General Discussions

**thenicheman** · 03-22-2011, 09:14 PM

One of the biggest problems I face today is information overload. The barrage of emails, e-newsletters, ezines, blogs and the list goes on, and that's just online!

There's more information to read off-line, whew!

How do you handle the information overload, have you got it under control so far? If so how do you keep it from getting out of hand. If not, just let me know I'm not the only one, that's encouraging too!

Thanks for any advice, tips or encouragement you can give me.

**edgray** · 03-23-2011, 10:02 AM

Information Overload is a BIG problem these days.

The secret is to focus. Don't think for a second you could possibly absorb all the information out there on a multitude of topics. Learn and absorb what you need.

I used to be obsessed with politics, reading a large variety of political news sources constantly. Now I generally try to focus on smaller areas of politics that fascinate me, rather than trying to digest the entire spectrum.

Also, take breaks. Look at something different: this helps keep your mind sharp.

Remember too that drinking water has a massive effect on concentration and information retention. Keep your body lubricated!

**chrishirst** · 03-23-2011, 12:13 PM

What "information overload"???

You don't HAVE TO read blogs.
You don't HAVE TO get email updates of [whatever] every few minutes.
You don't HAVE TO look at the banality of Twitter every thirty one point seven five seconds.
You don't HAVE TO "subscribe" to every man and his dogs RSS feed.
The world won't end because you haven't checked or updated your "facebook" in the last seven minutes.

Basically if you think you have too much information, it's your own fault. You have a choice.

I choose to look at my emails twice a day,
my phone is on silent for text message so I don't get interrupted by yet another joke I've read a dozen times from the same people who sent it last week.

I choose to manage my time, rather than juggle about with essentially pointless tasks.
Let's face it we managed perfectly well when the "latest news" arrived a day later in the form of the "morning papers".

**edgray** · 03-23-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Let's face it we managed perfectly well when the "latest news" arrived a day later in the form of the "morning papers".

That's where I'll have to disagree with you Chris - in those days of purely corporate controlled news it was impossible to find out what was actually happening in the world without a massive editorial slant and a huge bunch of ulterior motives. Not to mention outright lies.

The world we live in now is a drastically changing place because of such access to information, with more an more people stepping outside the box on their views thanks to this readily available info.

We live in different times, changing times, challenging times and yet exciting times and I for one feel it's everyone's duty to get as clear and varied a picture of how the world actually works as possible. Otherwise how could we possibly overcome the problems that many of us now see on the road ahead?

But yes, you gotta tune out massive amount of rubbish... this is why I steer clear of social media.

**chrishirst** · 03-23-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

in those days of purely corporate controlled news it was impossible to find out what was actually happening in the world without a massive editorial slant and a huge bunch of ulterior motives. Not to mention outright lies.

Do you mean something has changed??

The worlds news outlets are still controlled by corporates and governments

**serandfae** · 03-24-2011, 12:47 AM

Great, now instead of corporate lies, we have lies told by everyone within reach of a keyboard. That's progress.

tim

**edgray** · 03-24-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Do you mean something has changed??

The worlds news outlets are still controlled by corporates and governments

There's plenty of non-corporate news sources out there now. I follow quite a few, one of personal favourites is the Corbett Report.

Quote:

Originally Posted by serandfae

Great, now instead of corporate lies, we have lies told by everyone within reach of a keyboard. That's progress.

You have to look at the sources they use, compare with other news sources, pinch yourself, check for any editorial slants, and eventually you come up with a reasonable picture of what's what.