Tag Archives: Cognitive Surplus

Cognitive Surplus? Part 2

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Well, Clay Shirky did not address all the concerns that I had but he did qualify several of his ideas. Much of his concepts of the surplus that he discusses is attributed to opportunity. While I agree that opportunities shaping our society many are not available to all persons due to socioeconomic situations. That being stated, Shirky highlights some great points and provides inspiration to tackle problems greater than one person’s capabilities.

There is one analogy that I found very profound, because it explains an issue that I have struggled with in my role as an academic. Generational profiling is a big trend in higher education and this type of blanket generalizations can be useful in discussion when citing age demographics but I think it falls apart when you apply it to the population characteristics of an age bracket as a whole. Shirky compares this profiling to horoscopes, which I find a valid comparison because they are about that accurate in my experience. I have sat through several presentations, from invited speakers at various educational, events where generational profiles were spoke as gospel. “The Millennials are always tech savvy and older generations can never compete with their prowess.”  I have not heard this statement exactly but this seems to be the impression that the audience is left with upon departure. Shirky reasoning behind any generational differences is related to opportunities of the time. For example, if someone that is fifty today had FaceBook, or any other social media, available to them as a teenager they would have likely taken advantage of this opportunity just as the current young population’s utilization. A test of any pice of art is the initiation of thought and Shirky follows through in spades.

Overall, I found this book full of engaging ideas and very enjoyable.

Cognitive Surplus?

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I have started reading Clay Shriky’s book Cognitive Surplus. So far I find myself conflicted half ways through the book, while I agree that there is plenty of mental waste out in the world there seems to be a lack of consideration of the quality and a quantity of this surplus that can be leveraged for spare projects. He cites the 8-8-8 break down of time eight for work, eight for free time and eight eight for sleep. Shirky focuses on the eight hours of free time for calculating this surplus that can be applied to various project facilitated through social works enabled be digital technologies.

Like many people I have many responsibilities that consume that precious eight hours that quite often eats into that eight hours reserved for sleep. Does that mean that I do not have spare time, absolutely not. Over the past few years I used that spare time to  finish my Master’s degree. But this pursuit often displaced time with my family or household duties, it was with the support of my family that I was able to keep life in check. But I graduated in May, what have I been doing with my time? This time has been spent enjoying the company of my wife and family, taking up those house project that I had put off for so long, and even doing a bit of nothing at all because I can.

The eight hours that is in in question get used for many duties that I suspect that other have to deal with, as well. Meals, yes feeding myself and family. There is a meal before work and after that likely eat up at least an hour of that time, if I cook a family meal in the evening that can easily be an hour and a half to cook and eat with the family. Commuting, that driving to and from work, requires between one hour and two hours. Personal hygiene requires 30-40 minutes, we have to clean ourselves. Household clean up and maintenance takes time whether you live in a apartment or house. And lets not forget the kids, if you have them, they can take up quite a bit of time and make other duties take longer. After all this I am tired sometimes, I may be even a bit tired thinking about it.

I am hoping that Shirky accounts for “life” in the last few chapters but I am not feeling him getting there. I do not think his theories are off base but I do believe that he over estimates the availability of free time.