Wandering Aimlessly
“We need help overcoming rationality sometimes, and allowing our thoughts to wander and metamorphose as they do in sleep.” – David Gelernter (professor of computer science at Yale University)
I read an interesting article about the Internet by David Gelernter at Edge. It is full of thought-provoking ideas about where the Internet may be headed, but one idea that jumped at me was how we really do live so “rationally” on the Web. We get really stuck in our methods of finding information and using information.
I guess this is what we do in life, too.
It’s why we only hang around people who think like us, or look like us, or… Essentially, we get stuck in ruts.
We live in a society that wants us to be more rational and yet it seems to me, that the very cool stuff that happens, the creative endeavours, the new discoveries, the exciting art that inspires others happens when people are less rational.
I’m not thinking that we always need to be less rational, but I think being that way more often would be a good idea for all of us.
Being open to ideas that are different, new or challenging seems pretty important. There are three things we can use the Internet for to make sure this happens.
- Listen to people with very opposing ideas and beliefs
- Speak our own mind, honestly and courageously
- Wander aimlessly sometimes, utterly “wasting time”
Oh boy, what fun!
Thoreau thought that anyone can have a meaningful life, if one has the courage it takes…How much courage doe it takes to wander aimlessly?
There is comfort in numbers…If there is one thing that the internet can do in the future is give us some comfort that we are not alone in our search for meaning, compassion, transparency and generosity. Possibly giving more people the ability to live a life without resignation as Thoreau would put it…In fact, one thing Thoreau permitted himself was to wander aimlessly, enjoying in the moment…
Ont thing for sure is that I sure like this humanity that is perspiring from this not so distant future and the fantastic discoveries we make by erring aimlessly on the web…Like discovering you…
Serge, Thoreau is someone I’ve embarrassingly neglected to read much of which is very strange given what I do know of what he said. You have inspired me to begin.
The bad news is, the Internet is full of noise. The good news is, the Internet is full of noise.
You are so right about discovering ideas and people and all kinds of perspectives we never would have 20 years ago.
Thank you for dropping by here and always leaving such thoughtful and caring comments.
Here’s to flaneurs!