[mikestew]

Slot machines, FarmVille, Twitter feeds, I think they all work the same: push a button, you might get a reward. I'll leave it to the armchair psychologists (or even real ones) to put a label on it, but that's the commonality I see in my own behavior. Or maybe it's just the constant influx of stimulation, I don't know.

What I do know is learning to sit and do nothing is valuable. When data-connected phones came out, I thought it a boon because never again would I need simply stand in line. I could check email, surf the web, fill that time with something of "value". Then I realized that, for me, checking a Twitter feed isn't of any more value than just standing there aware of what's going on around me.

[dpearson]

I've noticed the same pattern as my access to technology has expanded. Initially, I was completely unconcerned with my online presence, but, as the years wore on, it became less of a relief to be away from everything and more of an impatience to get back and check Twitter, email, news, etc. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that there's a way to go back, either for myself or for society as a whole.