Demanding attention appears to be a strong drive for human beings. We need attention and we need to feel we are the subjects of interest, at least now and then. This drive manifests itself early in life, when attracting attention is among the things infants probably do best. Just a loud cry and we could summon adults who would provide comfort, food and love. As toddlers, we continue to exercise the same pattern, as it has proven very successful. We ask questions – plenty of questions. Often, it is not the answers that matter so much, but the attention we receive from our parents.
Further, we exercise the same pattern yet again in adulthood. We ask: “Hi! How are you?” And we rarely ever mean it. When was the last time you said those words and actually cared to find out how the other person was doing?
It is not a demonstration of actual ‘care’, but it is an acknowledgement that, for a moment, at least, we grant out attention to another individual, illusory attention, that is. It is illusory, because we hardly mean any of it. Rarely do we care to hear anecdotes from other people’s lives (except if that person is a celebrity). Similarly, when answering “Fine! How are you?” we simply demonstrate we appreciate the attention given and grant ours in return; neither side actually slowing down to have a conversation.
Sadly, real conversations are a rare phenomenon nowadays. Therefore, one might assume that when they do occur, we would appreciate and cherish them. On the contrary, we often get bored, bothered, or uncomfortable, wondering: “Why is she sharing this with me?… That is more than I needed to know… Ok, now I am uncomfortable!” I don’t believe the majority of people don’t care anymore, but I am worried they have forgotten how to care. Often, they only demonstrate attention.
Facing the imminent economic crisis, many economists discuss the possibility of a new kind of economy being born. The idea that economy, as we know it today, will cease to exist is very intriguing and, certainly, controversial. Authors like Richard Lanham explain: “Seeking attention could be very incentive.” How obvious is the statement and, yet, how truly peculiar! As it turns out, seeking attention is such a powerful drive, that it can change economy and give it a new meaning, making the concerns of the past era almost obsolete. In the digital age, when even our insatiable consumerism cannot keep up with the incredible rate of production, and abundance of knowledge is freely available online, it seems that attention is an “intrinsically scarce resource” (Richard Lanham).
Of course, we tend to value what is scarce and be careless with plentiful resources. Generally, we value diamonds more that water, although we cannot survive without the latter more than a few days. How long do you think we could survive without diamonds in our lives? Yet we pollute our drinking water, while craving for bigger ‘rocks’.
We have to admit there is evidence of people’s longing for attention all around us. People are no longer satisfied with being anonymous. Ex-celebrities fight for their place in the spotlight by appearing in shows like “Dancing with the Stars” or “VIP Brother.” Those who have long been forgotten and castigated for drug, or alcohol addiction have found a way to receive more attention by exposing their issues in “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” Not too long ago, the majority of people would have thought there is certain dignity in privacy. Displaying the nauseous moments of one’s abstinence was hardly considered appropriate for prime time television. However, this no longer seems to be the case. And while stars crave attention and they have become our role models from the media, regular people considered themselves worthy of media attention, as well. This gave the birth of countless reality shows (like Big Brother, Survivor, Real Chance of Love, Rock of Love, The Bachelor, and so forth), some of which are truly derisive for the participants, in my opinion. Similar is the case with the countless blog sites, including mine, and myspace profiles of people who no longer wish to be invisible.
Attention seeking seems to take the place not only of our existing economy, but of our morals as well. This passion for attention does, in fact, enthrall us. I understand that to seek attention is an inborn and deeply ingrained drive. Yet, as conscious human beings and adults, should we be slaves to this desire of ours? Can we not master it? Are we so smitten by this power that whoever grasps our attention has the power to bend our minds and bodies to his will (Richard Lanham)? Is this what we want for ourselves? Something within me hopes this will not all become reality. Some defense mechanism, deep within me, refuses to accept that we will become more and more obsessed with exchanging attention… the wrong kind of attention, that is – the illusory attention. Although I see growing evidence for this, I still refuse to believe we will become so obsesses with the life of celebrities and reality-show ‘stars’ as to forget the ones who really care about us. In exchange for illusory attention, will we trade our family members, friends and significant others? Will we trade our interest in the self? Does not ‘self-attention’ mean anything any longer? For the sake of social interaction, as I would like to remember it, I hope such predictions will not become true.
The picture of future reality governed by attention economics reminded me of Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” where books were to be burned as they made people “unhappy”, causing them to think too much; where people “said nothing, nothing, nothing and said it loud, loud, loud” (Ray Bradbury). The fictional reality of “Fahrenheit 451” might appear very oppressive but, depressingly, it shares a lot in common with the reality we experience today. Interestingly, the government from the book is focused on keeping people happy and oblivious, their lives – simple – filled with entertainment. Yet, the characters did not become happier. They were so swamped with all sorts of entertainment that they forgot to ask the simple question: “Am I happy?” … “Am I what?” Is this not the way we might answer if a stranger asked us that
very same question? If we were not so foolishly proud as to pretend we know the answer, we might say: “Happy? I haven’t actually thought about it. I probably am… Am I happy?” Instead, we might defensively utter: “I don’t think this is any of your business.” Oh, how tirelessly our defense mechanisms operate! And we never seem to wonder why. I cannot recall the last time anybody asked me if I were happy. Can you? No, it is not what we ask one another! We ask, “How are you?” and we walk on. In fact, such a controversial and existential question (“Are you happy?”) is so departed form the norm of socially acceptable casual conversation that it might invoke whispers suggesting somebody has to be institutionalized. This is sad indeed and depressingly realistic. Let me ask you then – Are you happy?
