I heard a discussion the other day about the speed of modern life and how we all had to adapt or suffer the consequences and it started me thinking. There is little doubt that there is a problem and before I go any further I'll admit that this is a Crumblie's view of life! It seems to me that everything today has to be fast, from food through transport and even the way young people speak and dance today. For an example, let's look at the proposed high speed rail link, HS2, which is going to gobble billions of Pounds over the next ten years. We are told that it is needed to expand capacity and shave an hour off the journey time from the Great Wen to the North of Britain.
Leaving aside the question "How many of those passengers need to travel?" which is a separate subject, what will people do with the time they 'save'? Will they be less 'time poor'? We are told that thanks to the miracles of modern communications and wireless connections, they will be able to work using their laptops and smart phones as though they were in their office as they are whisked at high speed on their journey. They will be able to be 'busy' in just the same way as they can work from their sofa at home in the evening while watching their box sets. I am told that many people never switch their phones off and can be contacted at any time day or night and this is an advantage in this global economy spanning time zones. Well excuse me! I have a slightly different take on all this.....
One of the great advantages about my time as a long distance driver in the days before cell phones was that once I set off in the morning for the North of Scotland I was my own boss until I got back. I was trusted to get on with the job and could relax. In consequence I was very productive and there was never a single complaint. I was never 'busy', just quietly working away and getting the job done. Neither I nor my boss was disadvantaged and it was all quite relaxing.
So exactly what is this 'busy'? I have the feeling that what we are looking at here is the distinction between action and activity. How many times have you seen someone buzzing round like a fly in a jam jar and getting nowhere? In my experience the most productive people are the ones who work slowly with purpose and see nothing wrong with taking a few minutes out for a break.
Could it be that those passengers on HS2 would be more productive if they took the time to sit back, look at the scenery and do some thinking? So my advice is to switch off the phone, stop being busy and act like a normal human being. I promise you that the result will be not feeling 'time poor'!
The engineer hard at work! Bancroft 1977.
