Comments on: Is Allowing Your Child to Study While on Facebook Morally Irresponsible? http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 22 May 2012 11:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: MLM Softawre Noida http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-26020 MLM Softawre Noida Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:19:37 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-26020 MLM is multi level marketing in which the sales force is rewarded not only for sales they in my opinion generate, but also for the sales of others they take on, creating a down line of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation. MLM software are the best marketing software, these MLM software provide an efficient and easy way of business for binary matrix plans, direct marketing downline plans, unilevel and custom downline plans. There are many MLM companies that are based on these MLM software for there effective working, MLM is multi level marketing in which the sales force is rewarded not only for sales they in my opinion generate, but also for the sales of others they take on, creating a down line of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation. MLM software are the best marketing software, these MLM software provide an efficient and easy way of business for binary matrix plans, direct marketing downline plans, unilevel and custom downline plans. There are many MLM companies that are based on these MLM software for there effective working,

]]> By: Anti-procrastination | Salad in Xu http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-25686 Anti-procrastination | Salad in Xu Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:27:07 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-25686 [...] ??????????????????????????? “It’s long been understood that you’re less productive when you’re constantly switching your attention; that is, the claimed benefits of multitasking are false…. the impact of electronic multitasking goes beyond the momentary sense of distraction, it can also create permanent changes in the brain.” [...]

[...] ??????????????????????????? “It’s long been understood that you’re less productive when you’re constantly switching your attention; that is, the claimed benefits of multitasking are false…. the impact of electronic multitasking goes beyond the momentary sense of distraction, it can also create permanent changes in the brain.” [...]

]]> By: OCD Advice http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-24036 OCD Advice Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:14:19 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-24036 I really enjoyed reading this blog post and have recently been checking out your web site for a few months now. I run a website centered on fighting against OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and would like to include your website inside my information area for the benefit of my own visitors. There is always much false information these days on the net and when ever I happen upon a very good quality site like this I like to distribute these on to my readership -- I'm hoping this is okay with you, I've put your website link within my valued resources area (right here; http://www.whatisocd.org/resources/). Many thanks - please keep up the quality work it is very much valued. I really enjoyed reading this blog post and have recently been checking out your web site for a few months now. I run a website centered on fighting against OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and would like to include your website inside my information area for the benefit of my own visitors. There is always much false information these days on the net and when ever I happen upon a very good quality site like this I like to distribute these on to my readership — I’m hoping this is okay with you, I’ve put your website link within my valued resources area (right here; http://www.whatisocd.org/resources/). Many thanks – please keep up the quality work it is very much valued.

]]> By: Rickard http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-20180 Rickard Sun, 14 Nov 2010 09:46:58 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-20180 Cal, I discovered your blog the other day and this is far from the first article in which you touch on and evolve some concept that I'd been pondering. Thanks! In my teens I wasted a lot of time playing online games, especially games such as World of Warcraft, which are infamous for their addictive properties. I quit completely a few years ago, but the other week I stumbled upon an article that detailed the game mechanics and design elements that get players hooked and coax them into playing even though they don't actually enjoy it. The premise is a contraption known as the "Skinner Box", an experiment devised by B.F. Skinner in which rats would push buttons and receive rewards at <em>random</em> intervals. These sort of random intervals have an extraordinary effect on rats and gamers alike. Because you can "win" at any time, there's always incentive to keep pushing that button, and there's always disincentive to quit, because the very next push could be a winner. This is clearly reflected in modern game design, especially World of Warcraft. Rare armor and weapons have a fixed drop% from enemies. Your weapons have a critical hit chance that will occasionally but randomly deal massive damage to your foes. Et cetera. Obviously I feel glad I don't play anymore, but as I read that article and understood the mechanics I recognized that very same pattern still present in my life, making up some of my most destructive habits. I think it's the driving force behind, among other things, addictions to... *gmail, facebook, twitter, etc *online forums and blogs *pornography *gambling *videogames The core principle is that you know that you may be rewarded at any time, so you always gotta keep checking. New friend-requests, new blog posts, new gear for your digital avatar, and so on. This comment turned kind of long, but I really wanted to turn peoples attention to what I think is driving this sort of behavior and also especially where we replicate it. For example, I've always thought of gamblers as kind of pitiful and ridiculous (perhaps because I am versed in basic probability theory :P), but all the while I was exhibiting that same dysfunctional behavior myself in some other area of my life! Anyway, thanks again for the thought provoking article. Here's the url to the article I was talking about: http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html Cal, I discovered your blog the other day and this is far from the first article in which you touch on and evolve some concept that I’d been pondering. Thanks!

In my teens I wasted a lot of time playing online games, especially games such as World of Warcraft, which are infamous for their addictive properties. I quit completely a few years ago, but the other week I stumbled upon an article that detailed the game mechanics and design elements that get players hooked and coax them into playing even though they don’t actually enjoy it.

The premise is a contraption known as the “Skinner Box”, an experiment devised by B.F. Skinner in which rats would push buttons and receive rewards at random intervals.

These sort of random intervals have an extraordinary effect on rats and gamers alike. Because you can “win” at any time, there’s always incentive to keep pushing that button, and there’s always disincentive to quit, because the very next push could be a winner.

This is clearly reflected in modern game design, especially World of Warcraft. Rare armor and weapons have a fixed drop% from enemies. Your weapons have a critical hit chance that will occasionally but randomly deal massive damage to your foes. Et cetera.

Obviously I feel glad I don’t play anymore, but as I read that article and understood the mechanics I recognized that very same pattern still present in my life, making up some of my most destructive habits. I think it’s the driving force behind, among other things, addictions to…
*gmail, facebook, twitter, etc
*online forums and blogs
*pornography
*gambling
*videogames

The core principle is that you know that you may be rewarded at any time, so you always gotta keep checking. New friend-requests, new blog posts, new gear for your digital avatar, and so on.

This comment turned kind of long, but I really wanted to turn peoples attention to what I think is driving this sort of behavior and also especially where we replicate it. For example, I’ve always thought of gamblers as kind of pitiful and ridiculous (perhaps because I am versed in basic probability theory :P ), but all the while I was exhibiting that same dysfunctional behavior myself in some other area of my life!

Anyway, thanks again for the thought provoking article.

Here’s the url to the article I was talking about: http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html

]]> By: Another Aaron http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-16096 Another Aaron Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:14:01 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-16096 Unlike some others, all my homework is literally on the computer (often on the internet). No worries though, I don't get distracted all that often (at least once I've started, I have a lot of inertia, both in starting and stopping); and due to my atypical schooling background, I am perfectly capable of long periods of hard focus (I disagree that 4 hours is the barrier, ever since I thought about this concept I've had an informal tally going, my longest was an emergency rush on an assignment that lasted at least 10 hours; I had a migraine develop after it was finished; I will however agree that ~4 hours is barrier beyond which it becomes very unpleasant). Instead I'm wondering what your thoughts are on having music play in the background while working. On the one hand I know that any very serious work I have must be done without music; and on the other hand I know that more mundane work is made less odious with some music playing in the background. For example, my latest AI assignment required writing a program to solve a puzzle; the first 30 to 45 minutes was spent without music and with a piece of paper thinking deeply about how this would be done. The next 4 hours were spent with some music on while I typed out the program I designed. Unlike some others, all my homework is literally on the computer (often on the internet). No worries though, I don’t get distracted all that often (at least once I’ve started, I have a lot of inertia, both in starting and stopping); and due to my atypical schooling background, I am perfectly capable of long periods of hard focus (I disagree that 4 hours is the barrier, ever since I thought about this concept I’ve had an informal tally going, my longest was an emergency rush on an assignment that lasted at least 10 hours; I had a migraine develop after it was finished; I will however agree that ~4 hours is barrier beyond which it becomes very unpleasant).

Instead I’m wondering what your thoughts are on having music play in the background while working. On the one hand I know that any very serious work I have must be done without music; and on the other hand I know that more mundane work is made less odious with some music playing in the background.

For example, my latest AI assignment required writing a program to solve a puzzle; the first 30 to 45 minutes was spent without music and with a piece of paper thinking deeply about how this would be done. The next 4 hours were spent with some music on while I typed out the program I designed.

]]> By: Weekend Pondering: Animating Pink and Thinking about Time | Everyday Intensity http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15863 Weekend Pondering: Animating Pink and Thinking about Time | Everyday Intensity Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:39:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15863 [...] article about plugged-in parents, and follow it up with Cal Newport’s newest Study Hacks blog post about the responsibility of parents to help their children learn to single-task: “[F]or [...]

[...] article about plugged-in parents, and follow it up with Cal Newport’s newest Study Hacks blog post about the responsibility of parents to help their children learn to single-task: “[F]or [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Passion Must Be Actively Pursued, Not Passively Waited On — Welcome Zen Habits Readers http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15835 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Passion Must Be Actively Pursued, Not Passively Waited On — Welcome Zen Habits Readers Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:37:52 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15835 [...] Is Allowing Your Child to Study While on Facebook Morally Irresponsible? [...]

[...] Is Allowing Your Child to Study While on Facebook Morally Irresponsible? [...]

]]> By: Hugh http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15598 Hugh Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:22:27 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15598 I had the exact same problem in High school where I would keep multiple tabs open while trying to do homework. I would finish a question and check out a website, and repeat until the assignment was done. From personal experience, I can say that this is an extremely inefficient use of time. You will get more homework done and get to look at more websites if you finish the homework at one go and then go surfing. I had the exact same problem in High school where I would keep multiple tabs open while trying to do homework. I would finish a question and check out a website, and repeat until the assignment was done.
From personal experience, I can say that this is an extremely inefficient use of time. You will get more homework done and get to look at more websites if you finish the homework at one go and then go surfing.

]]> By: Valentina http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15388 Valentina Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:48:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15388 I'm a little bit concerned about the fact that "the longer you have been multitasking the harder it is to relearn to focus". Does the study say anything about the time it may take to recover the ability to focus on one subject at a time for a long period? This is because I've noticed I can really focus on what I'm reading or doing for no more than 5 minutes. After that I have to stand up (it is almost an obsessed act) and it really hard to come back to work. Can you suggest me anything that can help me to refocus? I’m a little bit concerned about the fact that “the longer you have been multitasking the harder it is to relearn to focus”. Does the study say anything about the time it may take to recover the ability to focus on one subject at a time for a long period? This is because I’ve noticed I can really focus on what I’m reading or doing for no more than 5 minutes. After that I have to stand up (it is almost an obsessed act) and it really hard to come back to work. Can you suggest me anything that can help me to refocus?

]]> By: Jane http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15012 Jane Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:16:03 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/06/10/is-allowing-your-child-to-study-while-on-facebook-morally-equivalent-to-drinking-while-pregnant/#comment-15012 Over the past year I've contemplated quitting FB so many times, with the actual result just being multiple deactivations/reactivations. Having finished (and failed at) university I keep asking myself what effect facebook has had. On the one hand, I can't really refute the evidence that is emerging and there's no doubt that it is an evil tool for proscrastination. On the other hand, its invaluable for social networking as I contemplate employment options and there's the nagging reality that many very successful people I know (as in top of the year in my University) actively use it. Maybe it just takes some extra qualities to balance and still succeed; extra qualities I clearly lack. Over the past year I’ve contemplated quitting FB so many times, with the actual result just being multiple deactivations/reactivations. Having finished (and failed at) university I keep asking myself what effect facebook has had. On the one hand, I can’t really refute the evidence that is emerging and there’s no doubt that it is an evil tool for proscrastination. On the other hand, its invaluable for social networking as I contemplate employment options and there’s the nagging reality that many very successful people I know (as in top of the year in my University) actively use it. Maybe it just takes some extra qualities to balance and still succeed; extra qualities I clearly lack.

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