Letters | 2 June 2012

Faith and addiction

Sir: How right Damian Thompson is (‘Addict nation’, 26 May), and how shrewd of The Spectator to put the growing human disaster of addiction on its cover. We seem all too obsessed with euro crises and media intrigue to notice the even more ominous changes in our world. We are addicted to satisfying our impulses instantly. Mr Thompson steers clear of the language of religion, perhaps for sensible reasons. But it should be acknowledged that, while our moral collapse is facilitated by technology, the problem is spiritual at root. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and other religions teach self-restraint. Modern life does the opposite.
Charles Taylor
London SW15

Sir: Damian Thompson’s article rang true to me. Blackberries and iPhones have turned me into a junkie — I give in to my every whim, buy things I don’t want at the touch of a button, and cannot rest five minutes without reaching for my gadgets. All for the most fleeting dopamine hit. It is actually harming friendships, because nobody can hold my attention for any length of time. I have, as the article said, replaced people with things.

I’m not a hardcore porn addict, I might add, but I do feel a surge of bland satisfaction when my iPhone pings. Indeed, even though I was greatly interested by Mr Thompson’s arguments, I still struggled to finish his piece. My attention span has been shot to pieces by all the incessant googling and (take note, Prime Minister) playing of mindless games such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.
Daniel Mulligan
Sent from my iPhone

Unacceptable face

Sir: Charles Moore’s praise for John Howard (Notes, 26 May) is astonishing. Howard presided over one of the most divisive regimes in Australian politics. He was accused of starving social services and education of funds to build up election war chests, passing harsh labour legislation, politicising illegal immigration, ignoring climate change, interfering in aboriginal life, distorting Australian history and much else.