Chapter 1: The Rise of Instant Gratification

The roots of our impatience can be traced back to the advent of microwaves.

A standard microwave can prepare a whole chicken in just 16 minutes, significantly quicker than the best convection ovens available. Since the late 1970s, we have relied on microwaves for reheating and cooking a variety of foods. This is also when we began to stand anxiously in front of them, tapping our feet as we awaited our popcorn to pop.

As technology has advanced, our desire for immediate results has only intensified.

With emails capable of traversing the globe in mere seconds, we still find ourselves asking the recipient, "Did you receive it? Where is it? It should be there by now." Any file taking longer than 10 seconds to download feels like an eternity. While we allow a bit more time for uploads, everyone acknowledges that downloads are typically faster.

A loading circle on platforms like Disney+ or the brief silence before Netflix's signature sound can send us into a frenzy. “This is intolerable,” we think.

If a website or app doesn’t respond instantaneously, we repeatedly hit “Enter,” inadvertently overwhelming the service and prolonging our wait, which is also unacceptable in our eyes.

We summon rides through our smartphones and then pace anxiously while waiting for the car, wondering why it’s taking seven minutes to arrive. Don’t they understand that we have places to go and tasks to complete — immediately?

In our minds, the world consists of two realms: our current reality and everything we desire, which appears to be just a thin layer of technology away. When we make a request, we expect instant fulfillment.

Yet, the truth is that our expectation for immediate responses is so ingrained that our systems often struggle to keep up with the demand.

Cell networks are inundated with requests, and our hopes for quick responses are frequently hindered by others vying for bandwidth. The situation worsens when everyone’s attention is directed toward a singular goal — such as purchasing tickets for an Olivia Rodrigo concert — resulting in a digital queue. The system cannot cater to everyone at once, leaving us with the dreaded instruction to wait.

Waiting has become an agonizing experience that seems to erode our patience, leading to fidgeting, drumming fingers, and even hair-pulling at the thought of a few minutes of delay.

Millennials and Gen Z have grown up in an era where instant responses are the norm. Many of them are unaware that we once waited nearly a year for movies to air on television, even if just for one night! They inhabit a world where every opinion is met with immediate feedback on social media. A video recorded just moments ago is already being critiqued on platforms like TikTok.

In real life, however, many of these individuals lack the ability to wait for a reply. They often mistakenly believe that analog systems function like digital ones.

Sometimes, I find myself advising them, “Progress takes time,” only to be met with looks that convey disbelief, for which no emoji exists.

This is a reality, though. Bureaucracies in both corporations and government do not operate at the speed of the digital world. They often move as sluggishly as they did before the internet era.

According to Timex (the watch company), we still wait an average of:

• 32 minutes for a doctor's appointment
• 28 minutes in TSA lines at airports
• 38 hours a year stuck in traffic
• An excruciating 13 hours annually on hold for customer service

There exists a significant gap between these unavoidable waits and our technology-driven lives.

Countless emails and presentations flood our inboxes, arriving before we’ve had the chance to process the last one or formulate a response to the latest. Yet, human beings continue to function much like we did centuries ago. Our brains are not machines, and our decision-making, while supported by technology, retains its own slow and methodical rhythm.

We are biological entities navigating a digital landscape, enjoying the perks of immediate answers and access, but struggling to adjust our own pace to match that of technology.

While operating at the speed of the internet is undeniably beneficial, we often overlook the fact that somewhere along that path is a human being, who can only manage so much at a time, and at a certain speed.

When people suggest we slow down and take a breath, they’re typically urging us to step back from a hectic moment. However, this should also involve taking a moment away from our instant-access lives to understand that not everything needs to happen at once.

In the meantime, I find myself waiting a torturous 20 minutes for my rice to cook in the microwave. How will I ever cope?

The first video, "Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass," explores how technology can marginalize certain groups, highlighting the disparities in access and understanding.

The second video, "Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," shares valuable life lessons and the importance of pursuing one's passions, illustrating the impact of patience and perseverance.