Comments on: To blame the world or not to blame the world for your productivity? That is the question. (And I’d love your thoughts) http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/ Time-saving reflections on lifehacking, social media, and technology. Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:20:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Why Persistence Rules http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-39654 Why Persistence Rules Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:28:37 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-39654 [...] To blame the world or not to blame the world for your productivity? (Techno Theory) [...] [...] To blame the world or not to blame the world for your productivity? (Techno Theory) [...]

]]> By: J.D. Meier http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-39140 J.D. Meier Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:08:06 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-39140 It really is about boundaries, lack of limits, and filter failure. It really is about boundaries, lack of limits, and filter failure.

]]> By: Jared Goralnick http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-39011 Jared Goralnick Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:48:04 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-39011 So many great thoughts from you all. Victoria, interesting analogy to houseworking--though I think that technologies CAN reduce our time significantly in the relevant area. For instance, due to modern technologies I spend very little time on housework. I think I reap all of the benefits of those sorts of tools without now suddenly spending extra time on some other facet of housework . However, with most computer technologies that save me time there, I still find myself spending just as much time there... Tony & Nathan, I like your balanced perspectives. This stuff is a very wisely constructed timesuck. While there always were distractions, I don't believe they were always so present, easy to get hooked on, and persistent. Dan, yes, good old Parkinson's. Art, I wish I had your focus. Justine, thanks for chiming in...and more importantly, for the photo! I should've tagged you for taking it...let me go do that now : ). So many great thoughts from you all.

Victoria, interesting analogy to houseworking–though I think that technologies CAN reduce our time significantly in the relevant area. For instance, due to modern technologies I spend very little time on housework. I think I reap all of the benefits of those sorts of tools without now suddenly spending extra time on some other facet of housework . However, with most computer technologies that save me time there, I still find myself spending just as much time there…

Tony & Nathan, I like your balanced perspectives. This stuff is a very wisely constructed timesuck. While there always were distractions, I don’t believe they were always so present, easy to get hooked on, and persistent.

Dan, yes, good old Parkinson’s.

Art, I wish I had your focus.

Justine, thanks for chiming in…and more importantly, for the photo! I should’ve tagged you for taking it…let me go do that now : ).

]]> By: Justine Lam http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38988 Justine Lam Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:17:40 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38988 Well, I was just taking a break from my work to read your blog. So, the fault must lie in myself. I'd rather read friend's blogs! BTW, nice photo of you. :) Well, I was just taking a break from my work to read your blog. So, the fault must lie in myself. I’d rather read friend’s blogs!

BTW, nice photo of you. :)

]]> By: Art Jacoby http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38983 Art Jacoby Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:46:56 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38983 Cassius is spot on. Its on us to make good choices for the 86,400 seconds/day we have available. Someone just sent me an advice list that recommended creating a "no" list - things you would stop doing to give yourself room to breathe. I like that. I'll stop writing now :) Cassius is spot on. Its on us to make good choices for the 86,400 seconds/day we have available. Someone just sent me an advice list that recommended creating a “no” list – things you would stop doing to give yourself room to breathe. I like that. I’ll stop writing now :)

]]> By: Dan Markovitz http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38974 Dan Markovitz Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:22:49 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38974 I'm inclined to agree with Cassius: I do think that it's us. There's a huge boulder of truth in Parkinson's Law, and that predates IM, SMS, email, Twitter, etc. I’m inclined to agree with Cassius: I do think that it’s us. There’s a huge boulder of truth in Parkinson’s Law, and that predates IM, SMS, email, Twitter, etc.

]]> By: Nathan Zeldes http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38968 Nathan Zeldes Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:57:20 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38968 The difficulty in answering this (for myself) is that everything is a moving target concurrently. Sure, I was far more focused 25 years ago when there were less technologies to distract me, but I was ALSO 25 years younger (not sure whether/how that affects the equation, but it might) and I ALSO had a different job type at different seniority... So is it the environment, the technology, the cultural milieu, or myself that has changed? Or all of the above? The difficulty in answering this (for myself) is that everything is a moving target concurrently. Sure, I was far more focused 25 years ago when there were less technologies to distract me, but I was ALSO 25 years younger (not sure whether/how that affects the equation, but it might) and I ALSO had a different job type at different seniority… So is it the environment, the technology, the cultural milieu, or myself that has changed? Or all of the above?

]]> By: Tony Wright http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38967 Tony Wright Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:47:04 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38967 As much as we try to be masters of our own behavior, we are slaves to dopamine. Just look at casinos and online gambling. Social software and news sites are getting in on the game too. They are getting downright scientific about providing a variable reinforcement schedule for emotional rewards. There's a little emotional rush when we get an email that makes us feel important or find/share a cool story on Digg. Clearly some people are different-- I can't fathom why casinos are fun (though I still have distraction problems). So, short answer: I think we should hold ourselves responsible for our behavior rather than blame our wiring/plumbing-- but I think we are at a huge disadvantage in terms of focus due to our wiring/plumbing and the barrage of things trying to get our attention. As much as we try to be masters of our own behavior, we are slaves to dopamine. Just look at casinos and online gambling.

Social software and news sites are getting in on the game too. They are getting downright scientific about providing a variable reinforcement schedule for emotional rewards. There’s a little emotional rush when we get an email that makes us feel important or find/share a cool story on Digg.

Clearly some people are different– I can’t fathom why casinos are fun (though I still have distraction problems).

So, short answer: I think we should hold ourselves responsible for our behavior rather than blame our wiring/plumbing– but I think we are at a huge disadvantage in terms of focus due to our wiring/plumbing and the barrage of things trying to get our attention.

]]> By: Victoria Pickering http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-38964 Victoria Pickering Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:48:28 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2009/07/who-is-to-blame-for-lack-of-productivity/#comment-38964 I think blaming oneself is always useful, because then it puts you in control, and more likely to look for solutions. And I also think that it is true that we are largely to blame. One useful comparison is what happened to levels of housework when households gained modern technologies that remarkably reduced effort (washing machines vs. wringers, vacuums, dishwashers, etc.) - housework time did not go down at all! (source: Vanek's studies from 1920's-1970's). You want to scream at these people - you gained a washing machine and it didn't cut down your time, what are you doing wrong?!? But then if we look at ourselves, we can see all the same things - we have amazing time-saving technologies that we have figured out how to interact with in ways that take up all of our time. I think blaming oneself is always useful, because then it puts you in control, and more likely to look for solutions.
And I also think that it is true that we are largely to blame.
One useful comparison is what happened to levels of housework when households gained modern technologies that remarkably reduced effort (washing machines vs. wringers, vacuums, dishwashers, etc.) – housework time did not go down at all! (source: Vanek’s studies from 1920′s-1970′s). You want to scream at these people – you gained a washing machine and it didn’t cut down your time, what are you doing wrong?!? But then if we look at ourselves, we can see all the same things – we have amazing time-saving technologies that we have figured out how to interact with in ways that take up all of our time.

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