The Bloomberg TV syndrom and the ‘Ignore’ button

During my MBA (at IESE in Barcelona), we used to have that cool Professor (whose name I forgot) with lots of interesting analogies. Sometimes I wish I still have my own private MBA Professor, but that’s another story.

Something he said still resonates. To put it in context: it’s 2003 and Facebook was not founded, even less Twitter. He said something like: ‘Look at the traders watching Bloomberg TV.  Bloomberg split the TV in multiple windows, each fighting for our attention. The trader is quickly scanning across all of them, keeping his attention no more than 5 seconds on each. With the Internet and all the stuff competing for our attention, we are all becoming like traders watching Bloomberg TV’.

Watch me if you can

6 years down the road, with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn adding to emails, meetings, events, you name it, it seems his prophecy seemed right. Diagnostic ? A global ‘ADD’ (Attention Deficit Disorder) is spreading like some nasty flu into our lives.

Now, what are the good news ? In their infinite wisdom, social media and Internet companies in general have found a solution: the ‘Ignore’ button. Basically, since gurus at the top of those companies do realize we are sick, they found a way to help us live with it. Cure it ? That would deter the addict. As you know, 50% of Facebook users check in at least once a day. Don’t we like it too, dear advertisers ? In a world of over-solicitation, ‘Ignore’ is the new ‘No, thanks’.

So, here is the solution:

Where is the 'Reply' button ?

While it definitely helps cutting short meaningless conversations, the ‘Ignore’ button is setting a new approach to politeness standards. Maybe the person at the end of the Facebook request, email, LinkedIn or whatever media was expecting an answer, and took some precious time just for you ? (Facebook case: no indeed, and ignore is the right approach, fine)

Hum…There might something a bit wrong with all this. Somehow, a serie of streams have taken our lifes by storm, or are threatening to do so. Acid test – what would your grand-ma (or mother) say if she would be watching you for an entire day ?

Maybe it’s time to rethink how we approach our stream, really ignore what should be ignored. Maybe it’s the stream that needs to be ignored some time, not specific messages. For instance, last Friday, as most people took off following the official day off on Thursday, I took the time to sit down and think, draw boxes, pause. How useful !

One idea is to do that every month. Spend half day with yourself at work, and nothing else. Spend the other half day with your team, and nothing else. No media, cell phone. Turn off Bloomberg TV. Other ideas?