Endless messaging rots brain worse than pot, study finds

[craigdawg]

Whatever. Smoking dumb doesn't make me pot.
What's more harmful -- taking a hit or hitting the send button?

One study commissioned by Hewlett-Packard has found that excessive day-to-day use of technology -- whether it's sending e-mails or using mobile phones -- can be more distracting and harmful to the IQ than smoking marijuana.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/04/HP.TMP&type=tech

[CanadaRAM]

Huh? I don't understand....

Sorry, gotta go reply to a bunch more MR posts.

I think...

[PlaceofDis]

i saw that the other day and i found it to be quite funny, donno why though...

[jsw]

But the study said "an average worker's functioning IQ falls 10 points when distracted by ringing telephones and incoming e-mails ... more than double the four-point drop seen following studies on the impact of smoking marijuana.
So, when in the midst of answering a call or email, a worker's "functioning IQ" isn't as high. Wow. Shocker.

I could, from experience, then argue that having a baby around lowers your IQ far more than pot, emails, cell phones, or possibly strokes.

Very misleading report, I think.

And, BTW, I've found that people answer emails and/or phones during meetings because the meetings tend to lower "functioning IQ" far more than any call ever could.

[quackattack]

What if you message AND smoke....... ah nevermind ;)

[Dr. Dastardly]

Off topic but can you beleive that I had a meeting to actually schedule a meeting!? WTF!?

My supervisors must text constantly. :eek:

[rainman::|:|]

actually i run into this a lot (the messaging, the pot is fine). People at my office, myself included, get frazzled when they can't focus on a single task, instead answering a phone call ever 5 minutes, or answering an email, all on unrelated projects... I've been encouraging my team to take 1 hour a day, shut down Lotus, forward calls to voicemail, and see what a difference it makes. Anyone else working in offices, I suggest the same...

[Lau]

actually i run into this a lot (the messaging, the pot is fine). People at my office, myself included, get frazzled when they can't focus on a single task, instead answering a phone call ever 5 minutes, or answering an email, all on unrelated projects... I've been encouraging my team to take 1 hour a day, shut down Lotus, forward calls to voicemail, and see what a difference it makes. Anyone else working in offices, I suggest the same...

Actually, my boyfriend works at a university where the network and support is so terrible that the email goes down quite a lot. A while ago it went down for a couple of days, and everyone got loads done and went to see people rather than email them. So when it came back he decided he would set his email to check every hour rather than every minute. Unfortunately that lasted about a week. Oh well.

I reckon that's a great idea to get your whole team to do that.

[stubeeef]

Interesting discussion.
Multi-tasking is a brain drain. Pilots have to be trained to do this well, and it is wild to watch a simulator session, or listen to recordings of real cockpit emergencies.
As the work load increases more and more things get missed, often alarms are sounding loudly and you stop hearing them, the instructor or other pilot MIGHT remind you to silence it because it is really bogging you thought process down. We often call it "your brain going to ground", ground like an electrical ground. The seat becomes your "ground" and you can just freeze up if you are not used to it.
The Navy was very big on multi-tasking training. The amount of processing power used to fly fast, low, against people firing at you, and you setting up for your attack at the same time is-to say the least-very "brain" demanding. Add a hangover or alcohol or drugs and pilots become "dumb" or in my case "dumber" very quick.

[Peterkro]

Interesting discussion.
Multi-tasking is a brain drain. Pilots have to be trained to do this well, and it is wild to watch a simulator session, or listen to recordings of real cockpit emergencies.
As the work load increases more and more things get missed, often alarms are sounding loudly and you stop hearing them, the instructor or other pilot MIGHT remind you to silence it because it is really bogging you thought process down. We often call it "your brain going to ground", ground like an electrical ground. The seat becomes your "ground" and you can just freeze up if you are not used to it.
The Navy was very big on multi-tasking training. The amount of processing power used to fly fast, low, against people firing at you, and you setting up for your attack at the same time is-to say the least-very "brain" demanding. Add a hangover or alcohol or drugs and pilots become "dumb" or in my case "dumber" very quick.

That seems a very good arguement for having only women pilots.

[jsw]

That seems a very good arguement for having only women pilots.
?? Because women never drink or use drugs?

[Peterkro]

?? Because women never drink or use drugs?

No, because as I'm sure you've noticed women generally can multitask much better than men.(maybe you don't have enough contact with women to have noticed)
:p

[StarbucksSam]

Interestingly enough, I have been Instant Messaging for ten years, and I've found that I have actually become smarter because of it. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I have learned a lot about the social dynamics of being protected behind a computer screen. On IM, I type the way I type in these IM's, but sometimes I let caps or typos go. In general though, I stay away from "lyk omg r u goin 2 hu w her!11?!/!/!//?11".

[jsw]

No, because as I'm sure you've noticed women generally can multitask much better than men.(maybe you don't have enough contact with women to have noticed)
:pI've had enough contact with women to know they think they can multi-task better than men. ;)

[Peterkro]

I've had enough contact with women to know they think they can multi-task better than men. ;)
Well its very noticeable to me as I can concentrate very well on one thing but give me more to do I lose it totally,most women I see can converse,cook dinner,look after children and fart at the same time.

[stubeeef]

I recommended a girl in my last squadron to be an instructor pilot, and I presently am a Corp Captain, my co pilot is a girl who has not as yet been able to upgrade to captain.

Women are not better OR worse in the cockpit as men, I have found them to be both better and worse depending on the individual. Many are a 1000 times better than I will ever be, and many are accidents waiting to happen, just like the men.

[FoxyKaye]

I hope I didn't brain my damage. :p

[Moxiemike]

Imagine using IM while stoned in a Wendy's Drive-Thru late at night. You could kill TONS of little black girls on bikes. :)

[rainman::|:|]

Imagine using IM while stoned in a Wendy's Drive-Thru late at night. You could kill TONS of little black girls on bikes. :)



ahahaha that's great... chapelle's show should do a skit :)

[840quadra]

Imagine using IM while stoned in a Wendy's Drive-Thru late at night. You could kill TONS of little black girls on bikes. :)



Were did that come from?

I don't find that comment funny at all.

[wdlove]

I only check my messages once a day and respond if necessary. It would still seem that active use of the mind and hands would be better than sitting and watching TV. An active mind is very important. It is needed to post on MacRumors.

[Moxiemike]

Were did that come from?

I don't find that comment funny at all.

I find i hilarious that THAT IS one of THE anti-drug commercial that our wonderful country has developed.

Ever seen it? It's not funny but HORRIBLY funny at the same time.

[Moxiemike]

ahahaha that's great... chapelle's show should do a skit :)


OT: I hear Chapelle's show has been "suspended" for the time being, with no real reason why. Another great one in limbo.

Olbermann on Countdown mentioned it--was saying how surreal it is that some crappy shows stay on the air....and great ones go to the dogs.

[~Shard~]

OT: I hear Chapelle's show has been "suspended" for the time being, with no real reason why. Another great one in limbo.

Olbermann on Countdown mentioned it--was saying how surreal it is that some crappy shows stay on the air....and great ones go to the dogs.

At least Family Guy was brought back!

[stubeeef]

his show is suspended at his request.

[Mechcozmo]

So, by posting this in MR, we kill brain cells as we learn about us killing them.

Right now, in my response to you, I am killing brain cells in an attempt to warn others of the damage to your brain in a topic started by someone who killed brain cells in the process of posting this article.

I lost myself in there... so am I right or wrong? :confused:

[MacFan25863]

Right now, in my response to you, I am killing brain cells in an attempt to warn others of the damage to your brain



Sacrificing yourself for the greater good. Very noble.

[sjpetry]

This explains alot.......wait what were we about talking? :confused:

[Mechcozmo]

This explains alot.......wait what were we about talking? :confused:

My brain hurts.

Who are you and what are you doing here, again? :confused:

[sjpetry]

My brain hurts.

Who are you and what are you doing here, again? :confused:
Me bain huts tooo.

[PlaceofDis]

just be glad that our brains dont turn to mush posting here.....wait a minute....

:D

[Mechcozmo]

just be glad that our brains dont turn to mush posting here.....wait a minute....

:D

So I should stop eating that grey stuff? Damn, it tasted good too...

[~Shard~]

So I should stop eating that grey stuff? Damn, it tasted good too...

HAHAHAHAHA I don't get it...

[PlaceofDis]

HAHAHAHAHA I don't get it...

I Love this thread! what was it about again?

[~Shard~]

I Love this thread! what was it about again?

What's a thread? :confused:

[Mechcozmo]

HAHAHAHAHA I don't get it...

Tilt your head to the left or right... make sure you have a bowl ready. Grey stuff comes out, but it gets harder to hear after words. Yeah. Tabasco Steak Sauce. I feel pretty. Who has scissors?

[sorryiwasdreami]

What if you message AND smoke....... ah nevermind ;)

2 negatives make a positive.

[sorryiwasdreami]

I don't find that comment funny at all.

LOL.

[~Shard~]

Tilt your head to the left or right... make sure you have a bowl ready. Grey stuff comes out, but it gets harder to hear after words. Yeah. Tabasco Steak Sauce. I feel pretty. Who has scissors?

Ah, gotcha - cool! Yummy...