions on Twitter, Facebook and… with the PM!
Please… this is too much…

]]> By: Hazel http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/2010/05/17/switching-off-the-phone/#comment-248 Hazel Mon, 17 May 2010 14:16:04 +0000 http://www.slowplanet.com/blog/?p=375#comment-248 Cheers indeed. They still do this in Canada - my mother received an email from her MP while he was in Parliament. This reminds me of kids passing notes in class. Not tolerable. Cheers indeed. They still do this in Canada - my mother received an email from her MP while he was in Parliament. This reminds me of kids passing notes in class. Not tolerable.

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