great read thank you - it highlights what i term the stuffed and starved process - and it doesnt matter if you think of it towards food, information, or politics.. we are stuffed with overload .. and starved from good quality. The ability to 'fast' a while to 'eliminate' is essential! Before looking for the best quality we can find.
So important to be talking about this! Well done, as always, Katie.
That's why I chose a cover image for my latest essay that reads: "If you can't convince them confuse them". This is the very basis of culture wars.
In my essay, denouncing how authoritarian leaders manipulate scripture to push their own political ideologies, I also write: "Naturally, these agendas rely on media control and restricted access to information. But, more than anything, they depend on a steady stream of culture wars — rallying the masses against problems that hold little real weight, all while distracting from the true issue: them."
As an avid advocate for health literacy, this hit so close to home. I remember learning about how corporations essentially gaslight us by deflecting blame for how their products can lead to chronic illness, some even going as far as funding parks and public schools in the very countries they are exploiting (Coca-Cola in Mexico) to distract us from how damaging their products are to our health. It's so sad seeing how our governments are using the same tactics. it highlights how incredibly valuable civics and health literacy are to understand what's happening, and critically analyse what we are reading/watching.
I'd never heard the terms industrial distraction or ruling by distraction, and it's so interesting to know that there are actually words for these things. I definitely agree that there's a lot happening politically that only has the purpose of distracting us without much else. It seems like actually becoming aware of what's really at the root of an issue requires a lot of time and careful attention to actually dig into the topic, which makes it really easy for these quick attention-grabbing ideas to swoop in and convince people they actually matter.
Our foreign policy lacks adult leadership. The world is dumbfounded by our dummies going abroad. At least our leaders are not yet shooting our citizens, but they will crack skulls and shoot us. We need to be ready for that fork in the road.
"our ability to focus — on what truly matters, on what truly affects our lives and our world — and to recognise when we’re being led away from it." - Thank you for these words; they resonated with me like never before.
Excellent article! You've described exactly what's going on - particularly the economic distraction. Keep people busy trying to earn a living while suggesting someone/something to blame - rather than the real situation. Brilliant!
I remember thinking about distraction and attention connection in the lead up to Brexit and Trump’s first presidency in 2016. And I wanted to scream that the media needed to cut off the oxygen for certain individuals who sprouted nonsense. Easier said than done!
I loved this article, especially that last line! The art of being wise is the art of knowing when to overlook. Now more than ever we need to know when its best to just let certain things "go in one ear and out the other". Or, probably more accurately, scroll and move along.
You're absolutely right that the real challenge lies in our natural tendencies as humans – our addictive relationship with content, our voyeuristic curiosity about others' lives, and our attraction to the "breaking news" cycle that media outlets consistently exploit. These psychological vulnerabilities make controlling our attention increasingly difficult, but all the more necessary.
What resonated most was your emphasis on personal responsibility in developing information literacy skills. While external regulation may help, the ultimate control must come from within – recognizing when we're being manipulated and consciously choosing where to direct our limited cognitive resources.
William James's quote about wisdom being "the art of knowing what to overlook" feels like the perfect north star for navigating our overwhelming information environment.
Thank you for articulating what many of us feel but struggle to address – that our capacity for attention may be our most valuable and threatened resource in preserving both personal autonomy and collective democracy.
This is an incredible write - thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, so glad you appreciated it!
great read thank you - it highlights what i term the stuffed and starved process - and it doesnt matter if you think of it towards food, information, or politics.. we are stuffed with overload .. and starved from good quality. The ability to 'fast' a while to 'eliminate' is essential! Before looking for the best quality we can find.
That’s such an interesting way to put it!
'Stuff and starve' - great analogy!
The tobacco industry did this for decades, costing untold number of lives. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3490543/
So important to be talking about this! Well done, as always, Katie.
That's why I chose a cover image for my latest essay that reads: "If you can't convince them confuse them". This is the very basis of culture wars.
In my essay, denouncing how authoritarian leaders manipulate scripture to push their own political ideologies, I also write: "Naturally, these agendas rely on media control and restricted access to information. But, more than anything, they depend on a steady stream of culture wars — rallying the masses against problems that hold little real weight, all while distracting from the true issue: them."
https://femmefactale.substack.com/p/in-the-name-of-power-how-authoritarian
As an avid advocate for health literacy, this hit so close to home. I remember learning about how corporations essentially gaslight us by deflecting blame for how their products can lead to chronic illness, some even going as far as funding parks and public schools in the very countries they are exploiting (Coca-Cola in Mexico) to distract us from how damaging their products are to our health. It's so sad seeing how our governments are using the same tactics. it highlights how incredibly valuable civics and health literacy are to understand what's happening, and critically analyse what we are reading/watching.
Yup, it perhaps was never more crucial to know how to critically sift through the endless information thrown our way.
I'd never heard the terms industrial distraction or ruling by distraction, and it's so interesting to know that there are actually words for these things. I definitely agree that there's a lot happening politically that only has the purpose of distracting us without much else. It seems like actually becoming aware of what's really at the root of an issue requires a lot of time and careful attention to actually dig into the topic, which makes it really easy for these quick attention-grabbing ideas to swoop in and convince people they actually matter.
Wonderfully insightful and puts together ideas I've heard before in a way I haven't heard before. Thank you for your efforts!
Thank you, that means a lot!
Our foreign policy lacks adult leadership. The world is dumbfounded by our dummies going abroad. At least our leaders are not yet shooting our citizens, but they will crack skulls and shoot us. We need to be ready for that fork in the road.
https://bit.ly/4b5wkL4
The administration is straight up gaslighting.
"our ability to focus — on what truly matters, on what truly affects our lives and our world — and to recognise when we’re being led away from it." - Thank you for these words; they resonated with me like never before.
Thank you!
Love the pragmatism, we all need so much more of it, not least because it helps tone down the decibels. Thank you.
So true! On a more personal level, it's called gaslighting. Sociopaths are experts in its use.
Excellent article! You've described exactly what's going on - particularly the economic distraction. Keep people busy trying to earn a living while suggesting someone/something to blame - rather than the real situation. Brilliant!
Fantastic piece, thanks Katie.
I remember thinking about distraction and attention connection in the lead up to Brexit and Trump’s first presidency in 2016. And I wanted to scream that the media needed to cut off the oxygen for certain individuals who sprouted nonsense. Easier said than done!
Thank you! Even well-intentioned journalists and outlets sometimes end up amplifying voices that would be better left unheard.
I loved this article, especially that last line! The art of being wise is the art of knowing when to overlook. Now more than ever we need to know when its best to just let certain things "go in one ear and out the other". Or, probably more accurately, scroll and move along.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful write-up.
You're absolutely right that the real challenge lies in our natural tendencies as humans – our addictive relationship with content, our voyeuristic curiosity about others' lives, and our attraction to the "breaking news" cycle that media outlets consistently exploit. These psychological vulnerabilities make controlling our attention increasingly difficult, but all the more necessary.
What resonated most was your emphasis on personal responsibility in developing information literacy skills. While external regulation may help, the ultimate control must come from within – recognizing when we're being manipulated and consciously choosing where to direct our limited cognitive resources.
William James's quote about wisdom being "the art of knowing what to overlook" feels like the perfect north star for navigating our overwhelming information environment.
Thank you for articulating what many of us feel but struggle to address – that our capacity for attention may be our most valuable and threatened resource in preserving both personal autonomy and collective democracy.