The return of the Brain Borers

A few days ago, I commented about the idea that Geeks suffer from AD/HD. A physician with many Geeks in his practice raised the issue. He speculated about connections between “poor attention span” and Geeks.

Here, I want to extend an intriguing suggestion he made: Geeks use computers to keep themselves mentally stimulated.

Think about that for a moment. Environmental Adderall! The prescription treatments for AD/HD are stimulants. So it may not be a complete surprise to discover that inadequate environmental stimulation would mimic (or create) the symptoms of AD/HD. Nor is it remarkable that adequate environmental stimulation would “cure” those symptoms. Perhaps a permanent change in the environment would “cure” the underlying disorder. A disorder, mind you, that otherwise requires chronic medication to control.

So working on computers may be a form of self-medication for people who might otherwise suffer from the Brain Borers. But what a way to self-medicate! No prescription. And they get paid (well) to do it. Lots of people might wish they had this disorder. The Geeks might even be glad that nobody cured them. Indeed, all of us can be glad that the Geeks have not been cured. If they ever cure the Geeks, who will fix our computers?

But this self-medication only works for Geeks. Where else could people find the environmental stimulation they need to fight off the Brain Borers? Actually, I just picked up a clue from the New York Times Syndicate:

“Watching too much violent TV and playing too many violent video games takes a toll on children's social and physical development, researchers report.”

I won’t go into the details. I think the New York Times has been running this story every few months for the last ten years. Before that, there weren’t enough violent video games, so the story had to be about violent TV. I can’t remember whether they did stories about the threat of violent radio.

But you realize that TV and video games (violent or not) are another weapon in the battle of the Brain Borers. Less satisfactory, because there is not a big labor market for TV watchers or Video game players. But a clue, nevertheless.

The doctor pointed out in his blog that there is a big difference between passively listening to (other) people talk at a meeting and actively working with software to make it do the job. I described a similar issue (not limited to Geeks) in an earlier blog: State statements and quest questions. State statements are declarative statements. They invite passive listening. And perhaps a little nap. Quest questions ask you to search your brain and the information available to you for answers. The invite interaction between the information you are getting and what you have stored in your brain.

A while back, I took up the topic of Brain-Based Communication. This discussion is an example. First, a simple and generally accepted principle of psychology: The more brain modules you get involved in what you are doing, the better you will understand it. Now I will extend this principle (by speculation): The more brain modules you get involved in something, the more effectively you will be able to focus on it. That may lead to a longer attention span. Or it may lead to a more effective use of that 10 minutes you can muster before you meet the Brain Borers. Either way, you will get better service out of your brain.

And here is a trick I use when I notice the Brain Borers hanging around. The Brain Borers are a problem. My view of a problem is that it is an opportunity being mismanaged. So in a few days, I will have some things to say about the problem (or opportunity) of bored Geeks in meetings. And about how to use the Force against the Brain Borers.