Email has turned us into 'lab rats'

Email has turned office workers into no more than lab rats desperately craving “pellets of social interaction”, a leading expert has claimed.

Increasing levels of information overload from computer and smart phone screens cause a “bottleneck” in the brain and prevent any deep thought, according to Nicholas Carr, former executive editor of the Harvard Business Review.

His comments add to the weight of evidence that our addiction to technology and the snippets of information it provides is damaging our ability to apply our power of thought in a meaningful way.

Mr Carr, a former business of the Harvard Business Review, whose books include The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, said email exploits a basic human instinct to search for new information, causing us to become addicted to our inboxes.

The natural impulses that helped early humans find food and avoid predators are causing us to regress to a state no more sophisticated than a rat in a laboratory, he said.

A recent study found that British office workers look at their email inboxes at least 30 times an hour.

For each bit of new information we find our brain releases a dose of dopamine, a pleasure-inducing chemical which has been linked to addictive behaviour.

Mr Carr told Esquire magazine: “Our gadgets have turned us into hi-tech lab rats, mindlessly pressing levers in the hope of receiving a pellet of social or intellectual nourishment.

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8184149/Email-has-turned-us-into-lab-rats.html

Well squeak up.

Of course it has. When you are cooped up in a 4x4 cell doing the same thing over and over, most people want a little break in the monotony. Some folks over-do it, but social interaction IS normal for most humans... in whatever form it takes. The internet has broadened many people's lives, but it's easy to let it take over your life.

Where's the poll??

Where's the poll??

I don't do polls, not a member of the union.

Ian's probably correct that it's human interaction that is craved but then people these days seem to spend more time on facebook, twitter, e mails et al than they do actually out meeting people.

And when you are out take a look around at the amount of people on the streets with their MP3's or whatever plugged into their ears. Isolating themselves from human contact until they can get home, tucked up in their little den on their computer "networking".

A recent study found that British office workers look at their email inboxes at least 30 times an hour.

Sad.

I look at mine once every two weeks if I'm lucky. Then there is always the TaiVisa PM box.

This is why I've asked for a big shiny wheel for christmas...........

A recent study found that British office workers look at their email inboxes at least 30 times an hour.

Sad.

I look at mine once every two weeks if I'm lucky. Then there is always the TaiVisa PM box.

i always forget to remember to check and then when i do, its always stuff about making my penis bigger.

soundman, how do they know?

I do all of my work on-line so I am dependant on email. I s'pose I have also become sort of dependant on it in a social sense without even realising.

Working from home is quite unsociable and writing on topics that are sometimes mundane can get a bit too much. I don't have colleagues to tease and throw paper-clips at so I need an alternative. Watching bouncing breasts in SMB is a great way to defrag the brain and refresh the mind though.

soundman, how do they know?

geopolibiograpical screening I guess

all I get is stuff for special meds, tampon giveaways, tree hugger crap, truck nuts & swinging parties.

I wouldn't even BE here in Thailand if it wasn't for the internet forums. Almost all my better friends are ones I've met on the internet fishing forums. All my school chums who haven't already died are slowly dropping by the wayside due to health issues. Fortunately, I was born with good genes and keep ticking along like a Swiss watch. Like Moonraker, I'm on my computer writing most of the time and it's easy to take little breaks and slip over to the internet when I get writer's block. The nice thing about Thailand is I can slip out in the evening to a favorite bar or two and actually have personal company. If I went to a bar alone in Canada I would stay alone all night. There is never any of the friendly banter you get in a Thai bar unless you bring someone with you. I can sit down in any Thai bar and within a few minutes I'll have either a gal asking if I want to play pool ,or I'll chat with the nearest tourist if my friends aren't there that night.

Sorry, I couldnt help myself Ian.....my comments are in red (ahh whynot, this is bedlam) hugsnkisses xxoo

I wouldn't even BE here in Thailand if it wasn't for the internet forums. You say that because you digitally enhance all your photos to appear more hansum. Almost all my better friends are ones I've met on the internet fishing forums. No comment All my school chums who haven't already died are slowly dropping by the wayside due to health issues.That happens mate, especially when you get really old like this (70ies/80ies) Fortunately, I was born with good genes and keep ticking along like a Swiss watch. Swiss watches are no long in fashion.. Like Moonraker, I'm on my computer writing most of the time and it's easy to take little breaks and slip over to the internet when I get writer's block.Also know as wanke_rs cramp, especially in moons case. The nice thing about Thailand is I can slip out in the evening to a favorite bar or two and actually have personal company.Depending on how much hard cold cash you have on hand. If I went to a bar alone in Canada I would stay alone all night. Only if you could afford to sit in there all night. There is never any of the friendly banter you get in a Thai bar unless you bring someone with you.Imagine all the $$$$ I could make if I could manufacture little neverdies to sit with lonely sods in the back of sleezy bars I can sit down in any Thai bar and within a few minutes I'll have either a gal asking if I want to play pool ,or I'll chat with the nearest tourist thats either because their standards arnt that high or your shouting the drinks if my friends aren't there that night.

soundman, how do they know?

geopolibiograpical screening I guess

all I get is stuff for special meds, tampon giveaways, tree hugger crap, truck nuts & swinging parties.

What is that? geopolibiograpical No wonder they made you a moderator......you know all the big words.

The short ones are often more effective.

. You say that because you digitally enhance all your photos to appear more hansum.

Yah mean like this...

or this...

They are both photos I've posted on these forums. :lol:

soundman, how do they know?

geopolibiograpical screening I guess

What is that? geopolibiograpical No wonder they made you a moderator......you know all the big words.

And some that don't even exist!

And some that don't even exist!

Or, the alternative is to just completely change the meaning of a word like the homosexuals did to the word "gay"

Why NOT make up new words? There have been some pretty funny threads about that.

Why NOT make up new words? There have been some pretty funny threads about that.

Schniesahowzen

. You say that because you digitally enhance all your photos to appear more hansum.

Yah mean like this...

I thought you just saved all those 'lengthening shots' for a certain appendage shots

Why NOT make up new words? There have been some pretty funny threads about that.

Schniesahowzen

You spelt it wrong.

^ tis my new word.....eye pik da spellin, okay mai?