What Happened to Downtime? The Extinction of Deep Thinking & Sacred Space, by Scott Belsky
During my browse thru the 99% website, I came across many interesting articles, but the one that really caught my attention was, What Happened to Downtime? The Extinction of Deep Thinking & Sacred Space, by Scott Belsky. This article goes into details on how many people do not disconnect from their electronic devices. Many do not even have one second to themselves, He explains that, “in the digital era we live in, we are losing hold of the few sacred spaces that remain untouched by email, the internet, people, and other forms of distraction”. Also from this, Belsky states, too much connectivity is leaving our imaginations to suffer. What Happened to Downtime? The Extinction of Deep Thinking & Sacred Space by Scott Belsky asks and answers questions about why people are so deeply connected. He brought up three questions: Why do we crave distraction over downtime, and so what’s the solution, How do we reclaim our sacred spaces? In Belsky’s first question, He asks why do we crave distraction vs. downtown. A Simple answer to that question is that people are afraid of space. But Belsky also states “during these temporary voids of distraction, our minds return to the uncertainty and fears that plague all of us. To escape this chasm of self-doubt and unanswered questions, you tune into all of the activity and data for reassurance”. With modern times cell phones, tablets, and laptops are constantly in our grasp at anytime; they are convenient and easy to be disconnected from society. Even with all this new technology, Belsky claims that this constant connection and stimulation is not a modern problem, it’s in our human nature to feel the need to be connected to others. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the psychological theory that explains the largest and most fundamental human desires, states that: “Our need for a sense of belonging comes right after physical safety. We thrive on friendship, family, and the constant affirmation of our existence and relevance. Our