Stop Reading Me!

Exactly. Precisely. When. And Why.

It's not just about me, and it's not just about reading. Think big. Reading, watching, listening - - why do you let it in? Why do you let 'them' in?

We're overwhelmed. Two decades ago, Eric Schmidt of Google stated that we were creating - - every two days - - an amount of information equivalent to all we had created in history up to that point in time. It's growing exponentially: The firehose has become Niagara Falls.

We cope. We ignore the 451 thousand unread emails in our inbox. We shut off, eyes closed, "La, la, la, … I can't hear you!" to intruding ads. We obstruct, with "Talk to the hand" and the mute button on streaming videos.

Everyone wants your attention, everything wants your attention. Yes, your dog, and now, your fridge! All the time. It's exhausting, and it's bad for your health and happiness.

It's an old problem. Two thousand years ago, Seneca advised us on reading in his Epistulae morales (Letters from a Stoic) and cautioned, "A large number of books puts a strain on a person."

The problem is not only one of quantity, it is also one of quality. If pressed, what percent of that "information" would Eric Schmidt say is of high quality or high value? Then again, who determines that quality or value? Increasingly, an algorithm decides, that's who.

Even in the early days of the web, when I was at BCG, we could already see clearly that there was, really, only one essential question: Who will be the navigator, the editor? Who chooses what you see, what you hear, what you feel, or what you think?

It was more simple in Seneca's time. A person chose an idea or a feeling to express, chose words or notes to express this, and then chose its final form, a book or a piece of music. He might have been fortunate to get some feedback from a colleague or a publisher along the way. Ultimately, a benefactor or local marketplace audience determined the works success and worth.

Over time, technology has given us the tools to create and publish increasingly more words and notes, in more final forms, in more markets. It has its analog in the non-information, physical world as well - - you have more of everything, more "SKUs", from which to choose. When you pick your clothes out of your closet, your food from your fridge, you are the "editor", you are the "navigator" of your appearance and your meal at that moment. I doubt Seneca agonized over his choice of sandal or shade of earth tone.

Before I move on … something sticks in my craw. This term, "Search Engine": It is, rather, a "Choose Engine". Quote me on that. What it does is this: you ask it a question, and then it CHOOSES what to show you as the answer. It is not agnostic. It is not a team of volunteers searching a local woods for a beloved, lost dog named Ernie who wears a collar and a red, paisley bandana. Am I the only one who notices that "search sucks"!? Search sucks because "Choose" has been perfected. They've perfected the ability to choose what you "find" based on their myriad commercial and political objectives.

Do you see? Someone or some thing chose that you saw my writing. Someone or some thing chose what was in your grocery and on what shelf. …what was on the store rack and on what page of what mail catalog you saw it. …the song or playlist you are currently hearing. These are all editorial or navigational choices that someone or some thing made. For you.

When you grasp this, you ask yourself, why am I so overwhelmed with all of this? Why is everything clogged? Why is so much of it crap?!

Recently, on a routine drive, I was listening to a favorite college radio station. The DJ played a short set of late 1970s disco-rock, including Sweet performing their 1978 hit, "Love Is Like Oxygen". A bolt from the blue! What a choice! With presets, playlists, and all the tools we have - - why should I, or you, or anyone have to listen to dull, crappy music?! Just decide, enough, and I won't. Ever.

"Love is like oxygen. You get too much, you get too high. Not enough and you're gonna die. Love gets you high."

I'm asking you to become intolerant. Let the hate flow. Of crap. Of noise. Of junk. When you do that, you'll create space, a silent space for a great song, or a rested, open mind for a new author, a new thought.

Here you are, reading me, so let's talk about your reading. I promised, I'd tell you exactly when to stop reading me - - or anyone, for that matter. Let's throw out the trash.

STOP READING ME WHEN I AM NO LONGER NOVEL

As Mr. Wrigley said, "When two men always agree, one of them is unnecessary." If I'm regurgitating things you are hearing somewhere else, cut me loose. Or, cut the other guy loose, no need for the both of us. Also, be on the lookout for a group of writers getting into a kind of Vulcan "mind meld" where they seem to only read and reference the others in the circle. Eject!

STOP READING ME WHEN I LIE (OR MISLEAD)

Give me a break if I'm wrong: Make your case and, hopefully, I'll correct my mistake and learn from it. What I'm really targeting here is outright lying and, more broadly, deception, obfuscation, and the like. I'll never forget my graduate school professor, Michael Jensen, warning us the first day of his class, he'd have zero tolerance for weasel words, whatsoever. I feel the same way. Ain't nobody got time for that!

STOP READING ME WHEN YOU GROK ME

Heinlein coined the term 'Grok' in his 1961 science fiction novel, "Stranger in a Strange Land". It means you get something or someone to the point that it is a part of you. Have you ever known someone well enough that you know what they'd think about something without even asking them? It's really time to move on when you have an independent thought, and then some time later your acquaintance brings it up (or an author writes about it)! If you and I get to that point, it's time to move on.

STOP READING ME WHEN YOU NO LONGER ENJOY IT

It's not supposed to be a slog. There are a few authors I read who make me smile just thinking about them. Maybe it's the way they turn a phrase - - with others, it's the way they're stubborn or pugnacious. Remember, love is a drug. Life is short.

Have I missed any? Give me your thoughts in the comments. How do you manage your information overload? Do you have habits or routines?

Following this, already in progress, are thoughts on what you should let in. More ideas and a plan. I'll update Leon Trotsky, and I'll say, "You might not be interested in (the attention) war but (the attention) war is interested in you."

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