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Brandon Brown's avatar

As I listen to this, I find myself attempting to swipe over to something else out of habit. Such important thoughts for us to find ways to engage and spend moments listening rather than banging on a screen.

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Theology and Philosophy Notes's avatar

That's just it. Our habit is to be always shifting attention,because our brains are easily distracted and entranced by over-stimulation. If you take just a week off of technology, you distance from not only the depletion of attention, but the depletion caused by the physical EMFs emanating from these devices.

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Lori Z.'s avatar

Good one Tripp. So very true. I'd love to hear you talk to Elgin about his paper.

I'm not physically attached to my phone. Then again I know I'm the odd man out here. I don't get news feeds, and the etc's. I go between watching you, Convocation Unscripted, and my Monday night meeting with Jason Micheli. I like that his paper prompted your lent sabbatical from social media. And honestly I resent the crap out of Facebook and those that use that as their primary dissemination of info bc not all of us have that little mind suck. End of rant. DO more of these in hopes that people will start noticing their time spent on their phones and what they're missing in life around them.

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Brandon Brown's avatar

The irony of using the tech to subvert the tech is not lost on me. 😂

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KRiley's avatar

I have been struggling lately with the use of smartphones in my daily life and in the life of my family and students. This was EXACTLY what I needed to read. THANK YOU. I see the effects of the instant gratification, false connectedness, reduced attention, and ability to easily dismiss "others" that smartphones and social media in the social/emotional development of my kids & my students as well as in myself and our family interactions. I love the framing of contemplation vs fascination. That's a great way to think about my thoughts and actions related to smartphone usage AND my work email! Colonization is the perfect way to describe how my email notifications make me feel during my work day. So much to contemplate from this!! Kudos to Elgin's parents!

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