Leisure is the enemy of the public in any society. Leisure is largely non-productive. The public’s quest for leisure reflects a freedom from fear and wish to be distracted.
Excitement is distracting. Athletic, artistic, and theatrical performances can be exciting. Graphic art and music, in all forms, can be distracting. Spectator sports are intended to be exciting. The reading of fiction can be an escape from reality. Gambling and otherwise competing can become compelling.
The zenith of many societies occurs contemporaneously with the flourishing of arts, performances, and spectator sports, as audiences are a required for all. Audiences are watchers, not doers. Audiences are investing time which could have been otherwise focused.
Religions divert the attention of their followers from immediate realties. Yes, religions can be used as crowd control mechanisms, but would not the followers be better served if the time spent in praying was spent on making themselves more valuable to their communities and therefore to themselves?
In our society, because of technological development, audiences can be, and largely are, remote as opposed to being congregated. We watch and participate using electronic communication.
If it was assumed that an average adult’s time was worth only $5.00 per hour, what might be the collective value of the time invested by users in: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest and Snapchat? Of course, services such as: Netflix, HBO, Hulu, etc. also require the time of those being serviced.
If only a portion of the time spent by those watching others, were used to improve themselves, would not they and our society be better served?
It should be possible and positive for those in control of our societies to encourage public self-improvement. If so, it should also be both possible and positive to limit the amount of time spent in watching, rather than doing.
Arthur Lipper, Chairman
British Far East Holdings Ltd.
14911 Caminito Ladera,
Del Mar, CA 92014
+1 858 793 7100
arthurlipper@gmail.com
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