Do Look Up

There’s a trope in New York City that you can identify tourists from their propensity to walk around staring up at the tall buildings. This isn’t necessarily meant to be interpreted literally, but rather it’s more about the fact that the tourists are fully present—taken aback by everything to look at, much of which is in the upward direction depending on where you are in the city.

I remember the first time I visited Manhattan, about a decade ago, and I felt overwhelmed at the time by the city: the lights, the sights, the sounds, everything happening all around all at once. It’s overwhelming to the senses, whether you look up, down, or sideways.

The Wisdom of Wonder #

The tourists get something right, though: they look around. They look up, down, sideways, and stare at all there is to see. They take it in, experience what’s in front of them, and exist in the reality before them at that moment. Some of those who live here will walk around staring at their phones, scrolling through Instagram or TikTok on the subway, refreshing constantly while the vibrant reality passes by right in front of them.

When we avoid eye contact with strangers and disconnect from our surroundings, we miss the city that’s right in front of us.

The Evolution of Distraction #

Internet-connected mobile devices and social media platforms aren’t solely responsible for our diverted attention. This pattern started long before we had cellular devices. It began with the radio, continued with television, and now it’s reached a level of ubiquity and options that is well described by the brilliant Bo Burnham, who rightfully won numerous awards and accolades for this fine piece of work.

Finding Balance in a Digital World #

It’s refreshing to see people in New York City who still walk around looking up, and it doesn’t have to be only the tourists. I won’t pretend I don’t look at my phone sometimes, but I’m trying to be more conscious of how engaging these pocket-sized devices can be, and how they pull against whatever physical world is right in front of me.

Technological Reflection #

Ad-based media, whether it’s news outlets, social platforms, or anything in between, trains people to keep clicking instead of paying attention. This isn’t new; plenty of older systems were built to optimize for efficiency first and let the human cost land wherever it landed.

I like new technology. I just get tired of hearing every new thing framed as progress when so much of it is really about squeezing out a little more engagement. Between the incentives, the hype cycles, and people using words loosely, I usually come away wanting something dumber and more straightforward.

Reclaiming Attention #

Every time I see a website prompting me to install an app, or encounter self-checkout systems with complex interfaces, I’m reminded of the value of occasionally putting this stuff down for a bit.

When tourists look up, they’re not doing it to make a point. They’re just still paying attention. I’d like to hang onto more of that, no matter how long I’ve lived here.