In an age where answers are a click away and phone cameras can identify species in seconds, it’s easy to forget how much the internet has reshaped our daily experiences.
Nathan Wrigley sums up the tension perfectly: “On the one hand, there’s this whole horizon of amazing possibility that the internet presents, and then you look in the other direction and there’s this whole black hole of horror and morass and argumentation and fighting and disinformation and all of that.” This episode of Open Channels FM doesn’t dwell on technology itself but explores what happens to our patience, our learning, and even our brains when everything we once waited and worked for is now instant.
The conversation begins with Bob reflecting on the quiet days before the internet, when games like Solitaire were played with real cards, requiring deliberate thought and a slower pace. He recalls savoring the process, noting that modern digital versions of the game prompt players to act quickly, rewarding speed and efficiency rather than contemplation.
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Nathan Wrigley shares a childhood story where finding the answer to a simple question identifying a butterfly meant a trip to the library, consulting card catalogs, waiting for books to arrive, and engaging with librarians. The journey to an answer stretched over weeks. Today, a smartphone can reveal the answer in seconds. While this instant access seems miraculous, Nathan Wrigley points out the loss of patience, perseverance, and serendipitous discovery that came with slower research methods.
Both speakers discuss how the rapid delivery of information not only changes how we learn but also rewires our brains. Nathan Wrigley wonders aloud about the neurological effects on younger generations who never experienced information scarcity, questioning how their capacity for patience and long-form problem-solving may differ.
The episode calls attention to the trade-offs. Instant information has driven efficiency and expanded horizons, but at the cost of deeper, more memorable learning experiences and the development of patience. As BobWP says, “It’s not just you taking a bit more brain work, but you’re… the physical activity, the social skills of communicating back and forth with the librarian and stuff. And now it’s just… Those things [are gone].”
While listeners may appreciate the time saved, the discussion invites us to reflect on what we lose when everything happens so quickly. Are we missing out on important aspects of growth?
