I love reading. Especially informative articles. Lucky for me, we have been in the very fortunate position that the amount of freely accessible articles has also exploded in the last couple of decades. I can read about anything I like ad nauseum, and stop only when it is time for a snack.
[Re: Snacks, did you know that taking regular healthy snacks is really healthy for you? Especially nuts - eat them and live longer! Or wait, perhaps fasting is best - that's awkward… So what is a healthy snack anyways - low-fat, dairy-free, meat free, sugar free, gluten free? And does an apple a day keep el Doctor away anymore? Why do I feel so confused about this whole thing? O wait, I almost forgot to mention the whole foods plant based diet - it cures cancer apparently, but also apparently not… Let me drink some coffee and go through all the facts again before I decide what's what.]
So, returning to the topic of reading, it seems that I have learnt little about a lot. I have dabbled in all sorts of weird and wonderful things. I have read about how humans might have ancestral ties to pigs, what Paris looked like in the early 1900's, and about living in “tiny houses”. I have also had my fair share of rather mundane topics, most of them anchored in sensationalism (you know, like with that Paraplegic Olympian MURDERER). However, one thing is for certain: this internet thing does keep my brain busy. That is, until I force myself to do some exercise.
[Talking about exercise, you know that you should do cardio exercise regularly. But perhaps going to the gym and balancing the cardio is best. No, wait: most weight exercises isolate muscle groups and that’s bad. What to do - do bodyweight exercises; or Pilates and Yoga. Okay, I also read that running massively long distances might not be that bad? And talking about running, barefoot running is bad for you, no - it’s the best. Okay, running barefoot or not - your joints struggle over time when you run.
Once again - confused.]
Back in the real world, I marvel at the way that we can access a treasure trove of information at virtually any time. You can now, during a bathroom break, read about the correct way to tuck your shirt, or perhaps about Putin’s latest European adventure. Nothing can induce sweeter dreams, right?
[While we’re on the topic, just remember that you NEED at least eight hours of sleep. That’s, like, the oldest rule ever, right? But wait, you're allowed to sleep less? Or you can go full retard and sleep 3 hours per day? Then I am not even going into the mattress debate - soft or hard or no mattress? Really now, this has to end.]
You know what - I am over it. I cannot take it any longer. Reading used to be fun, relaxing, and somewhat informative. Nowadays it is sifting through the “treasure trove” of bullshit and trying to make sense of it all. It just gives me headache. Finding articles which are untainted by “reach for clicks” syndrome (where the website/author do everything to up the chances of you clicking on links to the website) is near impossible. And every day I feel more like a sheep being dictated to by people who want to modify my behaviour, rather than someone who is learning about new things.
Don’t get me wrong. I love debate, and difference of opinion is fantastic (usually because that gives me the opportunity to prove that my opinion is right!). But let’s be honest about this: this system is somewhat broken. Think about it - we all get sucked into reading the same articles/posts and then share the same articles/posts to others. We are reading shorter and shorter articles. And we end up being confused about what is right and what is wrong because of the massive PR battle happening on the internet. If ever I have been reminded that everybody has an agenda, it is now. EVERYBODY wants your attention, because your attention equals money. It’s like Time Square in your pocket, going wherever you go.
I feel torn about the world we live in. It feels like the open, free internet is a double edged sword.
On the one hand we do actually have access to some quality information on the internet. Wikipedia is a great example. It is information by the people for the people. And they get it right most of the time, and as a result, they need to beg for money regularly to keep the ship afloat (what - they don't really need it?).
On the other hand there are websites that have one purpose: let people spend as much time on this site as possible. That’s why the generic “30 most ridiculous facts you never expected about Miley Cyrus. Number 7 is especially good!”-formula is all over the internet nowadays. How can you not click on such a link? It feels human, and number 7 is going to be amazeballs!
It seems like I always come back to this single point when things are seemingly broken: the incentives are just not right. The only money these sites get is from clicks followed to their websites and time spent on them. Even if they honestly cared about what is best for the consumer, the incentive is there to pull you into their world for as long as possible. That’s why Facebook is inherently bad for you - they do everything they possibly can to make you spend more time there than anywhere else. All in the name of “connecting with friends”. LOL.
Where does that leave you and me, the sheeple of the world? Well, I guess there are a couple of surefire ways to still enjoy reading without the negative effects mentioned above (not restricted to confusion, anger, questioning the meaning of your life and death, etc.). Find a news source which produces thoughtful, balanced and thorough writing. This should satiate your requirements to stay up to date with the important things happening in the world.
Then, start reading again. But instead of starting with the newest things first, start with the old stuff. There is so much wisdom that has lasted the ultimate test of time from which we could all benefit. My limited experience has been that older reading material tends to show that modern problems need not be novel - history can be a very useful mentor. This ties in with my post on modernism - all new things need to pass through the filter of time before we know what is noise and what is actually useful.
[PS Imagine, for example if we all knew about the Roman devaluation of their currency. Perhaps identifying the real reasons for our current international financial woes might be simpler.]