David Foster Wallace - The Dangers Of Internet & Media Addiction

Decades ago, David Foster Wallace foresaw the problems that technology, media, and entertainment would cause for this generation. We now live in the internet/information age, where technology and media are inescapable. During Wallace's later life, he pointed out the problems that we should consider and be aware of when existing in such a society. We may have not listened then, but we should now.

[@satevo462]

It's super weird to hear the 90's referred to as "decades ago".

[@rainbowfoxmagicgrrrl]

@Froody Groober same!! Are you about the same age as me? I'm 33, and I wonder if there is something about being in high school that makes it seem like it's always the oughts. Or maybe like Y2K was especially traumatizing, and therefore memorable? It wasn't though... 🤔

[@rainbowfoxmagicgrrrl]

@Froody Groober Hmmm that's an interesting theory, but it doesn't really resonate with me. I mean, 9/11 was a big deal but I don't think it really affected me that much, not knowing anyone who died in it and not being American. I spent the 90's eating sour candy and watching pokemon, not sure you could get much simpler than that. Anyway, Happy birthday!

[@squamish4244]

@Froody Groober The 90s wasn't cynical. At all. I was a teenager at the time. In fact, it was probably the most optimistic time in history. The Cold War was over (I remember when the Berlin Wall came down), and Bill Clinton, a good president whatever you may think of him as a man, presided over the longest peacetime economic expansion in history. A lot of us thought that perhaps the End of History was truly at hand. Global warming was still a fairly distant threat. 9/11 was bad, but the real consequences of being dragged into endless conflicts in the desert didn't sink in for years. The fear of global warming was like a slow creep. It wasn't until the 2008 Great Recession hit that many of us became aware of massive systemic problems with the way the whole system was being run. And the wars in the Middle East were STILL raging. So basically, 2008 was a better demarcation than 2001.

[@Ruylopez778]

@Froody Groober I think there's an argument that relatively easy times of the 90s, and the comparative stability, are what lead us to here. Difficult times breed resilient people, and easy times, not so much.

[@centrasseptyni8277]

weird is when below good content so shallow comments, just prove a point,- somebody cant concentrate and looking for easy entertainment

[@kemcorpvirtualenterprises3776]

You’re ruining my blissful ignorance with thought provoking ideas!

[@Minerva565]

thats exactly what his video about the boomer and the doomer talks about u should watch it

[@whit2642]

NEVER start anything that involves the brain of Wallace if you don't want thought provoking. I don't think he was capable of anything less. He is amazing

[@mrtambourineman6107]

Er, that's the whole idea bruh, I think you need to get out more!

[@SharkRecordFilms]

“you’re ruining my blissful ignorance with thought provoking ideas!”

[@themsmloveswar3985]

The term is "red Pilled".

[@vishualee]

A wise person once said - Dont go through life, grow through life.

[@brod2474]

Pff...haha

[@colinyoung3685]

"If opportunity in life doesn't knock, build a door. Don't go through life, grow though life." Eric Butterworth

[@teccash3507]

Facts

[@rv.9658]

I had this video slated for when I finish Infinite jest, and I finally did today. My three takeaways from the book were: 1) No one moment is ever unendurable. Focus on the now instead of dreading the future. One day at a time. 2) Feeling embarrassment is fine. Embarrassment ABOUT embarrassment is not. 3) We're indoctrinated into a status quo of thinking chiefly about ourselves, and doing differently gets branded "cheesy", even though the cliched empathizing we balk at is our default from the day we're born. A Wallacean utopia is one where people aren't afraid to lay bare their internal struggles to others, and everybody's there for each other.

[@AdelaeR]

"A Wallacean utopia is one where people aren't afraid to lay bare their internal struggles to others, and everybody's there for each other." Sounds great, doesn't it? ... and that's why it's called a utopia. Makes me think of the communist adagio: "from each according to their possibilities ... for each according to their needs". If only the world was that simple, huh?

[@Gruso57]

​@AdelaeR Exactly, its not cheesy, it's naive to be purely altruistic

[@cinemafix6017]

Back when everyone was Christian, that is exactly how we were. We're an aimless, moralless people now.

[@zlatanibrahimovic1915]

I swear this is my last KZbin video before I get back to work!

[@ryangettig274]

shit,Me Too:)

[@jamesgreenldn]

Ironic how this is on KZbin, one of the biggest internet addictions..

[@germanvargas9475]

5:11 - 5:36 is all you need to hear

[@zlatanibrahimovic1915]

@@germanvargas9475 Appreciate it

[@bjorn3923]

I didn’t even watch this and I went back to work but now I’m on a break and watching it and most likely won’t pick up my phone again

[@Libby.Hoffman]

My brother loved David Foster Wallace. It's been 9 months of trying to recover everything he loved since his suicide at the age of 21. Learning from the suicides of DFW, Robin Williams, Anthony Bordain, among others is like a small whisper into where to put what unpromised time, attention and energy I do still have without him. RIP Dan Hoffman. Hope you and David are off laughing at us somewhere.

[@caelemmcisaac3569]

i hope he’s resting peacefully sis:/ you’re loved and valued, you mean more than you can imagine, i hope your okay i’ll be thinking about you wishing the best

[@seth5394]

bourdain did not kill himself

[@solitaryman777]

Ugh

[@portlandgoose4727]

@@seth5394 he did….. you’re probably thinking of Epstein

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

"Like a small whisper into where to put what unpromised time, attention and energy I do still have without him," so beautifully put.

[@soapbox187]

Two quotes come to mind after watching this video. "Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must lead." - Burkowski "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know." - Hemingway

[@E.a.Z.S.e.n.T]

well im pretty happy thats my main modow in life. and i consider myself pretty intelligent. in fact i think more intelligent people are happier cause they know how to be happy and what that intales

[@magneto44]

@@E.a.Z.S.e.n.T it seems usually, the more intelligent someone is the more they are filled with doubt

[@E.a.Z.S.e.n.T]

@@magneto44 hmm really..?

[@rodiellveloso326]

@@E.a.Z.S.e.n.T As Plato said, "I know that I know nothing"

[@glueball9511]

shouts out burkowski 🙏

[@Michael-ml5vk]

I seriously think my exposure to endless amounts of low-grade media at such a young age has severely stunted my ability to think deeply and philosophically. I never had to think.

[@AbbysalWarrior72756]

Same

[@46metube]

Switch it off. You'll recover. Allow yourself to. It'll happen.

[@FartMustard]

Na your just dum

[@bluehornet15]

What ever you practice, you'll become good at. And both the opposite can be said. What you don't practice, you'll never get good at. The bright side to this is that it's not impossible. You just have to start.

[@Wholly_Fool]

It also has made us narcoleptic and reeling infants.

[@StephJ0seph]

_"You start to become comfortable in your discomfort"_ That hit hard, especially since I'm procrastinating on doing an assignment by browsing KZbin

[@DEADEYESTUDIO]

I need to watch this everyday and have this really sink into my mind. As someone with social anxiety I use entertainment to distract myself and feel less alone, rather than face the reality of my own flaws that need to be improved upon

[@blesimo]

This level of self awareness needs to be applauded. Good job! You're 50% there. Our own flaws are so easy to fix if we just take the time to look away from the TV and into the mirror. And for some weird reason it's easier said than done.

[@DEADEYESTUDIO]

@@blesimo thank you and yeah it really is easier said than done. changing ourselves and our reality is always incredibily diffcult due to our habits we end up stuck in. I've actually stopped watching a lot of entertainment and I've decided to start meditating more as my first step to improving myself and figuring out what I need to change. even tho it's not much, it's been pretty helpful.

[@iamgreatness6649]

Meditate and watch ur life change

[@DEADEYESTUDIO]

@@iamgreatness6649 yass, I love meditation. it helps a lot.

[@toddgreenwood1458]

I think watching this - or any media - every day is sort of the point.

[@Mirandorl]

"Scientists have found that if you think and obsess really long and hard about exactly why you are so depressed, it magically disappears" The Onion

[@travispardy8649]

Person unironically quotes The Onion as a legitimate philosophical argument, immediately gains reverence from KZbin commenters.

[@Mirandorl]

​@@travispardy8649 I think you missed the sarcasm

[@travispardy8649]

@@Mirandorl Ah, crap. Thank you, please consider dumb remark withdrawn.

[@unrulysimian3897]

Travis Pardy - we've all been guilty of this, at least once. ☮️

[@MukeshKumar-jo3jl]

TheDroidBay just thinking for 5 seconds that you're now 40 years old is enough to make one feel depressed instantly

[@davidsanderson5918]

THIS is VERY VERY TRUE. I myself am a creative person....musician, composer, recording artist, writer, teacher....but my desire to contribute is practtically non-existent due to not only my own addictive consumption of media but also due to there being an already unrelenting tidal wave of PRODUCT that's in my face every day all day. I say product, meaning everything from the biggest budget-driven form of audiovisual 'entertainment' down to the smallest, short but punchy upload of vacuousness on social media. I am SATURATED. And yet here I am still on KZbin before I've even taken my shower and got dressed. Lord help me!! I have taken steps though. Six months ago I got rid of my TV licence so I no longer watch television. I deleted my Facebook account because I didn't like the ranting, argumentative, defensive person it was turning me into. Yesterday I deleted my Instagram account because either I was being bombarded by enhanced, colourised, magnified and amplified reality or I was being left feeling empty, disspirited, ugly, unsuccessful and lonely. HORRIBLE!! When I am with people in the REAL WORLD, making HUMAN CONTACT....I am experiencing REAL LIFE. The engagement, the exchange and the emotional response is tangible. We MUST remember that our devices are NOT the real world. They're merely windows onto a cropped, edited, manufactured reality. I remember a world before all this and EVEN I am struggling to maintain a sense of clarity and perspective. People who have been born into this hell have no hope. UNLESS the tide turns and the nature of our indulgences becomes more real, more wise and more human within the digital domain. OR we begin to resist.

[@criticovirtual]

Hello, David. First Time seeing this video and comment. How have you been all of this time? Have you changed more? I encounter myself in the same situation. I'm only 17, but I feel so over-saturated of all media, shows, movies, advertisings, p0 r n industry that just makes me crazy and addicted to it even though I want to quit It. But it Is so necessary, practically there's no way out of this. Less at my age. I feel all the time that I could be so much more, so much more creative, productive, intelligent, if i wouldn't let all this entertainment world infect me and bring me up so addictive. Let me know what you think if you keep here!

[@KL0098]

Maybe you're just deluded that you're a "creative person". If you were, nothing would stop you from "contributing" art. You'd ignore everything and create in blissful solitude.

[@user-og6hl6lv7p]

THANKYOU for highlighting the MOST IMPORTANT words, otherwise it is DIFFICULT to figure out what you are SAYING.

[@AdelaeR]

@@user-og6hl6lv7p Haha so true :-)

[@REM1956]

No matter what steps I take to "unplug" from the barrage of media and product, trying to make contact with other people in the "now," I find myself pulled back into all that tornado by the very people I'm attempting to reach on a higher plane. The worse thing for a junkie trying to get straight is interacting with with other junkies who haven't realized they have a problem.

[@antropatico]

my wife and I do a 'digital sabbath' [we are not Jewish though]. on Saturdays, we don't use any electronic entertainment. no tv, no music, no social media, etc. the result is that we go out more. we go hiking and we enjoy going to rivers or lakes. I also started making bread. reading. and having more social interactions.

[@rebeccaward2152]

When you include no music does that also include playing music?

[@antropatico]

@@rebeccaward2152 not really. that is an active, creative pastime. listening to the radio is more like a passive distraction.

[@alexandraratliff7904]

As someone who grew up as an observant Orthodox Jew, who is now not observant of most things including Sabbath, I will say I do miss many aspects of having a day every week with absolutely no technology. (That’s 25 hours without your phone, your computer, your car etc.) I did a lot of reading on those Friday nights and saturdays, and a lot of connecting with people. It really forces you to think when you’re on your own. I highly recommending people try to do this as a non religious part of their lives. And I find it interesting to come across someone who has done just that. (I’m not saying you have to have no car and follow all the sabbath rules strictly, but no phone, radio tv or computer is really the main thing)

[@lifemusic1980]

Love it

[@antropatico]

@Observer Enlightened thanks!

[@mainaccount3087]

This video and this channel is criminally, criminally underwatched and underrated.

[@EmmanuelBenighHemmander]

I am so grateful that this type of content is on KZbin, which is one of my main culprits in this media-addiction. I feel like my day gets saved by these wake up calls always appearing in the very place I am procrastinating and wasting way too much of my time/mind. Thank you!!! ❤

[@timsmith854]

Since my mother became a widow in 2005, she fell in love with a new partner. This new partner took up all of her time, swayed many of her important financial decisions and pretended to be her true friend. I hate her new partner called Facebook.

[@VeritableSmorgasbord]

That twist.

[@mikeearls126]

great man....I mean sad, but great.

[@alemart6102]

Same

[@Ricard1807o]

@Nedd Flanders Will power is easier said than done if someone is truly absorbed into an addiction. It takes work, starting with admitting your issue, being transparent with others and yourself and wanting to give it up. Only then can you start to once again take accountability for your actions and recover that willpower over time, which has been impaired thanks to long term unuse of the prefrontal cortex, and a much-undermoderated reward centre.

[@erniebuchinski3614]

Time for a trial separation? Easier said than done, I know. In any case, I wish your mother the best of luck in overcoming this.

[@pillepalle3614]

Ahhhhhhhhh some real content. Feels like a glass of cool water in the desert 🐫.

[@Laurence80386]

I think the word 'content' itself contributes to the very problem I think you're referring to.

[@ericneeds1285]

ahhhh a release...so glad I found some content that I like...irony

[@andresmarino2788]

Pascal Bösiger in the desert of the real...

[@kirancdoddamani7844]

True...sense of contentment

[@pillepalle3614]

eric needs it‘s not that I would like it though.

[@alexbensen2821]

i love how im learning about the dangers of the internet on the internet

[@Professor_Utonium_]

The internet is a tool, it can be used in a lot of ways.

[@RyeBreadSucks]

Double edged sword

[@YOULOOTWESHOOT101]

What a dumb comment

[@davehey3433]

@@YOULOOTWESHOOT101 noice, how Ironic.

[@taylorparrish7638]

Oh look. Another one of those moments where I pretend for a moment that I've turned a new stone. Just to wake up the next day and forget about it...

[@thankyou62]

Taylor Parrish how have you been doing? You’ve got more strength than you think.

[@Sirrajj]

Same here.., but we should never give up!

[@richard_from_england333]

Just give up at this point

[@MrSpinaal]

Hey, noticing something is just one step towards healing it and recognizing there is another way

[@kizryuver]

🔸Not if you summarize the key points, review & apply them slowly & find the solutions to points of hows/whys that they're missing. 🔹its not possible for everyone to do it all the time but, possible for many if you realize how to apply things practically. 🔹one may stumble on hurdles like lack of time to type but if we decide to move past that hurdle & keep an eye out for new things even if we're stuck. 🔹we can discover things like one notes dictation features & so on that help us summarize faster.

[@enormous_jeff5870]

I was born with the internet I was addicted to it for a while whatever I want whenever I want But found myself bored and wanting to go outside get a job experience something hard and actually do something it is very easy to let entertainment control and be your life if you not careful

[@everyday9861]

Hello everyone hope you are all good i can see people giving suggestions on what to do if you quit media and they are very nice ideas but if any one willingly and genuinely needs help on any problems they face in life contact us [phone] on WhatsApp so that we can help that person with any struggles he has thank you

[@ihazmethodz7806]

Every Day Tf is this? You starting a cult lmfao?

[@MrChaluliss]

You do a good job capturing a large body of ideas and issues and summing up the general solution, i agree with the thoughts here and like the reference you used in order to substantiate the ideas too!

[@PursuitofWonder]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Appreciate the positive feedback.

[@theoutabodies5653]

This is all great , but the real truth is never addressed. Human beings on average live a mediocre existence. Only the rich have access to good health medicines etc. when you have a structure based on. Hypergamy how can it function properly. Watch the news. Local news reports mugging and killings. Train delays. For the average working man. The entertainment news comes on and it’s all these hot looking people living better lives. The situation of escapism has been created.These people make money off of your emotions and don’t live where you live so they don’t have to deal with the outcome. The actors are giving credibility so you will not hold them accountable for doing their job.

[@larrydavis2130]

"Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride."~ Bill Hicks

[@LymanBear]

Larry Davis I sometimes resort to that thought. But it should only be used for emergency existential crisis. Not as your default philosophy not life. I prefer to have the western philosophy of “I create my path, I can will into existence order from the chaos with discipline” rather than the eastern (inferior) philosophy of “nothing really matters”

[@bobthethebuilder9559]

Alex Jones

[@Octavio12341000]

The ride is just this physical body?

[@larrydavis2130]

@@Octavio12341000 Chemical reaction in the brain cause consciousness. No physical brain no consciousness.

[@jakobbauz]

Ah man, I loved Bill Hicks (RIP). But I don't agree with this sentiment anymore today. Because this desire not to be afraid is really part of the problem, if not its first origin to me. Being actually alive, actually wanting something and fighting for it - all that requires you to be at least a little scared in the first place. Not completely frozen in fear, that's not what I mean. But you have to be awake, you have to feel(!) that it matters whether you succeed ot not (right now). Otherwise it... well, it doesn't matter. If you only think that something matters, without feeling it, it really doesn't. That's the issue. By constantly consuming silly entertainment, we push our fear away to the edge of our consciousness - or over it. And it isn't at all easy to come back from that, to realize that: My god, my life is deeply, finally, inescapably real.

[@LilBsYearOldVans]

God this channel’s amazing. I think media’s a particularly huge issue for kids now since it’s so easy to entertain yourself all day instead of participating in your local area, developing relationships, pursuing interests that lead to marketable skills. Leaves people stunted, disconnected, and unprepared. Really hope we can all work to figure something out for this issue.

[@alonespirit_1Q84]

"Whoever Controls The Media, Controls The Mind" - Jim Morrison

[@chaosdweller]

Damn ! That hits hard on so many levels, one being that it came from him, ....that long ago.

[@oppothumbs1]

Drugs controlled Jim. He didn't need the Media.

[@epicgamer-tp3lq]

Exactly. It brain washes people' mind and misery in the end.

[@riverfox5581]

Makes sense with the whole Laurel Canyon CIA thing.

[@krokodyl1927]

Sounds more like something George Orwell would have said. Jim Morrison probably read some of George’s books.

[@codythomas5786]

This video has too much truth in it, and not a lot of people are ready for it.

[@timacree7177]

if only we had ears to listen

[@thomasgibson1028]

No, nobody else can understand this the way you do. It’s because you’re special and smarter than other people.

[@MikeRoberts1964]

@@thomasgibson1028 Exactly....He's so special...Just ask him, he'll tell you.....lol....

[@TheLastSisyphus]

Agreed!

[@VRchitecture]

It’s not about being smart enough to understand the message, but to be ready to hear it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jezuz6668]

I removed all the media Now I sit staring at the wall

[@carlodave9]

Careful with that wall -- it might make you interesting.

[@stlkngyomom]

Try meditation(binaural beats),tummo(Wim Hoff),tulpa,lucid dreaming(Robert Waggoner),yoga & yoga nidra,seeing without eyes(Frank Elaridi,Tom Campbell),past life regression(Brian Weiss,Bruce Greyson),remote viewing(Jeffrey Mishlove,Robert Monroe,Edgar Cayce),...

[@CameraMystique]

You could buy a small camera and travel, read books, write books, create something yourself (instead of looking at other people's creations), start a family (and you'll never run out of obligations) etc.

[@matthewalves5682]

@@CameraMystique Where does one find the time, money, or resources to do all those things?

[@CameraMystique]

@@matthewalves5682 Not all - one or two. Or only one. It's from the time you save by not following media I guess...

[@mohammedjalloh7658]

I like this channel because instead of just telling us how things are bad and leave it at that, you give us ideas about how to make it less bad so that maybe someone out there can actually try something. It really puts you ahead of the game of most channels and I love that !

[@thomaswalz3515]

Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling and thinking for the past 20 years... I gave up TV 20 years ago... actually became homeless, voluntarily. Since I had work and money then, the only thing that was bad was that society doesn't accept homelessness, and the police made my life hell. I wasn't bothering anyone, costing anyone money, destroying property. I just lived in my van, on the street. There was a certain bliss in doing this, but in actuality, I missed plumbing most, a kitchen, a bathroom. I live simply, a smart phone is my only connection to the rest of the world... and even then, I would love to throw it away because it sucks away my time, time I could spend getting things done, making art and music. These recatangles of LED's we stare at have programming created by sociopathic billionaires with an agenda... and I know that a portion of that agenda is to keep the working class's attention, and directing its emotions toward fear, yet inspiring the denial of fear, which creates anger, hate. In turn, the various networks provide and market enemies to direct this anger and hate toward... then markets gun rights as a way to deal with the fear, mistrust, and hate. The end result is a scattered, spiteful working class populace, unable to create unity, a unity that would crush and control billionaires, corporations, banks, insurance companies, the healthcare industry, etc. that are using the working class as a cash cow, being milked for more and more milk by the hour. The sociopaths don't care because they want an ever growing income regardless of who or what it hurts or kills. They want to die, leaving a legacy, a trail of crushed souls, and vanquished. This is not much different than a mass murderer... it just happens to be legal. Back to my abode... with glorious plumbing.

[@thomaswalz3515]

@Luke Robinett : Yes, I have been recently pondering what you suggest... presently financially challenged, so much so, a cannot afford an internet connection... but the future looks more lucrative... I am a Rennaisance man, I know a little about a lot, have many skills and interests... so, my channel will be diverse... subject-wise. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@capfail4524]

It's interesting, how thanks to KZbin, in particular the channel WhativeLearned, i consume far less sugar than before, also I'm watching KZbin Advaita teachers to be more aware about Life, and myself, overall there are benefits to my constant KZbin consumption, but the downsides are also huge, like wasting time watching meaningless entertainment instead of acquiring new skills. We are sheeple always going with the path of least resistance, our capitalistic society relentlessly tries to understand and hijack our brain's reward circuits all in the name of more profit, and clearly it's working. Is it bad? Well that's just the way things are, least we could do is set our life priorities, to waste the precious time, or try to change life for the better. I think social media and digital entertainment can work both ways, so choose life, I guess.

[@israeldavis4771]

Well said sir Thomas

[@McDoodle44]

Though I agree on the causes and effects of media addiction explained here, I don't think there has been a certain Masterplan to control people to begin with, but rather silicon valley investors and entrepreneurs are addicts themselves - addicted to money, success and everything it brings with. As a secondary effect governments would harvest the created big data at some point after and cooperate with companies which can deliver it. Just my random thoughts on this. Whatever the case, as a first step, we should probably rather focus on breaking our compulsive reactive patterns than think too much about large scale hypotheses.

[@ayoutubecommenter1827]

My story is very similar to yours, did the living in my SUV thing for a few years and ran my company at the same time, I made plenty of money but...I could never justify the super high rent prices for a home I never was at anyways other than to sleep....I agree with all you've said.

[@jesper5483]

Living without any mayor social media like Facebook and instagram cause of feeling out of place for 1 year now. Finding this is great, watched the whole 8 minutes but felt so mutch more cause of all the information, great vid

[@jesper5483]

I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to listening to music, I'm always lisening through everything and I really think I forgot how my life was before it, when i didn't close out the world with distracting music

[@artsymamabee1619]

You’ve articulated the angst that’s pervasive in our time. Thanks for the challenging and though provoking videos👏🙌🏼

[@smanticus]

This may well be the most valuable video I’ve ever seen on KZbin.

[@ishtiaquehossainkhan2713]

Me too

[@hattrick9873]

I've just been binging your content for the past hour now. Your scriptwriting skills are great and you do a really good job at breaking down complex ideas to make them easily digestible

[@excisioned]

your channel is endlessly interesting. i like how you arrange your thoughts.

[@maggie0285]

I got rid of Facebook. Literally at my workplace everyone walks with their head tilted down looking at their phones.

[@MrAussieJules]

Mee too... i have a blog/ scrapbook.

[@Guitargasm1000]

2 years for me. I grew to despise that time-suck. Narcissist heaven

[@PoliticalWonderland]

“ just distracted enough to be comfortable in our discomfort” I’m off to ponder this greatly ty! 😇

[@chriswhitt6685]

This summarises a lot for me. I'm definitely addicted to Facebook and KZbin. But I'm aware of this and I'm looking to strike a healthier balance. Excellent video this and I've shared it.

[@learntonganwithandrew]

Have you managed a healthier balance yet?

[@everyday9861]

Hello everyone hope you are all good i can see people giving suggestions on what to do if you quit media and they are very nice ideas but if any one willingly and genuinely needs help on any problems they face in life contact us [phone] on WhatsApp so that we can help that person with any struggles he has thank you

[@Mcpwnt]

@@everyday9861 why do i think this is a scam.

[@everyday9861]

@@Mcpwnt Bro dont sweat it you can think whatever you want besides we do not collect a dime from anyone and we already have too much on our plates, depressed individuals who came to us are now coping well with life that is what is our success, we do this because we want to help maybe my advertisement was not convincing and may sound like a scam but not really worried ok

[@lightwishatnight]

😢 beautiful message.It hit deep. I miss Wallace.

[@Wingedmagician]

It was TV before and now here we are. (Thank you so much for making this. I’m literally an internet addict, wasted about 10 years of my life escaping through it. This video is just the kick I needed today to get back in track with certain changes and it made things a lot clearer for me. You’re doing Gods work man.)

[@grungepants]

The internet is much worse than television in that you have almost endless content made just for you and it doesn't feel as bad for you as watching television.I never watch television anymore but I am nearly always watching videos on KZbin. It's kind of good though because if your life sucks and escape is the only way to gain some relief then you have a lot to choose from.

[@Krissypoo508]

This video made me realize a past entertainment addiction I had as a teenager. I would play Modern Warfare 2 on xbox live all the time when it was at it's prime, I thought about it when I was away at school or doing other things. During that time I believe it caused other problems in my life. I unfortunately put about 30 whole days of my waking life playing that game. Well said that too much of anything is by nature, too much. If you find yourself thinking about doing something mind numbing while occupied, at work, with family, at school, etc., that's when you need to stop and think about it and tell yourself that that is not good.

[@kerplunk9434]

I think the problem is that life has us immersed in too much duality. We lack the feeling of connection, true connection to each other and the world around us. This makes us feel stressed and lonely because deep inside we know something isn't right with reality yet can't pinpoint exactly what it is.

[@jameseverett4976]

I think it's mostly comparing ourselves with others, and getting the idea from others - like catching a disease - that our life should be so much better than it is. Modern society has become profoundly unrealistic - allergic to reality, thanks to the Left and their incessant accusations of "oppression" and how everything anyone suffers is somehow someone else's fault....this "systemic" BS. Most people in 1st world countries have never even had a real problem, and have nothing to compare their experience with, so if they aren't rich and famous and laughing all the time they think there must be something wrong with them or their situation. And feeling "oppressed" has become the most desired and morally superior state to claim, and gives your life a meaning it might not have had otherwise.

[@ryanjbuchanan]

I have to say, your videos are incredibly well-edited!

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

always coming back to this one from time to time - thanks

[@Orwelliandissident]

Another on-point and well written offering from a channel that is quickly ascending the ranks of my favorites list. Top shelf my friend....top shelf!

[@EEKmusic]

this channel is my new favorite thing right now!

[@MattFoleysGhost]

One of if not my favorite modern writers is David Foster Wallace. I also have an internet addiction. This was hard to hear.

[@mandymandy1679]

I just discovered this channel and watching so many videos . This is honestly my new fav channel. Your very inspiring and it definitely opened my eyes ! Look forward to more content :)

[@pumpupthevolume4775]

Whoa! That hit home. Thanks for posting this. I could only image what David would have to say today.

[@marija347]

My approach to all of this is that there is a reason we have emotions. Using our senses, through life, we often come across something that is wrong and threathens our well-being. If we are comfortable enough to spend our lives in discomfort, which constand and mindless entertainment allows us to do, we lose sight of the actual problem. Negative emotions aren't there to make us perpetually suffer, but to tell us what we need to do so that they can subside.

[@Irisphotojournal]

Nothing is better than real life but many people have never known real life and are too scared to try it. There's a lost generation out there and many of them don't know how to interact with people outside of their own bubble. Quite sad really.!

[@kevinagee4364]

i don't think they want to interact with people outside of their bubble. because people are stupid, including myself.

[@r.joseph8911]

Yeah definitely! I am in late 40s and I want to throw all the media crap out my kids have and send them outdoors. Ride some, go in the woods or "sumps", play ball, skin up their knees when running around, tease the girls, etc etc etc...REAL connections with real people. Ahhh. My childhood. T'was a grand ole' time!

[@r.joseph8911]

@Luke Robinett hmmm. Something to reflect on. When and how it started. All the best to you 😊

[@rontayan]

@NoseKey is that why people have that retarded look on their face when making polite conversation now? The sheep will be easily lead to the slaughter.

[@DumbGarbage]

This..is how i feel..

[@varma_s]

I really needed this video. The comparison of media consumption with eating healthy helped me relate a lot. Thank you!

[@jamesdylan5041]

Good to see someone shining light on the whole reality of things.

[@rampart6557]

Just damn sad. As a professional writer with 27 books published, the next in Portuguese, and as an American graduate of an M.A./Literature program, I ran into more than a few grad students who revered David Foster Wallace. Like him, they were obsessed with opinions, especially opinions about the shallowness of American culture--what they perceived to be the shallowness of American culture, and how addictive TV, the internet and drugs are. To which I replied: "Turn off your TV, turn off the Internet---except for free music on youtube, of course!--and spend at least two hours a day on a positive addiction, spend at least two hours a day writing poetry, not talking about it; spend at least 2 hrs/day hitting a heavy bag or working out and sparring in a dojo, spend at least 2/hrs a day jogging and swimming . . . . and you'll be OUTSIDE your opinions, outside of a classroom and DEEP in your soul, outside in the world. Don't waste any money on drugs that you can spend much better on a pair of boxing gloves and discover there are Americans out there who are doing very well, bricklayers and nurses and doctors and so on, who are not shallow at all, and guess what, they don't waste any damn time obsessing about other people's opinions, including mine, thank God." The DFW Acolytes didn't take my advice and they are now in their 40s, bitching and moaning about the price and availability of cocaine and the same obsessions about American culture that drove David Foster Wallace to suicide. Kerouac had the same obsessions and he drank himself to death in front of a television. Steinbeck, who was not obsessed with his own opinions or the opinions of others, lived out his days very well, on the other hand. If you want to end up like David Foster Wallace, be my guest. If you want to end up like Steinbeck, you'll write a helluva' lot more books and see a helluva' lot more sunrises and ball a helluva' lot more women and drink a helluva' lot more whiskey. Last word is from the Lord Buddha, Siddhartha: "Do good and be good on this road of life. If you follow that road, all the books you read will enlighten you in some way. If you do not follow that road, nothing you ever read will ever help you."

[@cinemafix6017]

"as a" "as an" You're pompous.

[@ashcliffeable]

What you wrote is true and speaks of my experience. Not pompous at all either.

[@ceresuziel5089]

I have been given a book to write but I don't know how. One. I read you and I think I don't even live on the same planet as this person, how can I make it to where he is? And yes I do blame myself for my consumption of media but when you are given nothing and left by yourself it is impossible to turn away. We need others more than anyone realizes. Curious about your portuguese title.

[@JaydevRaol]

This was really well edited and well researched and your narration is also clear and precise. Really loved this. Subscribed! Looking forward to seeing the other content that you have already published on your channel and are going to do in the future too. Thanks for putting this out 😃🙏👏

[@PursuitofWonder]

Thanks so much for that nice feedback! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. Appreciate you and thanks for subscribing!

[@JaydevRaol]

@@PursuitofWonder 😃👍

[@JJKoester]

Nice summary and good editing. The thought that was bouncing around was whether or not media like Citizen Kane and Great Gatsby resonate because we relate to the fact that becoming champions of The American Dream leaves us unfulfilled or because The American Dream seems to escape the masses and we enjoy watching stories about those who pursue it heartlessly and the suffering they then endure.

[@nikolaybashev3948]

You are amazing ! Great and much needed content !

[@SmPro1337]

Sick channel! Makes one reflect over their own digital hygeine.

[@AudioPervert1]

6th mass extinction is on. Industrial civilization has reached it's gutted zenith. Lets trash this rubbish, this crap neoliberal culture and get on with it ... Thanks for the video.

[@AudioPervert1]

@Ludwig Beethoven Actually your bias and bullshit aside - Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer prize winning Journalist - A writer, critic and a orator. As for Elizabeth Kolbert and David Banatar, they have done significant work in the field of human psychology, women's rights and issues of Natality. Seems your the one trapped in bias and unable to see or feel of their point of view. Trolling on you-tube making inane comments is pop-culture.

[@willurban837]

"digital hygiene" it's the first time I hear this expression, yet it feels oddly familiar. I've been looking for a way to express my opinion and digital hygiene makes perfect sense. Thanks

[@SmPro1337]

@@willurban837 exurb1a has a video about the term. That is where I heard it. He is pretty funny and thought provoking.

[@willurban837]

@@SmPro1337 I'll definitely watch it, thanks for the recommendation

[@stevesayewich8594]

As with the Romans dictum, "Give the bread and circuses." Or, the NFL and McDonald's. I am addicted and need to back off the internet. Thank you for reminding me.

[@stevesayewich8594]

@Nathan Zhang Good observation. Do you want a future riot?

[@2159money]

love this channel, thank you for the good work!

[@23v0lv32]

Absolutely LOVE this channel and very happy I found it

[@VertPimpin]

Well made, like the summary!

[@PursuitofWonder]

Thank you!

[@markbayly5061]

While I appreciate so much of what David Foster Wallace espoused, the fact that he took his own life is inescapably concerning. If an individual who was so intellectually advanced and self aware, removed the distractions that we all fall prey to, and ultimately couldn't survive, what is the lesson for us?

[@carrollwilliams8861]

Mental illness is real. It can afflict anyone, regardless of intelligence, status or celebrity. Some forms do not respond to treatment. The demons sometimes win.

[@bitsori6774]

The things you realize and learn about life, the world, and yourself doesn't all necessarily affirm life. Also, people aren't logical - even if they have a certain philosophy and a set of beliefs, that doesn't mean that they're immune to suffering, hopelessness, and suicide just because their beliefs somehow refute them.

[@lancewolff7718]

@@carrollwilliams8861 i personally believe the key word you wrote here is ‘demon’ as opposed to ‘mental illness’. The latter is a modern world construct that came to prevalence in the last century. The former has always been here, & always will be. Fortunately so are the angels…

[@patrickpoulsen1]

The lesson is that our wounds must be healed before we bleed out.

[@brimerwelpippy4972]

@@lancewolff7718 Um... no. Mental illness is completely demonstrable and real. Demons and angels are about as falsifiable as the goblin that lives in my ass.

[@stephanieschoonmaker]

I’ve loved David Foster Wallace’s words of insight and wisdom for several years now. I had no idea he committed suicide. You brushed over it so quickly at the beginning that I now have to pause and let that sink in. I’m heartbroken.

[@jeffowens7231]

Much love for all your videos man

[@comicthane2184]

The most effective entertainment does not follow the path of least resistance, but rather a layered experience. Layers and complexity enhance the pleasure and make entertainment more consumable. Take meme culture for example: it is all, all of it, hyper meta-textual. Particularly in our post-vine twitter era, our wacky internet jokes are couched within a dense tangle of self reference. It is erroneous to say that media is becoming dumber just because it is becoming more consumable, and more encouraging of passivity. All this to say that what makes it more perfect entertainment, and therefore a more addictive and destructive drug, is its complex richness - coupled of course with its broadness. Our brains like to be engaged without having to expend energy.

[@TheAzureNightmare]

... And when the excess energy you have left over is applied to video games, we tend to get more Salty. More... Angry. More willing to direct hate and violence at ourselves. Not necessarily shooting up a school, but maybe breaking your monitor or keyboard. Or possibly worse things...

[@comicthane2184]

Akshay Nakar simple things are actually boring. Funi memes are actually big brain

[@colesandick446]

The only intelligent comment on here.

[@HBrown-cc6wv]

Miss this guy :(

[@davidcraddock8849]

Such a Great video. Something I’ve learned after tons of searches was our human (so to speak)wants to seek out the most pleasure with the least amount of pain and discomfort. Sometimes even just siting passively letting time pass without some input can cause discomfort. After much discipline and restriction of pleasurable pursuits. what overly stimulated people might find boring can bring pleasure to someone who has lessened their pleasure consumption.

[@natet4649]

this is exactly what I have been thinking for a while. Thanks for putting it into words.

[@brian4019]

Neil Postman's book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" (1985) also good

[@rottenaudiobooks2310]

It's a tricky situation. I once tried total visual media abstinence at one point. However everyone around me is so immersed in it; eventually you begin to miss out on common cultural touchstones and frames of reference. It becomes more and more difficult to talk to your neighbors and relatives. In insulating yourself from the pop culture media bubble, you become trapped in a Luddite bubble. Consequently you end up alone...with a book and journal as your only friends ;)

[@beatspunkie]

Literally me

[@Sokrabiades]

This was very well said.

[@charlesbeaudelair8331]

Discovered your channel today. I appreciate it a lot. Better than the Nerdwriter and less pretentious. Thank you.

[@Sirrajj]

Necessary video for today's time, truly Eye-opening! I've no words to thank you, but still Thank You.

[@paulalandhart1914]

It is a little ironic to find you after watching some bunch of garbage. I am really thankfull of the randomness of internet this time, though this factor is one of the storngest causes of my adiccion: the expectation of something new, the infinite posibilities sliding down your screen... Tomorrow I was going to make a little esay for my little school, and, well, with the very limited ability I have on this languege, I want to thank you. I do not know how many eyes will meet this message... it has so much potential: literaly almost anyone could see it... I feel so powerfull righ now! ...I am very sorry... I just wanted to tell you -whoever you are behind that virtual courtin- that you made me smile, and get up from my nasty bed, write my esay and put aside this misterious engine.

[@jasperrafols750]

Hi! how was your essay?

[@jerbear97]

this comment rings true

[@coreycox2345]

I have no clue how I got so lucky, but this is typical of what I find on the internet. In general, excellent content, Paula Landhart. :)

[@coreycox2345]

@@jasperrafols750 I didn't write as much as I planned, but I read twice as much. Maybe tomorrow I will write two essays. I will write to them.

[@RazorM97]

sarcasm?

[@Nagazongas]

Seagulls are addicted to French fries. I've never seen a Seagull turn down a French fry.

[@DelbertStinkfester]

They also like bread....It's fun to throw bread at them for a few minutes and then take some bread and mold it around a firecracker and then light it before you throw it....It really makes them mad

[@BlackLabelSlushie]

DelbertStinkfester 😂😂😂😂

[@DSAK55]

Seagulls don't have Paypal

[@Strangepete]

I asked them all for their first name and it's always Steven.

[@toddgreenwood1458]

Are you a seagull? Or a French fry?

[@Citizenshane81]

Well said. These are things I’ve been working on.

[@amalbabu445]

best one so far, hope it reaches out to those who needs to see this..

[@Kremidas1]

In light of the notion that the "bloomers" answer to meaninglessness is creating art and most art doubles as entertainment, the answer here seems to be to engage in more challenging and useful art. To create art that has meaning outside of appealing to the lowest common denominator. I like that. By useful I mean creating art that has not only has true things to say but also important. "Importance" defined as to what extent these truths can help other humans improve their lives, with "improve" defined by the individual consumer of that art. So long, of course, that the individual's defined "improve" it is not to the obvious detriment of others.

[@a.meeeezy9576]

Yes this. And real art, not abstract or modem art. Populist art - the kind of art that scares the status quo and makes every man think, no matter their origin.

[@defiledcircuit]

Alex McAbee modern and abstract art are real art and they can be more meaningful and impactful than banal straight to the point more classical forms of art. The status quo isn’t meaningful abstract or modern art, it’s something pretty to look at.

[@swim_ad]

@@a.meeeezy9576 is this art? Or just more modern abstract bullshit? All I have is subjectivity. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHu1dWuEgqqAiMU

[@jainck4]

This is a great presentation. I find it interesting that you only go back as far as David Foster Wallace. There have been many women and men in history both ancient and contemporary who had this to say about society and life in the food chain. We are now on the edge of enlightenment/catastrophe. Again and again and again. And perhaps it's time to turn this despair from the inside and look at others; turning our sight out into the world BTW you can't take any of it with you.

[@GrowingPains917]

To get the most out of this video try playing it at 0.75 speed (KZbin app) and don’t watch the images. This man speaks the truth!

[@alemart6102]

Sometimes I even find myself bored by everything I'm doing on social media but I still keep scrolling down...

[@bobcat2938]

It all comes down to you. But., You are never alone. Unless you want to be.

[@JIMJAMSC]

Born in the mid 60s, as children we hit the ground running and didn't come home until the sun set. My Nephew, now 16 stayed for the last 3 months and he literally woke up and went straight online. His phone which cost more than my 1st 2 cars never left his body. He had a hand held gaming device, a laptop capable of demanding games and a high end desktop with a $1200 vid card. Getting him outside to wash cars, cut the yard etc was dam near impossible and alien to him.

[@guitargatekeeper]

what a shame

[@guitargatekeeper]

reminds me of myself till i realized the beauty of the simplicities of life

[@Cronos-ms3pw]

great video man. Respect. Wonderful writing and some very good editing.

[@juanjo_sound]

the delivery on this channels content is impeccable.

[@michaelk5824]

This started to affect me really hard the last few years. Like I need to really focus on activities that are not leading to be looking at a screen like what kind of life is this?

[@blahblahoink]

I started leaving my phone at home when I don't really need to have it with me. It's easy and it feels great not having it with me all the time!

[@MannyBernabe]

Spot on! "Improve the world around us, instead of trying to escape it."

[@candiceevans5767]

Well said! Thank you for this.

[@runar500]

Problem with learning more from life, is that the number of people with whom you can communicate grows continously smaller and smaller.. -until you have no one to talk to.. Don't even ask how I know this... :-)

[@traxmachine2506]

I always like to try and have a more positive view on that. Maybe less people can truly, deeply understand you. However, the opporunity for you to teach and share with others grows exponentially. Whenever I go through some hardship and learn from it I later think "man, I'd love if I could pass this that I've learned to someone else". Doesn't matter if 999 people don't care or won't listen, it's worth it just for that one person that does.

[@runar500]

@@traxmachine2506 Sad part is that not many people really do want to understand.. Occationally you will meet some who will, but they are really few and really far between..

[@Dplaysitcool]

"Instead of completely disconnecting. Just keep watching my channel"

[@Dplaysitcool]

I know people who waste hours and hours of time watching thought provoking, motivational videos. How many motivational videos can you watch before actually getting off your backside and doing something!!

[@Burnich]

This is the video that challenges us and makes us think. Thank you for making it.

[@myoffgridforestgardenadven3938]

Awesome, first video of your channel that I've found. Thanks its great:) Now off to binge watch everything about David Foster Wallace, then back for all of your Pursuit of Wonder videos...... Then I'll definitely be full steam ahead, fully charged for my work in the garden.....

[@jhljhl6964]

"O brave new world that has such things."

[@ffejkk37]

I consume this media with plenty of alcohol and drugs.

[@sixfathomsdeep1942]

I approve of this message

[@kohtalainenalias]

How does it affect your life overall?

[@jdcampbell9613]

Best comment

[@terellchapman8737]

Very inspirational, got started on much needed work

[@Barrrt]

Thanks for this. Good reminder during the quarantine.

[@montsemajanmartinez9824]

Academy of Ideas is a good channel. Also Rocking Philosophy. Semiogogue

[@ItsMe-yn6ql]

Whilst this isn't a bad overview of some general themes and how they relate to contemporary issues it is quite an oversimplification of a very complex oeuvre. There are a few tautologies and preachy arguments which aren't always so simple and easy too, and a few extra primary source material and quotations wouldn't go a miss. Plus I think some of these points are slightly juvenile: "He predicted FaceTime." Kubrick's 2001 predicted FaceTime too and that came out in 1968! Or what about Star Trek? Like I said, a half decent first look at David Foster Wallace and his discussion of addiction, technology, and media, and I'd show someone as an introduction to the subject. It's always good to see people interacting with and caring about the field though, I gave the video a like, I look forward to the next one! Practice makes perfect.

[@ItsMe-yn6ql]

@@fabianschwarz7271 Yes I think I do actually. Enlighten me though?

[@PursuitofWonder]

Reasonable critique. Appreciate the constructive feedback!

[@Pinkchadillac76]

Make your own video on the subject dear critic.

[@ItsMe-yn6ql]

@@Pinkchadillac76 I'm currently writing around 15,000 word essays, so I don't have time unfortunately though it would be enjoyable I'm sure. Anyway, I don't need my own video on the subject in order to give constructive feedback thank you.

[@nathanbranson9149]

Please let us know where to read your 15,000 word essay when you are finished so we can see your work.

[@miguelb.6312]

This was great. Thank you for the breakdown and for this video! :)

[@MrRobot-gm9cv]

What a beautiful video. We need more content like this. Marvelous!!