"You can't build a long-term future on short-term thinking."- Billy Cox
Am I the only one annoyed by the recent boom of short-form content? I hope not!
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the short snippets and smooth transitions of a well-made ad. Even a 30-second video showcasing nature in its purest form. Montages from different video games or movies even. I find all those interesting.
But, so-called "educational" shorts/reels, or videos, I find it all quite impractical.
What makes it worse? Are the people who consume such content religiously, and all of a sudden they think that they are now some all-knowing entity? Not only do they rely on and believe half the story, but they also have or will develop very short attention spans.
Of course, to each, their own, live and let live.
But, when these know-it-alls pop up and start babbling on about their recent discoveries and so-called "facts" that they've gained from the common cesspits of social media, I just can't stop myself from a moment of eye-rolling right then and there.
ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵛᵉʳᵃˡˡ ᶜᵒⁿᵗᵉⁿᵗ ᵃʳᵉ ᵐʸ ᵒʷⁿ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ᶦᵗ'ˢ ᵐᵉⁿᵗᶦᵒⁿᵉᵈ
These days we have a lot of internet know-it-alls and trolls. Who have no first-hand experience, but do have access to Google and other social media sites.
What they don't understand is that not everything that is found on the internet is accurate. Of course, there is productive and legitimate information on the web, education these days is almost free; if you look in the right places. But, you must check your sources. The internet and short-form content together is a dangerous concoction of jeopardy. You must double-check your sources and the information that you've been given. Hell, triple-check it. Because misinformation these days tends to get more views and attention, than the authentic and "boring" version.
I blame short-form content and the quick dose of dopamine for this current generation of young and dull minds. They want all of it fast and now. No one is invested in perfecting a skill, nor are they interested. They'll probably start reading a book, and then leave it halfway.
What's even worse is that they'd rather watch a YouTube video explaining a 200-page book within 10 minutes. Is that even possible? There's no way a 10 or 20-minute-long video does justice to a 200-page book.
Audiobooks, I understand, I've given audiobooks a try, but it's simply not my cup of tea.
To conclude, from consuming short-form information to always looking at things short-term. Short-term plans and decisions, disregarding the consequences in the long run, believing the short version of a story; is not a good direction we're headed. I don't want to sound like an old boomer who complains about the young'uns and their ways, but anything short-term has never worked well for me; nor for my loved ones.
I do have my moments where I indulge in short-form content; skits, jokes, memes, cat videos, you name it. We even use short-form ads for our online business.
But, there's nothing habitual here. It's either a moment of fun or it's simply work-related. It isn't a source of cheap dopamine for me, where I keep scrolling into oblivion. Consuming 100 different types of short-form content in a matter of an hour, nor is such content my source of gathering information about the past, present, or future.
