Defining Distractions: Hysteria, Hindrance or Entertainment?

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Google defines distraction three ways, but before I could read through them all, the google image of the 2016 Doodle Fruit Games caught my attention, and I had to click on it. Distractions are everywhere. From phones to computers to televisions and the Internet, disturbances make up daily life. The real question is not how to avoid these disturbances as they surround our life. Rather, the question is: Can these distractions be defined as hysteria and madness, as interruptions and hindrances, or as amusement and entertainment? In It All Adds Up: From the Dim Past to the Uncertain Future, Saul Bellow seems to believe that these distractions are bordering on mania. His main argument to cure this illness is for writers to transcend distraction …show more content…

It is short and sweet. The author seems to view distractions as just disturbances in our daily life. In his article, he wrote about research that proves reflection is greatly hindered by multi-tasking. Human brains were never built to do multiple things at once. When a lot of information is thrown in the direction of the brain, there is a possibility it may become more confused. It makes sense that introspection would suffer from multi-tasking. As people surround themselves with distractions and are limited by their inability to multi-task, they question less of their existence and focus more on concise observations and statements that are short and sweet. These are reasons why Wayne’s article is similar to that. It is written for a distracted public. Had Wayne written anything longer, his readers would have lost interest quickly. In this day of instant gratification and with a constant humming of information, it may be impossible for people to sit still and just read. Finally, I view distractions as a form of entertainment. While distractions can become a hassle if not managed properly, I still find it appealing to unwind at the end of the day and watch a television show or to find something funny to read on the Internet. All of the videos and games are amusing and purely for enjoyment. They are a welcome reprieve from work or studying or the latest

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