#53: Speed

We are obsessed with speed. Getting a kick out of pushing ourselves to the limit and beyond easily justifies the additional risk.

Is it time to slow down?

Local authorities introduced a 30km/h speed limit due to construction work on the main road some time ago. I have gotten used to it by now. The speeding ticket I got within weeks literally «sped up» my adaption process to the new normal. I no longer feel constrained to go slow.

It feels different in other areas. Google even claims that their search speed directly impacts its users’ appetite to search:

«Our research shows that if search results are slowed by even a fraction of a second, people search less.»

What is the point of searching for anything, if the engine keeps you waiting for more than a tenth of a second?

The goldfish doesn’t mind. It apparently managed to keep its attention spam at a solid 9 seconds while we saw ours drop from 12 to 8 seconds from 2000 to 2015. It is fair to assume that we have suffered another significant drop since then thanks to constant (over-)exposure to multiple streams of media. Hence, picking up speed in how we consume data is the only way we keep up with an ever shorter attention spam.

How much more is really more?

There is that saying that «less is more». Its application to speed would translate into «slowing down speeds up». By processing data, turning it into meaningful information and understanding its implications, we could certainly all benefit.

It comes at a huge risk, though. One of the implications of «going slow and deep» would inevitably be to miss out. You can’t possibly follow up on B as long as you focus on A. Your reputation of being a multi-tasking person might suffer as a result. Impossible for you to comment on this, like that and also share something else simultaneously.

On the other hand, you are likely to gain a deeper understanding on a topic of interest to you. It is possible that you become the go-to-person on one or multiple subjects. A growing appetite for learning is also the result of digging deeper thereby building more awareness and clarity.

There is justification for speed in a lot of areas. It comes with risks and at a cost. Up to us to determine when to slow down and when to speed up.

Slow brewing

Slow baking

Slow cooking

Slow food

Slow fashion

Slow living

Speed dating

Speed boat

Speed chess

Speed dial

Speed limit

Speed wifi

Speed writing

Speed reading

Which of these expressions do give you more of a kick? Are you more of a slow down or speed up person?

That is an easy one for me to answer.