The Culture of Instant Gratification

Beezer

Beezer

Well-known Member
I think computers have really sped up our brains. You tell by the way people drive, the way they impatiently wait in line-ups...even movies can't have any 'slow parts' anymore which is why Superhero blockbuster action movies are all over the theatres.

When I was a young boy in the 1970's...a teenager in the 1980's... there was time, nuance, subtlety, context, patient observation...etc. Everything is all 'Buzz' now...the music, the Headlines. Fast cars, fast food, fast news.

Everyone wants their Instant Gratification and they aren't prepared to wait. I know I'm not exactly reinventing the wheel here with my comments, but I'd like your thoughts on this just the same.
 

I'm guilty of this as well. If someone posts long, rambling paragraphs on this forum I just skim and move on. I guess I've become that 'Get to your point' type of guy.

Most of us aren't important enough to get so impatient, but it's a trend I see getting worse and worse. Society is becoming much more discourteous because of this, I find.
 
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I am a pretty patient person, but like you, unless a long post is something that really interests me, I will scan over it and move on. Even at Christmas time, I am a calm shopper because I only buy for 3 people and they have already told me what they would like to have. I am also a good listener, so they will drop clues throughout the year as to what their needs are or what is on their wish list. I still go to the malls to shop at that time of the year to see the other people out there and trying to keep in the holiday mood.
 

Beezer said:
I think computers have really sped up our brains. You tell by the way people drive, the way they impatiently wait in line-ups...even movies can't have any 'slow parts' anymore which is why Superhero blockbuster action movies are all over the theatres.

When I was a young boy in the 1970's...a teenager in the 1980's... there was time, nuance, subtlety, context, patient observation...etc. Everything is all 'Buzz' now...the music, the Headlines. Fast cars, fast food, fast news.

Everyone wants their Instant Gratification and they aren't prepared to wait. I know I'm not exactly reinventing the wheel here with my comments, but I'd like your thoughts on this just the same.
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We arenā€™t ALL in the fast lane of life Beezer. Some of us have slower, more tranquil lifestyles regardless of others.
 
I think that the cult of immediate gratification and total self-expression are real, and have taken their toll on society. We have been ā€œclockedā€ to run faster. The wise know, however, that there is more to life than simply increasing its speedā€¦
 
So true. I remember back when people used to do "Lay Away" if you didn't have the money to buy something. But the "I want it now" generation just puts it on a credit card and pays the interest. It removes the anticipation, which is, and should be, an integral part of the owning experience. As I recall Spock mentioned it in Star Trek when he said, "Having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is illogical, but often true".
I also recall that M. Scott Peck addressed it in "The Road Less Traveled", and it left an impression on me how important it is in life to not fall into the instant gratification mindset. It also saves money because you discover how many things are a passing desire, and fade after a few days.
 
I remember back in the 70s or 80s reading an article that said that people who worked in an office setting of any kind become more impatient since office work is always so deadline-oriented. Assembly-line type work is deadline oriented too in its way, but for some reason, assembly-line workers don't become as impatient as office workers; I can't remember what the article said the reason was.
 
being conditioned to expect instant results etc is also missing out on the many good things that take time.... fast is often NOT the best choice.
It is just the fast choice....
Impatience often evolves into anger it seems and that explains people losing their mind over items that should be just let go of.
 
I agree. And everything can be ordered and delivered. Even fast and restaurant food. Grocery delivery has been helpful for many who can't get out as much and I'm not talking about that.

I'm not impatient either. I don't mind waiting. If I order something and it take a bit of time, I'm OK with that.
 
bobcat48 said:
So true. I remember back when people used to do "Lay Away" if you didn't have the money to buy something. But the "I want it now" generation just puts it on a credit card and pays the interest. It removes the anticipation, which is, and should be, an integral part of the owning experience. As I recall Spock mentioned it in Star Trek when he said, "Having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is illogical, but often true".
I also recall that M. Scott Peck addressed it in "The Road Less Traveled", and it left an impression on me how important it is in life to not fall into the instant gratification mindset. It also saves money because you discover how many things are a passing desire, and fade after a few days.
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Good comment and I have to agree, but - - - as I approach 90, I find it hard to start sentences with - -"In a couple of years I'll - - - ".:(
 
bobcat48 said:
So true. I remember back when people used to do "Lay Away" if you didn't have the money to buy something. But the "I want it now" generation just puts it on a credit card and pays the interest. It removes the anticipation, which is, and should be, an integral part of the owning experience. As I recall Spock mentioned it in Star Trek when he said, "Having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is illogical, but often true".
I also recall that M. Scott Peck addressed it in "The Road Less Traveled", and it left an impression on me how important it is in life to not fall into the instant gratification mindset. It also saves money because you discover how many things are a passing desire, and fade after a few days.
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perfectly stated!
Give me everything or the pursuit of everything and I'll take the pursuit.
 
bobcat48 said:
So true. I remember back when people used to do "Lay Away" if you didn't have the money to buy something. But the "I want it now" generation just puts it on a credit card and pays the interest. It removes the anticipation, which is, and should be, an integral part of the owning experience. As I recall Spock mentioned it in Star Trek when he said, "Having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is illogical, but often true".
I also recall that M. Scott Peck addressed it in "The Road Less Traveled", and it left an impression on me how important it is in life to not fall into the instant gratification mindset. It also saves money because you discover how many things are a passing desire, and fade after a few days.
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I'm not so certain it wasn't phased out because retail stores realized it was more financially beneficial to them not having to maintain records and storage for unpaid for inventory. As credit cards became more prevalent, they didn't lose many if any potential customers they just had to finance it themselves.
 

The Culture of Instant Gratification​


Fyrefox said:
I think that the cult of immediate gratification and total self-expression are real, and have taken their toll on society. We have been ā€œclockedā€ to run faster. The wise know, however, that there is more to life than simply increasing its speedā€¦
Click to expand...

I've been guilty for a very long time
Not 'instant gratification' so much
But creating pressing time limits
Some call it 'driven'

When I retired, and we moved to the cabin, winter was coming
Turns out, up there, winter is always coming
Prepping for that starts in June, when the snow/ice melts enough to get a glimpse of terra firma

But that first year, I had to get us up a livable place.....soon

It was like that the first three years

Then

One fine morning, as I sipped that first cup of go juice, I just sat out and watched ol' sol rise
Took it all in
Learned a bit about backing off
savoring

It was an inspiration for this (of which is now my credo)

SAVOR.jpeg
 
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