[jeffxtreme]

That's an interesting piece. But I wonder if it's criticizing more the idea of "working in a vacuum" without taking into account what's going on in the world, as opposed to "focused work" (which imho, can still be work on something culturally aligned).

[EricE]

"what's going on in the world"

Just triggered a thought - what's so special about "what's going on in the world", especially when the majority of what people focus on with social media will never affect them and at best is the equivalent of local gossip.

Only now, because of the wonders of the Internet and social media, mundane crap from the opposite side of the planet can now feel local too.

[npsimons]

> Just triggered a thought - what's so special about "what's going on in the world", especially when the majority of what people focus on with social media will never affect them and at best is the equivalent of local gossip.

I came to this conclusion years and years ago, when I stopped watching TV news because of ads, but had the unintended side effect that I became more informed about the world (because I had more time to invest in reading true journalism). When I tell people I don't watch the news, they scoff and claim I'm ignorant. I ask them what the most important thing was in the news two weeks ago. They never can tell me.

[seltzered_]

Yeah, I like your distinction. I like the idea of focused work that takes into account larger 'black elephants' going on in the world, stuff that may not be part of the popular social discourse of the moment but is still happening.