The Connected World

Pay Attention! I said Pay Attention Son!

David M. Sherr

Saw a guy yesterday in a Mercedes in the fast lane @ 65 mph texting with both hands steering with his elbowsa terrible accident waiting to happen. Are we so addicted to being connected that we abandon all caution? Apparently so! According to Daniel Kahnemans recent book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, attention is the scarcest mental resource. Each person has only so much to go around. Looney Toons and Merry Melodies had it right when Foghorn Leghorn would say to his latest mark, Pay Attention! I said Pay Attention Son! So much for the opening cartoon. Now, on to our feature presentation. But, first, the Newsreel. Today on the Twitter feed from a good friend and colleague:

@cgerrishCliff Gerrish

The New Attention Economy: Texting During Surgery | Endless Innovation | Big Thinkhttp://t.co/5uWQG1wZ

I have similar stories from current experiences and those in the 70s and 80s. Like the stories in the Tweet link above, these stories get to the heart (pun intendedonly a little lower in the anatomy as you will soon discover below) of how much disdain some of the medical system providers have for patients. The script below depicts a real event dramatization of how a urologic surgeon performing a vasectomy had the undivided attention of the patient, but not vice versa, and, how the patient caught and held the Dr.s attention. This should make an amusing short film: SCENE: Urologists Day Surgery Clinic at a University Hospital, DAY 1973 FADE IN: CUE SONG: Hes got the whole world in his hands Two black females, NURSE and ASSISTANT, drape a WHITE SHEET over the 30-year old PATIENTs knees and stomach while he is lying on the EXAMINATION TABLE, feet in stirrups. NURSE and ASSISTANT step back and observe, awaiting further instructions. The male SURGEON enters the room snapping his latex gloves. He sits in front of PATIENTs groin and begins to administer the local anesthesia with a syringe handed to him by the NURSE. FADE SONG: His male PARTNER enters and stands next to him engaging in banter with him.

Copyright 2011, David M. Sherr

david@NewGlobalEnterprises.Net

12/01/11-1

The Connected World

Pay Attention! I said Pay Attention Son!

David M. Sherr

PARTNER Be careful! SURGEON (to PARTNER) Hey! I could do this blindfolded. (looking up to PATIENT) Can you feel this? PATIENT (perturbed) Yes! SURGEON Huh! I shot enough xylocaine in there to numb a horse. PATIENT I felt pressure, not pain. Its numb. SURGEON (to PARTNER) We got ourselves a comedian. The SURGEON and PARTNER continue to banter as the PATIENT thinks and grimaces looking at NURSE and ASSISTANT. They both smile sympathetically. As SURGEON begins to cut, he and PARTNER have moved on to discuss selling the SURGEONs Buick. PATIENT Thats the first cut. SURGEON (pausing the banter) You shouldnt be able to feel that! PATIENT I could feel it in my back. It went cold from shock. My autonomic nervous system responded to the incision. PARTNER Hey! He knows his physiology!

Copyright 2011, David M. Sherr

david@NewGlobalEnterprises.Net

12/01/11-2

The Connected World

Pay Attention! I said Pay Attention Son!

David M. Sherr

SURGEON (Bending into the operation) Harumph!! NURSE and ASSISTANT look at each other with amusement. SURGEON is operating quietly for a moment and then speaks to his PARTNER again. SURGEON Its in good shape. Think I will ask the ... PATIENT (Interrupting) Excuse me Dr. Do any women physicians do vasectomies? SURGEON stops operating. He looks up and finishes to his PARTNER. SURGEON the Blue Book Value. SURGEON then turns to PATIENT, thinks for a moment. SURGEON (shaking head) Er, no! (excitedly in disbelief) Anyway, WOULD you want a WOMEN to do this to you?? PARTNER shakes head no while NURSE and ASSISTANT chuckle. PATIENT (pauses and then dreamily) It might be interesting! PARTNER opens mouth in surprise. NURSE and ASSISTANT gasp and put hands over their respective mouths, barely stifling laughs. SURGEON frowns, grunts and returns to finish the operation without another word until he is done and stands up. SURGEON (slapping PATIENTs knee, to NURSE and ASSISTANT) Dress the stitches and clean him up. SURGEON and PARTNER leave the room muttering to each other.
Copyright 2011, David M. Sherr david@NewGlobalEnterprises.Net 12/01/11-3

The Connected World

Pay Attention! I said Pay Attention Son!

David M. Sherr

ASSISTANT removes SHEET while NURSE dresses PATIENTs groin. NURSE (laughing out loud, shaking head) Da-amn! Honey Child, that is the FIRST time he ever shut up! PATIENT grimaces and winces as ASSISTANT places an ice pack on his groin. CUE SOUND: Dun dah duh dun duh dunt. DUNT! FADE TO WHITE He finished the job effectively. I healed quickly and nicely. Never fathered another child. Being an alpha male, despite the risk, I couldnt help myself. I assessed the risk of him botching the job because of humiliation as less than because of inattentive negligence. My gonads and non-reproductive choice deserved his undivided attention, in my humble opinion. While the surgeons partner was in the room, he was connecting with him, not the operation, let alone me. This is just enhanced these days with continued cyber connectivity.

Copyright 2011, David M. Sherr

david@NewGlobalEnterprises.Net

12/01/11-4