A slowness revolution
I just finished listening to writer Ted Gioia on the How I Write podcast.
Something he said slapped me right in the face:
"We need a slowness revolution in our culture right now".
He gave an example:
Someone shared a 30-second clip of him on Instragram. The video has 2m views. But it's not led to more book sales or people knowing more about him. He wants to build a deep connection with people. But knows it'll never happen this way.
He called this type of information: distraction.
In the past we had art and entertainment. Art is risky. Entertainment more formulaic and easier to get right. But today we have a third entry — distraction.
Short videos, on a scrolling newsfeed, aren't art or entertainment. They're merely distraction.
Which got me thinking:
There are videos of me on social media with millions of views. But it's not led to a deeper connection with people at all. Nothing like the connection I have with people who read my newsletter or listen to my hour long podcast episodes.
We're consuming more than ever. But it's digital junk food. Like the crisps designed to lose flavour the moment you swallow so you immediately want another one. These videos don't satiate us. They leave us desperately craving more. No surprise ADHD diagnoses are exploding the world over.
So Ted Gioia is right. We do need a slowness revolution.
And I'm going to start my part in it now.
Here's a link to a podcast episode I recorded. At almost forty minutes it's eighty times longer than the digital junk food. But I believe it's eight thousand times more valuable.
​Click here to listen to my episode with Thom Hartmann.