Attention Deficit is not a disorder

Attention Deficit

In our society the length of the average attention span grows shorter with each new technology, with each new mega-whatever, blockbuster, disaster, war…  One source claims the average attention span is under 12 seconds.  That means we are all short on attention, there are just too many places to spend our allotments. (A couple others are included below, lots going on with this topic since I last dipped in)

Labels like ADD or ADHD are useless.  These labels pathologize variations of normal human reaction to the stimuli of a very inhuman world.  Instead of diagnosing everyone to within an inch of their lives, why not look at how we are so much the same, at how we humans are frail, fragile and lame most of the time, and that is NORMAL, for the human.

So, we are all at a deficit when it comes to attention.

No one has enough attention to give away to feel generous.
No one gets enough attention from others to feel satisfied.

Now, with this more humane and less pathological paradigm, what do we do when little Johnny needs way more attention than Mr. or Mrs. Teacher has to give? Johnny is just inconvenient; he's not a nut case we can medicate away from our consciousness.

No answers here, I'm more of a question type of person.  What do I do with lil' Johnny?  I just try to be kind, I stay on the DIET that I invented to teach theme to students, I model it when LJ melts down, as much as anyone can stick to a diet, I do what I can with the little bit of attention I've got to spare.

D = dignity
I = integrity
E = empathy
T = tolerance

A suggestion:  Practice generosity.  Play conversations like a game of volleyball.  Set your team mates up to have the floor, to shine, to show off their passions or expertise or even their burning questions.  Meet the task with the dignity, integrity, empathy and tolerance you would like to enjoy when you need to speak, when you really need an audience. Good teachers do this for students, it makes them feel smart, which they are, but rarely can acknowledge.

Attention is a healing balm for the modern world.  The deficit of attention is really, bottom line here, a deficit of love, philos pushed aside for profit.  If we had justice, we wouldn't need charity. But for now, go against the tide and give your attention away for free whenever and wherever you get the chance.


www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/

The Eight-Second Attention Span - The New York Times
www.nytimes.com/2016/.../the-eight-second-attention-span.html

The New York Times
Jan 22, 2016 - ... media consumption by Microsoft concluded that the average attention span ... We now have a shorter attention span than goldfish, the study found. ... or linger for a traffic light, or even pause long enough to let a bagel pop ...