some people say that the way the internet fractures our attention with all the stimuli it provides, is a really negative thing that is making us dumber, basically, but I'm not sure about that. I think there is a time and place for both kinds of thinking - that frenetic, kind of distracted mode where you're working on multiple things, and the mode of sustained focus on a particular task.
And despite what a lot of experts seem to be arguing, I don't think developing the skill of the 'distracted mode' necessarily diminishes your ability to read a whole book or stay on task for more than half an hour. That's what some books are arguing - that we're losing certain faculties...that, especially young people, who grew up with the internet, are incapable of the kind of sustained focus required to do excellent work.
I think both ways of thinking are pretty much essential for a lot of the work we do these days. when you start a new project or task, it's good to get a sense of the whole thing \\\ to work quickly through it, making notes, plans, amendments - setting up a kind of framework. Then you work your way methodically through the project. It's not always, first distraction mode, then focus mode...sometimes you might alternate back and forth between the two a number of times...but both are important.
even in academic work - which is all about thinking - that's the case. Even if they had the time to read every book and article relevant to their field, from cover to cover or start to finish, that wouldn't be a good use of their time. Academics need to be able to process a lot of material really quickly, and the only way to do that is to practice a mix of scanning (distracted mode) and close reading (focused attention).
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