Douglas Rushkoff's Time Ain T Money

Time management and money have been linked from America 's earliest days. Benjamin Franklin’s words “Time is Money” are well known words of wisdom that in the American Industrial Revolution translated into efficient production lines and well-trained workers. As is true throughout all human history, when a shift in our society is taking place, it affects all aspects of our culture. Douglas Rushkoff 's article, “Time Ain 't Money” identifies a major shift in the way society views time as a result of advances in digital technology made in the last decade. He states that our society focuses on the present, using the term "presentism" to describe our lost concept of narrative time. Rushkoff argues that our present day culture, including our world …show more content…
He uses the example of an analog clock that shows the minutes that have passed and those yet to come. He writes, “That clock has run out. It has wound down, and been replaced with something else. I call it “presentism” a focus on the now over the past, and even the future.” (2) He feels that this perception is fully present in today 's culture and relates this shift in perception of time to the money we use. Money is emphasized here because it drives our economy and has been a main focus for most …show more content…
(7) This is very true. Students may take classes without having a certain career goal in mind and online options make it very affordable and convenient for students to add courses to the daily schedules with the flexibility for completing work when they are able to do so. They do not necessarily have to commit to a certain degree rather they can take a course that is simply of interest or perhaps to acquire knowledge for an entrepreneurial endeavor. The way that we view our need for information is again focused on current needs rather than on future ones. These types of educational choices allow us to acquire specific information that can help us with a current endeavor.
Presentism also affects what we expect as employees. Today as employees we look at the benefits we are going to get, sign on bonuses instead of bonuses earned later on, and possibility of becoming shareholders in a company. Before we are even hired we vary our resume to fit in with the present job we are seeking. We emphasize the parts of our skills that will fit the current jobs we are looking for. Presentism has affected us as employees, consumers and students. All of these aspects of our lives have been affected by what Rushkoff has coined as “presentism”. This article identifies a major shift in the way society views time and how that perception has affected