Comments for foleymo http://foleymo.com media tech comm Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:10:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on What are You Doing With Your Cognitive Surplus? by Heather http://foleymo.com/what-are-you-doing-with-your-cognitive-surplus/2010/06/01/comment-page-1/#comment-1816 Heather Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:10:37 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=548#comment-1816 I too went through a phase when I refused to own or watch TV. It was when I was in college and I suspect there was a direct correlation between my attitude about TV and the fact that I had a 3.5 GPA when many of my suitemates were on academic probation. I've since relaxed my attitude about TV (though still I dislike having it in the living room, and confine it to an upstairs "den"), and now I willfully watch some TV as a means of staying in touch with pop culture (otherwise I risk floating into my NPR elite lalaland). And I do think some shows - like The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert - actually stimulate my thinking. So observing my own mental and behavioral patterns when I watch TV and when I don't, as well as when I spend excessive time online and when I don't, I'd say it's not so simple as one is good and the other bad, nor that passive time is bad and active is good... there are times when we all crave passive entertainment because we're just tired. But there are other times when we crave passive stimulation (which is how I see much internet activity) and it results in inertia (such as right now, when my intent is to walk down to a cafe with the dog, and instead I'm slouching in a chair scratching my internet itch). I haven't read Shirky's stuff in depth, but I'd suggest there's an element to the Cognitive Surplus discussion that has to do with discipline and awareness. Being aware of whether something is draining your cognitive energy or feeding it; awareness of the addictive nature of cognitive stimulation; and discipline to turn it off and give yourself space before you become over-satieted (whether from passive entertainment or active cognitive stimulation). I too went through a phase when I refused to own or watch TV. It was when I was in college and I suspect there was a direct correlation between my attitude about TV and the fact that I had a 3.5 GPA when many of my suitemates were on academic probation. I’ve since relaxed my attitude about TV (though still I dislike having it in the living room, and confine it to an upstairs “den”), and now I willfully watch some TV as a means of staying in touch with pop culture (otherwise I risk floating into my NPR elite lalaland). And I do think some shows – like The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert – actually stimulate my thinking.

So observing my own mental and behavioral patterns when I watch TV and when I don’t, as well as when I spend excessive time online and when I don’t, I’d say it’s not so simple as one is good and the other bad, nor that passive time is bad and active is good… there are times when we all crave passive entertainment because we’re just tired. But there are other times when we crave passive stimulation (which is how I see much internet activity) and it results in inertia (such as right now, when my intent is to walk down to a cafe with the dog, and instead I’m slouching in a chair scratching my internet itch).

I haven’t read Shirky’s stuff in depth, but I’d suggest there’s an element to the Cognitive Surplus discussion that has to do with discipline and awareness. Being aware of whether something is draining your cognitive energy or feeding it; awareness of the addictive nature of cognitive stimulation; and discipline to turn it off and give yourself space before you become over-satieted (whether from passive entertainment or active cognitive stimulation).

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Mediavore: Programs, Tools and Sites I Always Keep Open by Matt http://foleymo.com/confessions-of-a-mediavore-programs-tools-and-sites-i-always-keep-open/2010/06/08/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 Matt Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:36:20 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=575#comment-1775 That's a fairly busy river you've got there. I think the distinction you draw between getting hit with a constant stream of information coming at you vs. connecting on your own timeline and terms is a valid one. Once you crave the firehose, and miss it when it's not there...that's when you have a problem. That’s a fairly busy river you’ve got there. I think the distinction you draw between getting hit with a constant stream of information coming at you vs. connecting on your own timeline and terms is a valid one. Once you crave the firehose, and miss it when it’s not there…that’s when you have a problem.

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Mediavore: Programs, Tools and Sites I Always Keep Open by Carol http://foleymo.com/confessions-of-a-mediavore-programs-tools-and-sites-i-always-keep-open/2010/06/08/comment-page-1/#comment-1774 Carol Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:30:36 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=575#comment-1774 I love the analogy of the big river and just taking a gulp! I'm impressed with how many things you have going on and still stay on top of it. But it's clear that you have everything organized and functioning in a way that works for you. Maybe someday when I really need some advice on all this because one day I wake up and realize it might be something I should pay more attention to, I'll give you a jingle :) I love the analogy of the big river and just taking a gulp! I’m impressed with how many things you have going on and still stay on top of it. But it’s clear that you have everything organized and functioning in a way that works for you.

Maybe someday when I really need some advice on all this because one day I wake up and realize it might be something I should pay more attention to, I’ll give you a jingle :)

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Mediavore: Programs, Tools and Sites I Always Keep Open by foleymo http://foleymo.com/confessions-of-a-mediavore-programs-tools-and-sites-i-always-keep-open/2010/06/08/comment-page-1/#comment-1771 foleymo Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:25:57 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=575#comment-1771 Good luck with your five-gallon bucket! But, remember, you have to go to the river only when you need a drink. If you spend the whole day at the river, it means you're ignoring your work. This approach only works if you're able to resist the urge to fill your cup when you have work to do. Many people can't resist the urge, so they have to set up their workspace far from the river (work applications only open; or set times during day to visit the river). Find what works best for you. Good luck with your five-gallon bucket! But, remember, you have to go to the river only when you need a drink. If you spend the whole day at the river, it means you’re ignoring your work. This approach only works if you’re able to resist the urge to fill your cup when you have work to do. Many people can’t resist the urge, so they have to set up their workspace far from the river (work applications only open; or set times during day to visit the river). Find what works best for you.

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Mediavore: Programs, Tools and Sites I Always Keep Open by Ellen Rowan (zaellen) http://foleymo.com/confessions-of-a-mediavore-programs-tools-and-sites-i-always-keep-open/2010/06/08/comment-page-1/#comment-1770 Ellen Rowan (zaellen) Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:16:59 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=575#comment-1770 This is a great system. Thanks for sharing. I'm still working on having this kind of organization. I tend to try to drink from the fire hose too often. Time for the 5 gallon bucket I think. #babysteps This is a great system. Thanks for sharing. I’m still working on having this kind of organization. I tend to try to drink from the fire hose too often. Time for the 5 gallon bucket I think. #babysteps

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Mediavore: Programs, Tools and Sites I Always Keep Open by petevosspr http://foleymo.com/confessions-of-a-mediavore-programs-tools-and-sites-i-always-keep-open/2010/06/08/comment-page-1/#comment-1768 petevosspr Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:01:29 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=575#comment-1768 Extremely useful, thanks Mike. I think you've got an awesome setup here! Extremely useful, thanks Mike. I think you’ve got an awesome setup here!

]]> Comment on Now You Can Personalize Your Google Search Page by petevosspr http://foleymo.com/now-you-can-personalize-your-google-search-page/2010/06/03/comment-page-1/#comment-1757 petevosspr Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:29:49 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=570#comment-1757 Love it. It's like, "Hey Mom, this brew's for you!" I would like a photo like that toasting all my friends and family ... and random strangers. Love it. It’s like, “Hey Mom, this brew’s for you!” I would like a photo like that toasting all my friends and family … and random strangers.

]]> Comment on Using Technology to Help Me Lose Weight and Get Into Shape by Michelle http://foleymo.com/using-technology-to-help-me-lose-weight-and-get-into-shape/2010/05/24/comment-page-1/#comment-1748 Michelle Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:23:04 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=522#comment-1748 I noticed on twitter that you were geocaching :) We only started a few months ago but are totally hooked... 2 new phones... 2 new gps units and a new netbook... and many hikes into the woods.. I had no clue we could hike 7 miles... but neither of us are the kind that can stop on a trail without getting to every cache....we are also learning a lot of local history and finding all sorts of very interesting things and places. I noticed on twitter that you were geocaching :) We only started a few months ago but are totally hooked… 2 new phones… 2 new gps units and a new netbook… and many hikes into the woods.. I had no clue we could hike 7 miles… but neither of us are the kind that can stop on a trail without getting to every cache….we are also learning a lot of local history and finding all sorts of very interesting things and places.

]]> Comment on What are You Doing With Your Cognitive Surplus? by foleymo http://foleymo.com/what-are-you-doing-with-your-cognitive-surplus/2010/06/01/comment-page-1/#comment-1745 foleymo Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:10:41 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=548#comment-1745 Carol: Here's a great article that explores both sides of the issue: http://gizmodo.com/5556264/is-the-internet-making-us-smarter-or-stupider Enjoy! Carol: Here’s a great article that explores both sides of the issue:
http://gizmodo.com/5556264/is-the-internet-making-us-smarter-or-stupider

Enjoy!

]]> Comment on Now You Can Personalize Your Google Search Page by LB http://foleymo.com/now-you-can-personalize-your-google-search-page/2010/06/03/comment-page-1/#comment-1739 LB Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:33:13 +0000 http://foleymo.com/?p=570#comment-1739 I always love the story behind the story. Thanks for sharing. I always love the story behind the story. Thanks for sharing.

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