In The Not To-Do List, Rolf Dobelli rightfully cautions against the trap of content.
Content is the mainstream drug of our times.
[. . .]
Here, you’ll have the illusion of being productive – you are broadening your horizons, after all.
[. . .]
‘Interesting’ is one of the most dangerous words in this context. Yes, we know, everything is interesting!
Rolf Dobelli, The Not To-Do List, chapter 52 – Fall into the Content Trap.
Everything is interesting. That is the problem, isn’t it?
Interesting is not an inherent feature of a thing; it is entirely a matter of perspective. If something is interesting then it is that way because it is interesting to someone. That’s it. So, in a way, you think something is interesting, because you are interested in it.
Years ago my wife and I were road-tripping. I recall an exchange that went something like this:
Her: Hey, see that sign? Some kind of wildlife museum. You think it’s interesting?
Me: Hm. I think it depends. It is if you’re interested.
Her: Yeah.
. . .
Her: My parents went. They didn’t like it.
Me: Right, okay.
Anything can be interesting.
To be awake, to participate in the world (online or not) means to have things competing for your attention. As if the natural world or the realities in your head are not exciting enough, people (and organizations) are ever producing more things – content – such as movies, books, articles, videos, papers, photos, messages, updates, posts, and so forth, and so forth.
Producing needs consuming. Companies (and individuals) are trying hard to get your attention, benefit from you being interested. There is only one of you and there are so many of them – and some of them are really well-funded and invest heavily in getting your attention. Appearing interesting, getting you interested, is a great way to capture attention.
Interesting can indeed feel like you are doing something, perhaps even something mentally stimulating. You feel like you are engaging your mind after all, perhaps you can point out things you learned, or new connections you have made. You are feeling informed and that does seem to matter. So, it seems easy to justify for yourself.
Of course, you cannot possibly keep up with all the interesting that is being produced and sent your way.
Your time is inherently limited and so is the amount of attention you can spend. Interesting is not the same as important or relevant.
Interesting can easily be code for distracting.