death by distraction

"The sound shivers through the walls, through the table, through the
window frame, and into my finger. These distraction-oholics. These
focus-ophobics. Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn't
watching. He's singing and dancing. He's pulling rabbits out of a hat.
Big Brother's busy holding your attention every moment you're awake.
He's making sure you're always distracted. He's making sure you're
fully absorbed. He's making sure your imagination withers. Until it's
as useful as your appendix. He's making sure your attention is always
filled. And this being fed, it's worse than being watched. With the
world always filling you, no one has to worry about what's in your
mind. With everyone's imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a
threat to the world."
- Chuck Palahniuk, _Lullaby_