Information (Diet) Overload? Real or Not...

The Information Diet was quite an interesting read in several ways. I really liked the concept of comparing food with information and I found many more correlations than I ever anticipated with comparing such unlike items. But, I felt that talking about all the different components that go into information using (like eating) really does have different types of information, not unlike when you look at nutrition. This all being said, there were several things that I disagreed with- particularly when he goes into the topic of "there is no such thing as information overload". I find this to be untrue. I think there is TOTALLY a point where you reach information overload status. I think that he literally mean that our brains make room for new information and thus there is no such thing as information overload in that sense- but I think there is info overload when it comes to how you personally feel. For instance, I recently went to Costco on a Sunday in Northern Virginia. I can almost hear the groans that go along with this- it was a poor decision from the start, but alas I needed some items that could not wait until an obscure hour during the week. (Sidetone: the fact that we cannot allow ourselves to go anywhere in NOVA on the weekend because we fear the crowds and the ridiculousness of the general populace always baffles me. I hope that I never become accustomed to it, because that would make me one of "them" the people who perpetually make the trip so AWFUL.) So, I am digressing here, but I walked into Costco and it was like a scene from either The Hunger Games or a movie similar to World War Z where everyone is scavenging for food after an apocalypse-type event. I am exaggerating, but not as much as I would like. There were tons of people everywhere and the line to pay was crazy- in short, I had some serious information overload in terms of the way I felt. My brain was fine, dealing with all the stimuli around me, but I felt anxious about it all. This is what I mean by there being such a thing as info overload. 

Next, I thought that infoveganism is crazy. I am so sorry to say, but it (just like veganism) seems to go way over the necessary limits and into something, well crazy. Like I said, I think this because I personally do not feel that I am obsessed with information to the point of needing to monitor it to the degree that Johnson does. Maybe that is because as a teacher and not a person working from home, I literally am unable to look at a technology device (that is not work related) for more than 7 hours a day. That is fine with me, but I feel that careful monitoring of your devices and making sure you use them (like everything) in moderation is a fine way to succeed in life. Quite frankly, I think that Johnson's level of information consumption before he started infoveganism was a little on the obsessive side. Perhaps I would need something drastic as well. 

This all being said, I did really agree with most of the points in the Information Diet, I also see the correlation of why we read it, and I felt that it was good to think about WHAT we are using, HOW we are using it, HOW MUCH we are using information, and WHY we are using it. Awareness about yourself and your habits are always a good thing. We need to do a lot of self reflection as humans, to make sure we grow and prosper. The Information Diet will effect or impact my practice because it applies to my students in the way of cyber safety. This is a new unit I am starting and the Info Diet gave me a lot to think about and incorporate into my new lessons. It is quite a bit of food for thought and I am working through it.