The 'Circus' of Life

About one month ago, I read that "Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus" is closing. As you might expect, they are closing because ticket sales are declining while costs are going up. Yet, that reality is not the primary reason for their shutting their "rings" down. No. Neither is it closing due to (what I said out loud as a first reaction to the news), "animal rights protestors". So, what is it that has had such an impact on the circus that it can no longer survive? Well, here are some facts that may help you guess at the answer:

1. The circus used to be over 3 hours long and is now 2 hours and 7 minutes.
2. The longest act used to be 23 minutes; the longest act now is 12 minutes. (In case you are wondering, it is the "Tiger Act" which is the longest act.)

Yes, my friends, the attention span of our youngsters is about 'zilch'. They don't want to or are incapable of sitting for any length of time. They are naturally and natively acclimated to high stimulus environments. Ever wonder what the 'advanced' technological human is evolving or trending to over the next generation or two? The answer may be in - an overstimulated, 'what's next", "get this over with", "move on", "enough already", "are we done here", "speak to the hand" automaton with the attention span of a "goldfish". Or, maybe not. In a May, 2015 article in The Telegraph, Leon Watson, Science Writer wrote, "The average human's attention span is..."oh look, a bird!" The article continues to say, "According to scientists, the age of smartphones has left humans with such a short attention span even a goldfish can hold a thought for longer. Researchers surveyed 2,000 participants in Canada and studied the brain activity of 112 others using electroencephalograms. The results showed the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds in 2000, or around the time the mobile revolution began, to eight seconds. Goldfish, meanwhile are believed to have an attention span of nine seconds."

This study, conducted by Microsoft, concludes as follows: "Canadians with more digital lifestyles (those who consume more media, are multi-screeners, social media enthusiasts, or earlier adopters of technology) struggle to focus in environments where prolonged attention is needed." In response, the young counter with, "We don't have short attention spans, we just have better stuff." "Stuff"...really? Isn't that the issue"? Isn't 'stuff' by definition, "junk", "things", "fillers". We are surrounding ourselves with 'things' that entertain, divert, distract, envelop, complicate and otherwise disturb and overstimulate the psyche. Are we deluding ourselves into believing that 'convenience' is progress?

Time Warner has a television ad that puts it right in our faces - "Faster is better" "More is better". In one ad spot, a man who is offered a bigger salary refuses it on the spot. He's just crazy. Right? Because more is better. Right? How else are we supposed to feel when we are simply competing against ourselves to create "what's next"? I am mentoring an Asian young lady who is brilliant. She is bright, energetic, a self-starter, willing to learn, articulate, warm and vulnerable. A real treasure. She came to me through a friend who wished for me to assist as she develops an early stage business. What is this creative, talented and concerned young lady aspiring to create? She is developing an app that allows people to connect. (That's new - lol!) Without going into the details of her "innovative" concept, she simply wants to make it 'easier' for people of like-minds and interests to identify themselves wherever they are, to be able to instantly meet. It's none of my business, so I didn't ask if she thought this would change the world. Clearly, she thinks it will make a difference. More 'connectivity', less 'connection'.

Galileo Galilei says it best, "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use." When my son, Alexander, went to "potty" as a child, I did not refer to the resultant product as 'Art' because he was my offspring. God only knows that it came in all sorts of shapes, colors, sizes and...well, you know. Still, I called it what it was, SHIT! Our sense of exceptionalism has us believing that if we keep on making or building 'things' on top of what went before - "more and faster" - we are innovating, producing, or contributing. Without regard to human needs and conditions. Without a deep sens of self. Like on 'real-life' computer, virtual reality. We are simply and literally "going to pot" and calling it 'art'.