Accustomed to hits

Inuring us and a follow on suggestion

The war in Ukraine began two and a half years ago in August. By all indications, we are probably somewhat closer to the end than the beginning but it is hard to measure since none of us are fortunetellers.

What has happened over the decades of digital news and faster ‘hits’ of information in the iPhone age is an inuring to the world we live in. Put differently, it strikes me—and I welcome your rebuttals—that demand for frequency of receiving information (hits) actually somehow makes us less focused on a single topic of any real duration.

Perhaps it is human nature that we need new topics that grab our attention. NEW IS GOOD in our world. Alternatively, it might just be me that expects to have a new infusion of topics to lure me in, though I do diligently try following ‘older’ ones as well. Probably it has always been this way but the instant access to information via the computers we carry in our hands exacerbates it.

The point is watching something we were mesmerized to see in late February 2022 doesn’t mean we are still tracking it in mid-June 2024. For Ukraine, this is terrible news since it allowed the House of Representatives’ majority delaying aid for months, certainly endangering Ukraine’s sovereignty. For Vlad the Impaler, this is excellent news because he can carry on with his murderous policies against his own soldiers and Ukrainians. But this is democracy at work, as well, a point we should not forget.

The repetitive craziness of a dysfunctional Congress on so many topics also begins to inure but that phenomenon has been the case for well over a decade, making it all the harder to recognize when it actually does accomplish something. It behooves us to pay attention.

But, we definitely are still expecting new, novel topics as that is the pattern of our lives. New ideas bring richness and spur intellectual curiosity and knowledge. The iPhone helps us in so many ways but it has also led us to certain expectations which lead to patterns of behaviours. Life is definitely patterns, isn’t it?

But we can’t lose sight of what we are seeing before us over the long term, either. Like everything else, this is a balancing act.

I also forward a suggestion in response to yesterday’s column about my observations in a new location. I promise I am actually going to try this, believe it or not.

“Every so often a social movement passes through a digital platform to bring awareness; the ALS ice bath challenge, the 22 pushup suicide awareness challenge. Try this. The free news challenge. For one week, don't pay for your news. No subscription services, WaPo, WSJ, Foreign Affairs, Atlantic, New Yorker, Foreign Policy. Read free news. Bing, Apple, Google aggregators. List serves or RSS feeds. Story links from Facebook or X or Tik Tok. If you really want to walk the walk don't watch your subscription cable. Figuratively cut the cord like millions of Americans have done literally. If you need TV news find over the air broadcasts or free app based services on laptop or smart phone. After a week of free news write a post on the most covered or most significant free story of the week. It might be an interesting experiment. But I think more importantly it might close some of the gap in understanding how the country is moving and reacting. To the economy, to social issues, to political issues. The beltway is a seductive place. But just like folks in the outer regions perhaps not 'getting' DC, it should be pretty easy to understand that DC doesn't 'get' a lot about what happens in other places.”

I welcome any and all thoughts on any of the topics I introduce. What are yours? Please chime in. I am far from having omnipotent knowledge and believe discussion is learning from others.

Thank you for reading today’s column. If you find it of value, please feel free to circulate. Thank you to those who support this with a subscription as you inspire me daily.

Be well and be safe. FIN