Reprint: Fields of Distraction

I ran across this commentary from the Best of Skew pages, and I thought I'd reprint it here:

The fields of distraction

Written by a Seven-wing

People who would've been physicists in a previous generation end up being 3-D graphic designers.

Students who would've studied engineering end up joining a band and touring the world.

Geniuses who would've been the next great chemists end up creating illegal drugs or lifestyle drugs or becoming drug abusers themselves.

Men who could've handled the rigors of space and piloted the stars end up swinging for the fences, or dunking a ball.

The possibilities of important innovations can and have been lost to the fields of distraction.

Men who wake up and realize their potential are unable to fulfill it, because they're too old , with too many bills, and not enough time or money to invest in themselves.

Men who spent their lives on unimportant things, devoting energy and passion to ultimately useless pursuits and glory -- all victims of the fields of distraction.

This is not truth -- only the beginning of a journey of thought.

***

Thanks for reading.

I think, considering how increasingly distracted we've all become with our collective ADHD, that this piece deserves to see the light of day and reconsideration.