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Postcards from the Plebs: Social Media
Jan. 18th, 2014 04:13 pmDear Social Media,
Yeah, I'm talking to you Pinterest, Dreamwidth, (more specifically Scans_daily), Deviant Art and now even freakin' Tumblr! You are all a creeping disease that started, I now realize, about a year ago when I got my first iPhone. I admit I was a little slow to get on the smartphone band wagon. I didn't think I needed one, and you know what, I don't need one, nobody does, we just crave it.
I didn't even text, but then my friend texted me so much I had to get an unlimited plan or incur $15 a month in texting fees. Then this same enabler showed me Dragonvale which I am still playing. Not really social media but certainly the start of a slippery slope of constant cell phone use. Like how cigarette companies made candy cigarettes so kids would get use to the feel of one in their hand and associate the smoking motion with a good time.
Then my dad got me an iPad, sort of. He gave me a birthday coupon for $100 off an iPad he was going to "get cheaper" in the States in a month. The next day he showed up at my door with one in hand and asked for the owing $350.00. Nice. But now the screen was bigger and I could lounge. I de-lurked from Scans_daily which I would now check every day leading me to the other boards and the peculiar "rush" of someone actually responding to something I said! Revolutionary. And deeply addictive these reassurances that I was not alone in my obsessions and people had things to say about what I had to say. And all at random intervals which is the best way to do conditioning. So now I'm hooked and fighting not to attribute my self worth to the responses and whims of an endless parade of avatars and distant, unattainable celebrities.
Social Media you are an illusion of connection and community. A pretty one and a fun one, but something that can be inherently damaging if taken too seriously. I must remember to say what I want to say because it's important for me to say it, not because it's important for someone else to comment on it.
That is all.
Sincerely, Psylynce
P.S. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie suckered me onto Tumblr with their fancy Young Avengers intro layouts and interesting posts.
Yeah, I'm talking to you Pinterest, Dreamwidth, (more specifically Scans_daily), Deviant Art and now even freakin' Tumblr! You are all a creeping disease that started, I now realize, about a year ago when I got my first iPhone. I admit I was a little slow to get on the smartphone band wagon. I didn't think I needed one, and you know what, I don't need one, nobody does, we just crave it.
I didn't even text, but then my friend texted me so much I had to get an unlimited plan or incur $15 a month in texting fees. Then this same enabler showed me Dragonvale which I am still playing. Not really social media but certainly the start of a slippery slope of constant cell phone use. Like how cigarette companies made candy cigarettes so kids would get use to the feel of one in their hand and associate the smoking motion with a good time.
Then my dad got me an iPad, sort of. He gave me a birthday coupon for $100 off an iPad he was going to "get cheaper" in the States in a month. The next day he showed up at my door with one in hand and asked for the owing $350.00. Nice. But now the screen was bigger and I could lounge. I de-lurked from Scans_daily which I would now check every day leading me to the other boards and the peculiar "rush" of someone actually responding to something I said! Revolutionary. And deeply addictive these reassurances that I was not alone in my obsessions and people had things to say about what I had to say. And all at random intervals which is the best way to do conditioning. So now I'm hooked and fighting not to attribute my self worth to the responses and whims of an endless parade of avatars and distant, unattainable celebrities.
Social Media you are an illusion of connection and community. A pretty one and a fun one, but something that can be inherently damaging if taken too seriously. I must remember to say what I want to say because it's important for me to say it, not because it's important for someone else to comment on it.
That is all.
Sincerely, Psylynce
P.S. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie suckered me onto Tumblr with their fancy Young Avengers intro layouts and interesting posts.
