page199
the future of iGNoriNG thiNGs
177
the network only does best-effort delivery of packets, not worry-
ing so much about the bits that fall on the floor, TCP/IP users also
do best-effort sweeps of the Internet, focusing on learning from
the good stuff they find, rather than lamenting the stuff they
don’t have time to see.
The network won’t ever become more tractable. There will
never be fewer things vying for our online attention. The only
answer is better ways and new technology to ignore stuff — a field
that’s just being born, with plenty of room to grow.
Content 2nd gal final.indd 177
7/4/08 9:57:31 AM