As a society, are our attention spans getting shorter?
86455
sorry? what was the question again???
105577
No, but the lack of a similar increase in psychological growth in mankind has caused our technological development to outstrip our maturity as a species.  The sudden increase in information and the resulting challenges to everyone's world views due to access to the web and instant information should be sufficient to give us a chance to catch up a bit.  Then the technology will be much easier to handle and use wisely.
829191
Society is evolving, some generations are getting better, some worse.\n\nOver time natural selection will take over, the people who do "better"  will continue, those who do not will fade away.
1075556
Yes, because we are evolving into a globally concerned society, as opposed to an individually concerned one.
240102
Yes; too seriously.\nI don't talk much and,when I do say something, everyone is listening.\nThis is very stressful.
507839
In a word, apathy. We no longer take the time or the effort to care of what's going on around us. If it's not an immediate threat to us or surroundings, we choose to ignore it. Blame it on the greed of America, the television, or poor parenting. We are country on the brink of exstinction because no one cares enough to get up and do anything about it. Unless, of course, they're getting something out of it.
682042
No. We're gaining new ones. I have felt at times a tangible difference in the way we socialise since the advent of the net. If you're stuck for information, e.g. you can't find a place in town, you can ask someone, or you can use the net. But there's somewhere in between. The net can fill in some of the gaps in your knowledge and people in town can complete your knowledge. They themselves might have acquired some of their knowledge from the net. So the feeling you get is "we're all better connected. I wonder if I SHOULD know something BECAUSE it's probably on the net." Do you get what I mean? It's like we don't need to ask around as much for information with our voice because it's there for all to see on the network. I.e. it's a social tool that makes socialising more efficient.
111112
It continues to impact use.  Since the internet is part of telecommunication in the broader sense, it has affected you right now as you are reading this.  The distance between people grows less and less everyday.
324180
People   get bored and look for easy answers.
457484
I think so.  Kids are growing up way before they should, the people of the world ar in a 24/7 non-stop rut, there seems to be something new out there to buy every day, and people won't stop criticizing the beliefs of others.\n\nMy head is spinning, there are not enough hours in the day to do and think about everything that's expected of us.
1056807
To my mind, your attention span is directly connected to how much you are interested in what you are doing. If you are bored, or not interested, attention falters, and concentration goes out the window, you fall asleep and your attention span isn't even in the running! Seriously, when I began studying here at the house about all the great things computers can do, I found I was able to remember all kinds of stuff I could never remember when I was fixing VCRs and stuff. So, if you want to definitely increase your attention span, almost overnight, find and completely tune into something which absolutely holds your attention. Something you love to learn about, and go for it with everything you have in you. You will soon find you can know and remember stuff that will just astound you! Sent with all hopes for your success from - G. in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A.
306019
its made it faster\nintroduced new slang terms, bad grammar is more accectable.\nlack of capital words.  its probably decreased our attention span as nobody in a chat room wants to actualy take the time to read more than a line of text.  in fact we can't even seem to take the time to type out "ok" now we have to just use "k."\nemoticons are kind of interesting since there is no way to tell when someone is joking or what no, and though i hate emoticons it is interesting how its trying to fill that gap.\nand sadly, though we can now connect people all over the world with all different points of view, we don't seem to want to make the most of and hold a lengthy conversation and exchange of ideas.
892801
i think the world is going down hill fast i think 20 yrs ago was alot better really...technology is nice but it has took over so much people can't seem to live without it
561610
There is a newspaper article on the wall in my daughter's nursery that says research has shown that toddlers who spend more than a few hours a day watching programs aimed at toddlers are slower with their reading and writing skills than those who watch no or very little TV.\nAlso i read recently that research has shown that 7-10 year olds that spend a lot of time in front of computer games and television have trouble with things that require a long attention span.
19410
It's a cultural shift to the age of information. People become jaded about life and love when they are bombarded with internet porn, unattainable bodies, soft drink ads, and winning free ipods. The ideals of our grandparent generation are gone. I don't think that there is all bad to come of this shift, i believe that we are more aware and informed then ever. We have way more options then the you have to marry girl down the street or the person you parent picked out for economic reasons.
283469
Well, generally, how one adapts to changes in the life span--growing older, etc.  Our social circles can stop growing, or shrink, activity level slows, cognitive processing may go slow, and inhibitory processes in thought lessen.  Etc.
1035560
We live in a society of instant gratification.  You ask an answer here, and you get an answer instantly.  If you need to research an important topic, you no longer need to make a trip to the library.  Reliable resources are now available online.  Not so long ago, email was the fastest source of communication.  Now we IM and have cell phones.  We no longer make dates a week ahead of time.  We use IM or cell phones to make instant dates 1-2 hours beforehand.  We live in a "fast" society.  Technology has invaded our lives and put almost any information or task at the tips of our fingers, cell phones, computers, or blackberries.  \n\nBut you know what?  That technology has not been able to invade the roads yet.  We have highways and interstates full of wired people who live wired lives.  Every second counts.  All the technology in the world cannot prevent slow traffic, accidents, careful drivers, or folks who are lost.  \n\nIt is time to put that hurry up and get out of my way "rage" aside, and start waving at strangers with all of our fingers again!