Is there a word to describe focusing so intently on your computer that you don’t notice the sun has gone down and the only light in your room is from your computer screen? A Twitter user suggests the neologism screenhearthing. Or is there a better word? Screensetting, perhaps? The English word focus, by the way, derives from Latin focus, meaning hearth or fireplace. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Zoning Out at the Computer Until the Only Light is Your Screen”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
On Twitter, Rachel Whitinger asks, is there a name for working on a computer until it’s all the way dark and there is only the light of the screen?
This thing should have a word. Screen-harthing?
Screen-harthing?
You know that feeling when you’ve just been focused on your computer?
Oh, I do know it, yeah. In the zone for hours.
In the zone.
Skipped a meal, haven’t gone to the restroom, didn’t get up.
Right.
You’re starving.
Failed to answer the door.
What do you think about screen hearthing?
Maybe screen setting.
It’s like the sunset outside.
Oh, interesting.
Screen setting.
You know, it’s interesting.
I said focus.
You’ve been focusing all that time.
And the word focus in Latin means hearth or fireplace.
So I kind of like that.
Oh, because it’s the focus of the family activity?
Yeah, it’s the focus of the house.
Oh, interesting.
How cool is that, right?
It could be, right?
The focal point of a house.
The focal point.
But I kind of like either screen hearthing or screen sin.
Screen hearthing is too hard to say.
You’re right.
It is, especially at the end of a long day when the sun has gone down and you’re just illuminated by your screen.
You’re glowing.
I know you’ve had this experience.
I used to do that when I was an IT guy.
I would go in on weekends and holidays because nobody was there and you could turn off the servers and do stuff like that.
And I would literally leave the office and not know what time of day it was.
I have no idea.
What the weather was that day?
It could have been 7 p.m. or 3 a.m.
I have no idea.
Maybe it’s bigger than screen, though.
You know, like when you go into work really early and the sun hasn’t come up yet, and then you go home and it’s dark because you’ve had a really long day.
Maybe it’s bigger than that.
It says something about the complexity of the modern workplace where they expect you to work like that.
Exactly.
Well, you know, I know a lot of people who are very interested in language and who may have suggestions for us.
And they have lots of opinions, I’ve found.
Mm-about all different kinds of things involving words.
And they can call us at 877-929-9673 or email us, words@waywordradio.org, or talk to us on the Twitter @wayword.
