Addiction To Distraction
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Table of Contents
1:20 - Why addiction is mostly about distraction
2:22 - Why news is mostly about distraction
5:08 - Why Outrage™ is mostly about distraction
8:15 - Why commodity-culture is mostly about distraction
10:31 - Our distracted consciousness
12:25 - Why we need vacations from ourselves
15:26 - The road to recovery
18:53 - Acceptance as a gateway to wisdom
![[UNCUT] “อภิสิทธิ์” ครม.อุ๊งอิ๊ง แย่งเก้าอี้กันฝุ่นตลบ “ทักษิณ” บงการเอง Iคนดังนั่งเคลียร์I 21ส.ค.67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/a_b-kItw2jY/mqdefault.jpg)
I wish I had a friend like you in real life to talk to over tea or over a meal.
Thank you for these talks, very kind of you to share with us all
Powerful ideas of "one day there will be no tomorrow", and "falling in love with life the way it is"
Your video distracted me for a bit, I'm hooked !
😂😂😂
The part about watching chaos unfolding from your home while you're safe is very much true. I don't even live in America and the recent riots glued me to my computer, watching all the destruction. It is satisfying, I have to admit, as morbid as it sounds.
Dude, you are an awesome human being. Thank you for being brave and expressing this. I connect practically 1:1 I feel on what you say.
Thank you for all the time and energy you’ve put into creating your mindset.
You are a gem(in a Jungian alchemical sense too, eh?)!
Sometimes your lectures make me cry
Incredible material. Very close also to what Seneca says about the human problem of "busyness."
Hi Eric, I listen to this every half year or so and it continues to hit me in the soul. I hope you are well.
Hi Matt. It's always good to hear your "voice." Yes, I'm well. I haven't been doing much TH-cam for a while, mostly because I've been consumed with learning the craft of auctioneering. You know how kids are always getting involved with things like that. Anyhow, I hope that you've been well. It's great to hear that you're still getting a lot out of these videos. I hope they continue to add something worthwhile to your journey. Gratitude for your presence in this universe. Eric D.
Hi Eric, congratulations on finding another interest to pursue. Always a gift in this life to get that energy. I wonder if auctioneering allows you to access some of the stand-up flair for performance you've used in the past. I imagine there's a true art and individual expression in the auction chant, and it must take quite a bit of practice to get good at. Maybe give us viewers an opening to one of your future videos with a few seconds of an auction chant related to something you want to talk about? Or end a session with a brief chant with a "sold! to the viewer watching for free, take good care of your soul.." ? 🙂
I have been meaning to ask you to talk more about the emergence of other parts of ourselves through the contemplations of philosophy and self reflection. I suppose you've already talk about how that happens, and then change is specific to each of us. For me, there is a gift and a curse of thinking deeply and asking questions and being open to what comes. In addition to interest in philosophy and psychology, I've provided therapy to individuals and families for many years in high acuity and high volume settings, and now, generally the human drama and need to express and experience suffering has become somewhat simplified and I feel numb to it and my own version of it, and now I am daily asking myself why I am not spending all my free time on activities that bring me joy (other than I need to work to pay for this life).
I wonder if you've read Ernest Becker's work; his contemplations about the role of culture in giving us self-esteem, and how the ego is bound to so much of what we are doing here with everyone else. I find it so hard to turn away from the general cultural experience and toward a life I live beyond the distractions and trappings of my ego. I guess anything takes time. Ah well, I ramble here on a Sunday morning just waking up.Struggling to put words to my experience and what I'm asking about. It is nice to hear your voice too, Eric. Wishing you all the best out there, Matt
I was always confused about what type or kind of man I want to become. and now I think I know. I want to become like You.
Well, go right ahead. I think it's not a bad paradigm for young people to look around at all of the people in your world, and to perceive the best and brightest parts of what each person has... and then to see if you can foster those same positive elements in yourself. Of course, it's also not a bad idea to recognize the toxic and warped parts of each person... and then leave them behind as you develop your own path in life. In any case, good luck with the whole adventure of it. Eric D.
Thank you for being there to keep me alert
Thanks for this-your description of addiction to news and the outrage and sense of self-righteousness it feeds us really rings true in my experience. This is an answer to the question of how to take care of the polity while taking care of your soul. Your position seems to be take care of your soul, and maybe a self liberated from chronically distracted avoidance of reality and false consciousness will be able to help her fellow human beings. But political engagement in the hopes of improving the world is probably self-deception. To speak from my own experience, much of it amounts to immersing yourself in an ongoing drama of a struggle of my tribe vs. the other that doesn’t actually have much impact on my daily reality.
I see the wisdom of this on an individual level. But I can’t be entirely cynical about political engagement. Real good has been achieved through politics, and real evil avoided. I lived in Eastern Europe in the early 90’s and had friends who had lived under East German and Czechoslovakian socialist regimes and taken part in their overthrow. That was a just cause and a real change. We are social beings, and I don’t think we can spend our whole lives tending our own gardens. Still, I appreciate the wisdom of your perspective.
Interesting comment. I also worked in a political office and I genuinely believe a nurse or a social worker or a teacher can do just as much to help people for the better as a politician's aid. It honestly depends what your intentions and aims are. A nurse will want to work as a nurse nurse because they genuinely care for the wellbeing of their patients and helping their community, whereas the political assistant or activist may be politically engaged out of resentment and hate for (insert x group here), power and control and other self-serving purposes, and they're in a position which can be easily corrupted. And the way in which our current zeitgeist is broadcasted it is designed to be us vs. them rather than unity. Politics is a whole different ball game though, it gets dirty and slanderous pretty quick, and yeah none of it is really important in the scheme of our own lives. I can unplug for 2 weeks and not hear a single political news story and live in bliss, but being engaged in a healthy and balanced manner is the most important thing - not too emotionally invested and not completely avoidant - the radical and the one with complete indifference.
@@diseasedpumpkins5576 I can appreciate your living a better life while disengaged from the drama of blue vs. red politics. We (still) largely have the luxury of being able to unplug from politics without worrying about it having an impact on our personal lives. But we can't simply assume that American politics will stay that way. In many authoritarian states it is impossible to escape from politics, and the compromises that people living under authoritarian regimes have to make corrupt their souls in many cases. So even for the sake of taking care of our souls, I think finding a way to engage with our societies, not only through caring professions but through politics is necessary. Also, I think it is a mistake to expect purity from politics. Political office holders are not saints who simply alight in their offices and then do the right thing. They have to surf the waves of fickle public opinion and then hammer out the best policy compromises that political circumstances allow. We should not turn away in disgust when we recognize this. We are social creatures and cannot simply pursue our own projects in a vacuum. Some engagement with the world and with politics is necessary. How should we go about doing that?
Yes Eric, I noticed the outrage thing a while back too and it made me decide to stop consuming news as vociferously as I was (probably 3 or 4 hours a day with podcasts on my commute, at the gym, while home on youtube, reading through subreddits). Funny enough it was actually a political podcast--Glenn Beck on Ben Shapiro's show--that convinced me to stop because Glenn was selling his new book--Addicted to Outrage. I haven't even read the book, but as soon as I heard the title that's when the decision came. I didn't even WANT to be outraged, and just like you said in this video I just wanted to be informed and learn the facts (I agree with you--it's a lazy excuse we all tell ourselves). But EVERYTHING is framed as outrage and that scared me--it still does. A lot of people forget about the "five minutes of hate" in 1984. What saddens me even more is that outrage sells and everyone knows it so I just don't think it will ever stop. I'm reminded of Jonathan Haidt's conclusion that, recently, for the first time in decades, America's rate of obesity actually went down. Hopefully soon people will start to realize just how bad the news cycle is for them and they'll reach for healthier alternatives. Joe Rogan's insanely popular long-form podcast gives me hope.
I decided to unsubscribe from all those channels and podcasts, pare my news down to just one source and fill that time with honest, wise consumption i.e. better podcasts (Sam Harris, Eric Weinstein, Joe Rogan, business podcasts), audiobooks, lectures on youtube, etc. Though like an alcoholic who decides to head back out to the bar for the first time in years, I feel myself slipping back into the addiction in light of recent events. The direction the US is heading is terrifying me more and more and I feel compelled to constantly be learning about this new riot, or that new death, or this new policy, or whatever...But I can feel the mental and emotional exhaustion this is causing me and I still have trouble pulling away.
"But when you think about it...." -Eric Dodson (my favorite quote). Just some fun. Great videos bud!
Sensational
I needed this, especially in light of the protests!
I've been questioning the behaviors of certain friends recently. You gave me an insight into their possible motivations. I completely stopped watching the news years ago. It functions as yet another form of unscripted reality entertainment, which has very little appeal to me. As a person who dislikes and avoids drama whenever possible, I think we all benefit from more meditation and less media stimulation.
You've always been in touch with my interact ever since I discovered your channel Eric and that has built a nurturing soul in me in been a better person day by day. Thank you and continue impacting our philosophical and psychological self. And by the way I have grown closer to existentialism than ever before.
I have been working 5 years in child and adolescent addiction and agree with most you said. The voluntary acceptance of life's suffering bears the possibility of finding meaning that makes the journey truly worthwhile. As you pointed out Meditation is a helpful tool on this way. In addition I found win hof Methode very helpful and faster to learn then meditation.
Your channel has been doing gods work for years, thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Is a source of nourishment. Thanks.
Thanks, Eric. Great content as usual. How easily I become absorbed into the world of THINGS. Haha, I marvel at its ingenuity, the polarities that we've created for ourselves to transcend. The traps. Thanks for being honest. Thanks for being wholehearted. I miss you and hope that you are well.
External reaction is a very easy way to distract us from the business of interiority. Thanks for the video my friend. Hope you are well, hope to see you soon
Love the Tool and Tyler Durden quotes. Thanks for this.
Thanks for the insights Prof have a good one
This is my favorite video of yours, thank you
Hey Professor, I appreciate your videos and I'm an avid learner. I'm not a philosophy student, but you've been a great teacher to me regardless. My problem with this video (and especially after watching some parts of your video "Message to a Young Millennial") is the lack of correlation you make between environment and human development. Humans are molded by their environment and the conditions of the world around them. All of our lives are influenced by the politics (environment) of the world, willingly or unwillingly. Yes, we can try to overcome our environment and live for freedom as I think most people do. However, if we ignore the politics that influence our lives and don't think constructively about how we can improve them, then how are we supposed to give others the freedoms that the philosophies could afford them? For example, how could I expect a single mother to spend energy on the philosophies or greater education when she is working for minimum wage at a dead-end job? She has no time for the musings of philosophers for they can only offer her MENTAL recourse to her plight. In another video, you spoke of Sisyphus and his inevitable acceptance of his absurd situation, that it could give him happiness. I believe that this conclusion is a symptom of Master - Slave ethics. It isn't a realistic conclusion and doesn't portray the reality for people caught in such a similar feeling insufferable loop. The philosophy of "you can find happiness anywhere" gives hope but can also be viewed as an excuse by Masters to oppress their Slaves. More to the point of THIS video, the news is supposed to portray an environment for which we are not privy. There is a distinct difference between "fake news" which is only meant to illicit a specific response about your environment, and ACTUAL news which is meant to help you understand your environment, regardless of whatever your personal reaction is. If knowledge of the world and how it relates to my environment is an addiction, then it is a very good addiction to have. I'd rather be a hawk than an Ostrich with it's head in the sand. Democracy only functions if you have an informed opinion and consider the opinions of others. You take personal responsibility for your life when YOU critically think about what you're consuming. I don't think being uninformed makes you a critical thinker. If anything, being uninformed can make you unempathetic in the same way only consuming media in your own ideological circle can.
thank you immensely for this video.
I'm so glad I've found your channel.
Welcome back!
Thank you Eric
Title card: Yep.
15:26 The road to recovery
This was a very interesting video Eric, thanks for uploading :)
Hi professor, could you provide your thoughts on social media seen as distraction v. Social media as effective use of communication to reach out? Many thanks. Your deep intellectual perspective
Thank you so much Eric
you are a very wise man and the way you speake is really perfect!
keep on goin with this real and high value subject.
5 years a go i was working as waiter i desided i want to be a free man with my busniess
i did it within a year of hard working, reading and watching edecatiunal videos like yours.
after 4 years i never stopet that and every day im learning something new and making money.
but some how, looking back on this 4 years, it's look like one big distraction from the real thing i want to do in life like music,writing and traveling.
how can one get from this gold loop? im happy person, everything is ok but nothing is great.
It's the economic system that has raised the cost of living. The fix is to form small groups, acquire land and use the monthly living fee to both cover the running costs and pay forward to buy more land and set up the next village. Those that have, providing for those without.
@@projectmalus it's a beautiful idea and really sound good to me, more then any other idiea. it is possible, but the place i'm liveing in (Israel) the smallest pieace of land you can find cost you 100,000$+
and goverment don't make it easy to live like that, i have Swiss passport, but it's also a very expansive end bureaucratic state.
is there a cheap+first world country whice you think is the best for such a move?
Thanks prof. These videos are really great!
This is such an interesting take on the current events. I’ve heard you say a few times that you think wisdom would solve all or the world’s problems. I think kindness would solve all the world’s problem. Hope you’re doing well
I’m a former student.
Great point. I think it requires both. Many paths to Hell are paved with good intentions...and more paths to Hell are paved with ill-will-that is, without wisdom and knowledge.(interpret the word “Hell” however you’d like:) One can have a buffoon who’s kind but...yeah, a buffoon, and he can’t solve anything; One can have a wise and knowledgeable man but is ill intended, and stirs up more problems. (The Definition of wiseness here is vague...depending on which this argument could be toppled.)
If you think about it the sum total of all the news in the world is that everything ends in the jaws of death.
Habitude & Mémoire
Mr Dodson, Im suffering from nihilism, I cant get motivated to do anything, even graduating didnt give me a satisfying feeling. In the context of things, nothing is forever, so Im viewing everything in relative terms.....
Perhaps find a lover.
This was really good, watched several sections twice to understand it better. Your university students are a lucky bunch. Could you please do a video exploring the psychology of Anger? Best wishes.
He has in the past, I think. You could try going through his older videos if you haven't already. Good day. 🙂
Please do a video on buddhist philosophy. I see (perhaps mistakenly) a lot of influence of Buddhist thoughts in your videos. It would be great if you could share your thoughts.
It seems that i misswd your latest 5 videos all while complaining that the TH-cam algorithm doesn't recommend me anything interesting, i didn't check your channel in a while but i used to get all of your newest uploads on my feed. I very much appreciate channels like yours and it seems that increasingly the algorithm tends to suggest larger channels over smaller ones regardless of search history, it's enough to play one click bait video for my feed to be flooded by them..i wish the same happened with respectable content too
Oh BTW Eric I can be very cynical... But I strongly disagree....
While many news watchers are only in for the quick hit and a lot of the news are meaningless
It is extremely important to stay informed... Not to learn what celebrities care about which isn't news but entertainment
The issue I have with this video of you're is that you conflict news and entertainment.... And yes there's a lot of bbbbbbulsnit nowadays the news have lost all standards
I for example keep an eye on the news all the time trying to stay as informed and understand the world as much as possible... Left right mainstream non mainstream and so on
(I watch u remember...)
It is important to Stay informed the only issue is that people don't get addicted to important information but to confirmation bias and distractions
I known basically nothing of popular culture but if there is a governmental policy that'll effect me in the slightest way i'm hyper aware
And that's a bit of a destruction because u can't really weight all information objectively...
So yeah I strongly agree and disagree with u...
Escaping one's life isn't a good long term strategy
But the idea that all news are a distraction...
Balance is extremely important...
You practice meditation? 👍🏻 Thank you for another thoughtful and on point analysis.
Please do something on max stirner’s egoism
Help me! I think I’m addicted to you! I need a doctor!!
The doctor is in the house.
Us vs them psychology. We need the aliens.
Eric buddha