My first ever online publication was on January 17, 2007, in a blogger platform (later acquired by Google) in 2003. I titled it "Fascinated." - for that's how I felt. I was fascinated and still I am, by the vast amount of knowledge that you can get through blogs. Over time, blogging has evolved beyond personal journals to encompass various forms of online publishing, including professional news blogs, corporate blogs, and niche blogs focused on specific topics or interests. With all said, what one person finds fascinating, another might not. You've probably already found this uninteresting because I know that the average human attention span is 8.25 seconds, 4.25 seconds less than in it was in 2000. Research has revealed that we are, indeed, lagging behind the goldfish (9 second attention span!) in terms of being able to focus on a task or object. So please pay attention...
Why should we be fascinated?
Take the example of history and archaeology: Exploring the mysteries of ancient civilizations, archaeological discoveries, and historical events can be incredibly fascinating, shedding light on the complexities of human societies and cultures throughout time. I recall reading the European History in High School (Form 5 and 6, you can finally do the math on age) with much interest in characters such as Napolean Bonaparte. I am actually surprised that it's taken this long for a movie to be featured on him - the movie Napolean is streaming at Apple TV+.
How about human behavior and psychology: The intricacies of human behavior, emotions, cognition, and social interactions offer endless avenues for fascination and study. Topics such as consciousness, memory, decision-making, and the workings of the brain captivate scientists and laypeople alike. How the brain works remains a puzzle for me with only a few pieces in place. All I know is that it gives me the power to speak, imagine and problem solve (wordle is included).
Technological Advancements: The rapid pace of technological innovation continually introduces new and fascinating developments, from artificial intelligence and robotics to space exploration and biotechnology. The recent nosebleed rally on Nvidia reveals its innovations in graphics processing units (GPUs), artificial intelligence (AI), and data center technologies.
I am indeed fascinated that:
the phone takes up, on average, 3 hours and 16 minutes of someone’s day.
The average page visit lasts less than 1 minute, and users typically leave web pages in only 10 to 20 seconds.
The average amount of time someone watches an internet video is 2.7 minutes.
7% of people forget their own birthday occasionally.
Women usually have longer attention spans than men. (sorry Tim!)
The average attention span during a presentation or lecture is about 10-20 minutes.
The human brain is wired to pay attention to novel or threatening stimuli as a survival instinct (since I threated you to read in para 1)
“Nearly 1 in 10 people forget their own birthday from time to time.."
We can easily ignore what we read now about the future, become numb and unfascinated. May I caution you. Consider this: A recent circulating social media post showed a 1963 newspaper article accurately foretelling the ability to carry a phone in one's pocket in the future. Accompanied by a picture of a woman holding an object resembling a modern flip-phone, the post is indeed genuine. The article was featured in the Mansfield, Ohio News Journal on April 18th, 1963. But predictions regarding cell phones extend even further into the past. In 1926, Nikola Tesla envisioned a future where individuals could instantly communicate with each other using devices small enough to fit inside a vest pocket. If you had been fascinated enough about this, Steve Jobs and Apple would have been your fulfillment.
“Fascination can spark creativity and innovation. It encourages you to think critically, make connections between disparate ideas, and explore unconventional solutions to problems..”
Whether you should be fascinated by something depends on your interests, values, and curiosity. Here are a few reasons why being fascinated by certain things can be beneficial:
Personal Growth: Fascination can drive personal growth by motivating you to explore new ideas, concepts, and experiences. It can lead to self-discovery and broaden your understanding of the world around you.
Passion and Engagement: Being fascinated by something often leads to passion and deep engagement. When you're passionate about a subject, you're more likely to invest time and effort into learning about it, which can lead to mastery and fulfillment.
Creativity and Innovation: Fascination can spark creativity and innovation. It encourages you to think critically, make connections between disparate ideas, and explore unconventional solutions to problems.
Happiness and Well-Being: Engaging in activities or topics that fascinate you can bring joy and a sense of fulfillment to your life. It can provide a source of inspiration, meaning, and purpose.
Connection with Others: Shared fascination can foster connections with like-minded individuals and create opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and mutual growth.
Ultimately, what one person finds most fascinating may not resonate as strongly with another. The diversity of human interests and curiosities ensures that there is no single "most fascinating thing" for everyone. Instead, the world is full of wonders and mysteries waiting to be discovered and explored, each offering its own unique appeal to those who seek to understand and appreciate them. The average audience attention span is just 8 to 10 minutes. I have kept this reading to a 4-minute read. Now go and be fascinated!
Disclaimer
This blog is written for educational and informational purposes only. By no means do any of its contents recommend, advocate or urge the buying, selling or holding of any financial instrument whatsoever. Trading and investing involves high levels of risk. The author expresses personal opinions and will not assume any responsibility whatsoever for the actions of the reader. They author may or may or may not have positions in Financial Instruments discussed in this blog. Future results can be dramatically different from the opinions expressed therein. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Reprints allowed for private reading only, for all else, please obtain permission.