Dear Pogue,

Last time I wrote I told you about the simple pleasure I got from flying a kite and how it was such a total experience. Then I got to thinking where things had gone awry. I mean, think about it, how many people can actually entertain themselves these days? Or, to put it a different way, how many need an electronic device to be entertained? A TV, an Xbox or similar, a cell phone, an IPad? The list grows and the level of stimulation advances. The advancements will continue and offer the chance of ever greater stimulation.

The Matrix was a documentary.

Keane Reeves

Then there is sport, all day, everyday, 24-7-365. You know I am now living amongst the most blessed people of all time. I can watch football everyday of the week! Or choose from 100’s of films and an equal number of TV series. It’s mind blowing and frightening as I no longer have to think for myself.

You see, back in the day, when I was younger, before there was internet (!) we would spend our time actually out playing football and other games. We got dirty, skinned knees and ended up with a bruise or two. But we built real face to face relationships around those games, those scrapes and bruises. We sat out in the evenings and talked about all sorts of crazy stuff. As I look around I feel sure we were richer for it, for not having our entertainment fed to us.

I wonder how society will look in 10 or even 20 years? There will be so many who have given their lives over to this new god to be entertained. Who have spent evening after evening watching “the game”. Is this worship for the 21st century? Young people now fluent in text, facebook and instagram but strangely awkward in close quarter conversation.

Indeed, are we witnessing the diminishing of the attention span? Big respect to all those who continue to read books.

A short attention span makes all of your perceptions and relationships shallow and unsatisfying.

Elkhart Tolle

I have never owned an Xbox or the like. I am thankful for a developed habit of reading (and writing). I still treasure long evenings sitting around talking with friends. Talking about craziness. Thankfully developed habits live on although we have added wine.

My god is not subverting my thoughts, cleverly, subtly through a doctrine of entertainment delivered over hours, days and weeks. I feel that the brave new world is not for me. And you?

Yours, thinking for myself,

Wic