Cognitive Surplus

Recently, Edge.org posted a talk by Clay Shirky called Gin, Television and Cognitive Surplus (you have to scroll about half way down the page for the original talk).

He gives a number of fascinating statistics about how Americans currently use their time and how they have in the past. He goes on the argue, quite persuasively, that the interactive medium that is the internet can be a powerful tool for deploying the surplus cognitive ability that is being ignored or underutilized by television and other forms of passive entertainment.

After my meeting last night a few of us were sitting around talking about the ways we use our free time. The other four had kids and were decrying the abundance of sex and violence that kids have access to through the internet and tv. I've been trying to reconcile the enormous utility of the internet with the fact that it is also being used for less "productive" means. The topic of pornography and violent rap music came up a number of times and I completely agree that no child should ever be exposed to either as an acceptable template for living ones life.

This morning I pulled up the article from Shirky and am beginning to see the less desirable aspects of the internet, like porn, as a coping mechanism that the brain can fall back to in times of fear or boredom. Its a fact of human history that most societies have made entertainment out of sex or violence at some point. I have written before that human consciousness can be burdensome when not engaged in some type of activity, and this is exactly what we are trying to deal with now. We don't always know the best way to use a tool as powerful as our brain so the best we can do is pacify it with perennial favorites like sex and violence. It shouldn't come as a surprise that we do the same with a tool like the internet.

But we are progressing. Eventually we start to explore and create new ways to employ our powerful new tools. Communities start blogs and forums about things that interest them. Support groups and information centers become available to people who have trouble with alcohol, marriage, math, history, career, or illnesses. We can begin to use our cognitive surplus to make ourselves better people; but usually after a fair amount of trial and error shows us some of the less productive ways to use it.

Finally, we can begin to use our cognitive surplus to grow and create in ways that would otherwise have been impossible. I can use this as a means to heal, connect, contribute, and learn. In the past I could keep a journal and through study and reflection try to become a better person. Today I can write my mind and, in real time, get feedback from others all over the world who have been in the same place or who have a different perspective. I can learn about options for living and techniques for coping. I can utilize my cognitive surplus instead of just distracting it. This process has been repeated many times before throughout history and is the hallmark of progress.

I have faith that this kind of engagement will always be more appealing to people than mere entertainment.