[dropcap]E[/dropcap]ver get bored? Of course you do, since that's what happens when you're not busy doing something. When I'm out of things to do, I find myself watching a TV show, or on occasion a film. I enjoy watching TV shows because the good ones are usually continuing stories that both make you want to watch more and actually get you to pay attention. Now if your show gets my attention, then you've crafted something unique, because I typically get tired of things quite easily. But this is not my story of how I get bored, it's the truth of how entertainment has taken over our lives.
Let's start with the basics. To an extent, it is common for every person to get tired of something. How long it takes for this to happen always depends on the amount of entertainment that person found within the item or activity. For instance, I'll lose interest in a film if it lacks originality, but will focus again if there is a catchy line or bit of humor that I find to be good. I don't always need something unique -- though I do convey such on here quite often.
Back to the main topic at hand. Gaming has become quite popular since the turn of the century and many large corporations are investing billions into the industry. Some even started as mobile platforms looking at apps -- Apple -- and ended up being so much more. This is because most people find games entertaining. Draw Something, for instance, has recently skyrocketed on the App Store because people love to be social and play games at the same time. (All of this was quite obvious when multiplayer games for the Xbox 360 were such a hit.)
However, it's more than just that. Social networks can also be counted as entertainment, in my opinion, since being social is something that takes up our time a lot more than anything else. Sure, television was once popular, but Facebook far outclassed it with something completely new. Then again, the two connected and people were soon sharing what they were watching using Facebook. It was a new way to be social.
Now even though entertainment is good and often satisfies our need to be amused, things can be taken too far. With the entire mobile world that has risen, along with the Internet and satellite TV by its side, entertainment has become ubiquitous. It is found everywhere, be it in the form of a game, book, film, TV show, or the classic stage production. Some would argue that this is a good thing, but it's obvious that sometimes it can become more than that -- an obsession.
Isn't it normal for you to be excited for the next episode of Doctor Who to come out when a series is in full swing? Of course it is, since you are most likely very excited to see what the writers have next for The Doctor and his companions. This is why entertainment is appealing -- to many, not all. I myself find only a few shows entertaining and therefore don't waste much time with them, which is good, but others may not fare so well and today's technology isn't helping them get any work done.
The problem is, entertainment is now everywhere. It's in the palm of your hand, the HDTV on the wall at work, your computer, and nearly anything else that connects to the World Wide Web. It's a never-ending flow of happiness -- or drama, depending on your taste -- that you always want to have access to. Technology has made many wonderful things possible, but I wouldn't quite describe this one as "wonderful". It can cause you to be distracted from what you're supposed to be doing at work, not to mention it will also take up your time at home.
No, there's nothing wrong with being entertained, but there's a lot wrong with getting hooked. Social networks send you emails notifying you of a new response to some online activity you were involved in, while Netflix allows you to watch anything anytime for a surprisingly low monthly fee. It's easy to start watching, but it's sometimes hard to stop and remember to do your work instead, isn't it? I'm not saying you should throw your computer out the door and cut all the cables in the house, but you should definitely exercise some self-control if this happens.
My point in this article is that the world has brought entertainment everywhere so that we're never without it. What happened to those times when you could go on a walk without worrying that your favorite show will be airing in a few minutes? They may have just disappeared, but that doesn't mean they're gone forever. Maybe you should take a break from technology once in a while and just let go of all the stuff that's ever-beckoning you to come watch it when you're trying to do something truly productive.
Entertainment has developed so well in the past years that people aren't doing other things in their lives. Instead, they're off watching their favorite show or hanging out with a friend on Facebook/Skype. This shouldn't be the center of anyone's life -- people should widen their focus. If you're the writer of a successful show, then congratulations on keeping viewers hooked, but you might also think about your viewers sometimes too.
So have fun out there and try not to spend too much time amusing yourself with entertainment.
Lastly, might I note that I am by no means saying you shouldn't watch anything on television because it actually holds inspiration and may other things, just don't overdo it.