Why do we focus on some things and not others?

Human beings observe the world around them using their only tool, the five senses. No matter how observant a person may think they are, it is important to remember that the senses are subjective and distorted by emotional bias. This bias is different for every individual and is based on a person's past experiences. Therefore; we focus on some things and not others because we are biased when we observe information. We use our senses and past experiences to interpret what we are observing and sometimes this limits how much of the actual picture we see.

In addition to the senses being inaccurate, people organize information as they observe it further limiting what they see. It is impossible for a person to analyze the myriad of details involved in the observation process. People use subjective reasoning to select the details they focus on. Often times these details are superficial and are general assumptions based on previous experience; they do not accurately depict what is being observed. We then organize these partial details in order to make sense of them and then assign meaning to the limited details we had just taken in. Since we observe using senses which are subjective (distorted by emotional bias), we compartmentalize the information to make sense of it, then interpret the sum of this information (which is often general and superficial) it becomes easy to see that there is a lot of details we simply neglect to take in.

Further limiting our view is the actual way we interpret this information. Even after we have missed many details through the observation process, we then limit what we are focusing on based on how we choose to create a perception. Like I said before, we usually generalize while observing to more easily interpret and organize the information we take in. We use this information to draw conclusions about what we observe and perceive in order to make sense of it. But, when we cannot fully realize what we are perceiving, we start to fill in the gaps based on internal information. We start to attribute certain information to long held assumptions which are internal. Although we may not directly observe the details we focus on, we indirectly connect them to what we are actively perceiving so we can believe we see the full picture when, in fact, we are almost entirely creating this picture ourselves. This causes us to further distort what we are observing and perceiving making the picture we actually see marginalized.

So, to restate the idea of why do we focus on some things and not others, we are humans beings. Most of how we interpret comes from preconceptions we develop based on past experience. These preconceptions find their way into our senses and make us limit what we observe. We then generalize or compartmentalize much of what we are taking in to make quick sense of it. If we cannot make direct sense of what we are focusing on, we then use concocted notions to fill the gaps which actually paints a false picture. This causes us to inadvertently miss more details.

If my explanation did not make sense, then maybe you were focusing on something and missing something else... (another cheesy joke)

The Inevitable...

Am I for or against cell phone/pager/beeper use in public?

It is difficult for me to precisely answer this question. I believe that there is not a simple yes or no to such a question. As far as I am concerned, I straddle the for and against, but...

For:
Cell phone use in public seems inevitable. In our society, the normal person carries a cell phone 24-7. And for those who don't, society has come up with a colorful term; living off the grid. In addition to the all pervasiveness of cell phones, when you purchase a cell phone you enter into a certain kind of social contract. You cannot ignore calls if you're available. If you aren't available then you better send a text immediately after a missed call to explain that you are not currently available. If you send a call straight to your voicemail then you better call the sender later with a damn good explanation... As technology gives us better and better ways to stay connected, then these solutions have a way of becoming completely integrated into our lives; and cell phones have not escaped this vacuum. And so, I suppose that I am for the idea of cell phone use because I think they are an inevitable part of my and everyone else's' lives regardless of whether or not I like them.

Against:
As I appreciate any other form of courtesy, I appreciate cell phone courtesy. What I mean is I believe that, like everything else, there is certain etiquette one should follow when they become a cell phone user. The only real reason I am against cell phones is because of their obnoxious use in public. This, however, is a very big concern for me. I really detest when I hear cell phones in the wrong places (such as a movie theater) as well as when their users are unusually loud. (although this is not an unusual occurrence) In the consideration of others, one should monitor their behaviour. Regardless of what some people think, there are other people aside from themselves and these people have rights, thoughts, ideas and feelings. I don't want to hear how your girlfriend has that exotic bedroom ritual. Just keep your discussion at a level where I can tune it out...

...precisely where I stand is hard to figure. I would think I am more for than against. However, I refuse to acknowledge that our world is black and white. I am both bothered by the device(s) and enthralled by their connectivity. But, why go against human advancement and achievement because a few in the lot decide to act like jackasses? Plus, like I said, you better not ignore that call, or you have a new human problem caused by ever changing technology. Go figure...!